Phuket – Ao Patong

The anchorage in the vicinity of the Ao Chalang jetty is pretty damn unpleasant, with the North East Monsoon winds blowing across the bay and the day tripper boats zooming to and from the jetty, bit like being in a washing machine – sometimes on spin cycle. Going ashore near the Sand Bar and contending with the shore break and the dingy mooring lines was equally challenging and wet.

I quickly went about reprovisioning the boat, diesel, petrol, water, food etc. It was good that with having been there before I knew where most things were.

On January 5 I hauled anchor and headed for the relative shelter of the west coast of Phuket and Ao Patong. What a tourist mecca! I planned on only spending one night at Patong beach before moving onto the Similan islands 60 miles north west of Phuket. The following day the winds howled with gusts up to 35 knots. I let out more anchor rode and stayed onboard. Saw one poor bloke on a 45 to 50 foot Beneteau yacht take about 3 hours before his anchor finally held. I lost count of the attempts he made at dropping anchoring. All the other boats were justifiably concerned with his anchoring antics, some to the point that they moved elsewhere. It was a good day to clean up the boat and do minor maintenance. There was also the constant buzz of the jet skis (sea lice). As you probably gathered I’m not a great fan of these particular water craft and never have been.