In my dream, I’m gently floating. There’s a soft splashing noise, and then the sound of a small wave breaking on the beach. I open my eyes and experience a split second of pleasant confusion. Ah, yes.. now I remember: I’m on a sailing yacht. It’s early, 6 am. The sun has not come up yet, but the sky is beginning to lighten. It’s so peaceful. My friends are still sleeping, and there’s no one to be seen anywhere. Oh, there’s another boat anchored just around the corner of the bay. I remember seeing them last night as they cruised in. I take a long deep breath of clean air and reflect on how lucky I am. We’re anchored in a bay a thousand miles from anywhere. Well, not quite but it sure seems that way.

A little while later, having finally woken up, cup of tea in hand, I reflect on the previous day. As we approached the Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya an early morning sun bounced off the sails while a breeze picked up. My friends and I had booked an overnight sailing trip, an adventure we were all thoroughly looking forward to.

We me up with our skipper for the trip, since none of us are proficient enough yet to have the certifications to be able to sail bareboat (without a skipper). He immediately got us and our gear onto the boat, and anticipation was running high. Safety briefing completed, engine on, and we were heading out of the Marina Pattaya and it wasn’t even 09.30 yet

On the sail out, we learned from the skipper why Pattaya (and the Gulf of Thailand as a whold) is a great cruising and sailing venue. Out came the navigation charts dotted with innumerable islands. Head south and you come to Koh Klet Kaeo (more commonly known as Monkey island for it’s inhabitants a monkey population that comes out to greet you when you anchor close by). A little further south and you arrive at Koh Kram with its vast beach of golden sand.

Travel north from Ocean Marina Pattaya and you’ll see Jomtien and Pattaya Bay in a whole new light. Continue on to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club Pattaya with a fe Hobie Cats “flying” through the water, past Koh Chun and up to Koh Si Chang Pattaya.

But today the prevailing winds meant we were heading east, out past the big white rock (home to an un-inhabited lighthouse) of Koh Rang Kwaian. We had a lunch date at Koh Rin. But as we slid into the bay and the anchore dropped, all thoughts of hunger disappeared, replaced by an overwhelming desire to jump into the clearest, bluest water I had ever seen.

“Is this really Pattaya?” I thought as I dove in with my snorkel gear.

We were on a weekend overnight trip, on a boat that can sleep six in a pinch, the four of us an our skipper in relative comfort. But, not all trips need to be overnight. The islands are close enough to make Pattaya-Jomtien a fun and convenient base for day sailing. A stone’s throw from central Pattaya with the local islands one to two hours’ sail away, one can spend the day exploring, swimming and snorkeling at these remote, idyllic locations, and be back at the marina for a hot shower, great food and a comfortable bed in the evening.

But we had gone a step further and opted for the excitement of an overnight trip, and it was over lunch that we reflected on how safe and protected the coastal waters of Pattaya and the Gulf of Thailand really are. Very few sailing hazards to worry about with calm waters (the swells are rarely large enough to cause any concern) to a depth of only five to six meters. The anchorages are good, and everywhere you go you have mobile phone and VHF radio coverage what more could you need?

A rum and coke, was the answer to that question and that is exactly what I was enjoying. By now we had sailed on from our lunch spot at Koh Rin onto Koh Phai a large island east of Koh Lan, and were again at anchor. We were in four meters of water with the sandy bottom clearly visible, whilst 50 meters away was the most golden of beaches. The sun was setting, and whilst the rum and coke was sliding down at a pace, thoughts were turning to dinner on board, with a peaceful evening ahead under the stars.

Catamarans have become very popular lately among people going for sailing vacations. Their biggest plus point is their size and wide berth, which makes it possible for large groups to be accommodated. Families, office staff and groups of students prefer catamarans for their sailing vacations as they offer them more space on board along with speed and stability.

The word ‘catamaran’ is the Anglicization of the Tamil word ‘kattumaram’, which literally means ‘logs joined together side by side’. Tamil Nadu is a southern state of India, where this craft was originally used by fishermen and river racers in a crude form. Even modern catamarans are two-hulled, with a wide deck connecting them with diagonal panels. This is the reason for the wide space that a catamaran provides. Catamarans are also characterized by huge sails. This gives them more wind momentum and hence, higher speeds. However this is also a disadvantage when making turns.

Catamarans are fast becoming even more popular than yachts at top sailing destinations. The original apprehensions about the catamarans have now dwindled away and many agencies now provide catamarans for sailing and cruises. As catamarans have more space, they can have some rooms and cabins, thus offering privacy to people on board.

There are various types of hiring catamarans. Bareboat catamarans are available if the number of people is between 2 to 12, provided someone among them has the necessary expertise to row a catamaran. A test may be conducted before hiring a bareboat catamaran. Skippered catamarans are also available, with a local skipper on board. The skipper looks after the needs of the catamaran, while the people on board can plan their itineraries. Catamarans can also be hired with an entire crew and cook. This is especially done when catamarans are hired for occasions like birthdays, anniversaries or weddings.

Despite that, catamarans have certain demerits. Catamarans, being bulky, cannot be navigated in narrow strips of water like cays. Vacationers use smaller poke boats when they have to navigate such areas. Catamarans on hire may have poke boats bundled with them. Another thing is catamarans are ideal for bigger groups. Smaller groups may lack the sense of privacy on a catamaran vacation.

Catamaran hiring prices depend on the location and the size of the catamaran. Prices could vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Charter brokers can be hired to choose a suitable catamaran for the vacation.

The possibilities and advantages of sailboat charters are many. This article outlines a few.

You have multi starting points for example. Granted you need certificates or be an experienced skipper. But then you wouldn’t go anywhere near a sailing holiday if you didn’t know what you were doing. The great characteristic about sailing is that you can get qualified to a fair standard and then go chartering. Fortunately chartering companies are good judges, they have to be. After all it’s their boat and they are probably responsible to shareholders. Enough of the boring stuff!

Being on board a sailboat changes perspective of almost everything. Whenever I step onto a boat time somehow slows – in a good way naturally! Troubles are left behind on shore and when I return to land they are still there – but they don’t seem as daunting as before. Indeed instead of thinking

“I hope I get to the gas station soon, I’m really pushing my luck here”

You could catch yourself saying

“Where is my snorkel, flippers and face mask, because I’ve simply got to check out that coral reef!”

Notice the difference? It’s a big one! The daily grind versus the happy holidayer. It’s in us all, that difference. Closer to the top for some. Of course you still have concerns of responsibility, but most of it’s taken care of by the charter companies. A couple of weeks of water side action, at your own pace and your in good shape.

Another benefit of sailing is exercise – as much or as little as you like! Folks don’t want to be exhausted on their sailing charter holidays, but a gentle glow is fine. With the help of technology it is possible to overcome many barriers previously associated with sailing. These days you can go about using the roller furler, drop the main at the end of the day and have it caught in the lazy jack. Or if your stopping for lunch then drop the anchor, safe in the knowledge that the winch will do the tough bit of pulling it up. One note of caution though – make sure the batteries are charged regularly! Sleeping soundly at night after a good meal, that’s what it’s all about. Not abilities or worrying about the physical aspect of the holiday.

Charterers often own boats – but they are usually back home. Of course you can sail it to your destination or have it shipped. But one take time, a precious commodity and the other is far more expensive than chartering! So having the option of taking over a familiar vessel or treating yourself to a well deserved upgrade is great! Don’t get too familiar with your choice though – you’ve got to return it! Which is why chartering is a popular choice for repeat visitors. Getting to know a destination over a series of visits is fun.

Taking the preparation and responsibility of ownership out of your holiday and just being on the water is tremendous. You arrive fresh to the marina, get provisions, run through the on board checklist and away! A bit of chart work, with tides and some way point action and that’s it! Choose between passages or island hopping, or both. What really sets boating holidays apart from regular land based ones is as follows:

Waking up to the sound of water lapping against the hull, is a great start to the day. Seeing land across the water draped in mist is unmissable. Being able to explore coves and bays without a soul in sight is a wonderful way to spend time. Of course the pleasure to be had from a well shaped sail set and fine breeze is fantastic! Eating onshore? A different port every night? Terrific!

Many people embrace chartering as their home from home. Holidaying in the Caribbean, the Greek Islands, Italy, Croatia to name but a few starting points. You can even hire a vessel for race weeks, although check the insurance premium first!

One final thought: Want to spend quality time with your family? Learning and teaching new, useful skills? Whilst relaxing and enjoying the moment? Then thumbs up for a memorable experience for all the family!