Kia Ora Catamaran Charters
Owned by the Big Buddha Café, this custom built 52 ft metre sailing cat plies a daily route between Big Buddha Beach and Koh Phangan, leaving at 10am every morning and returning at 4pm. The trip costs 3,800 Baht and is inclusive of all food and drinks - it's a very pleasant day out, that's probably best done with a group of friends. They also offer a shorter sunset cruise along Samui's coast, which leaves at 4.30pm and costs 2,500 Baht. Alternatively, the whole boat can be chartered privately for 45,000 Baht for up to 20 people. Kia Ora Catamaran Charters, Tel. 077 425 264, www.kiaorathailand.com
Sunsail
Sunsail, the world's largest yacht charter and watersports beach club operator, is now offering both bareboat and skippered yacht charter in the cruising grounds around Ko Samui and the Gulf of Thailand. The company is currently based at the Big Buddha Café and has nine yachts available in Samui ranging from Oceanis 320's to SunMagic 44's. Prices range between 9,000 - 25,000 Baht per day for bareboat charter. For more information call 07 978 9317 or email sales@sunsailasia.com.
Amanda
This Classic 10m ketch was originally built for sail-making legend Rolly Tasker and was a frequent winner in her class in Phuket's Kings Cup for many years, until its current owner Matt McGrath sailed her around the Gulf of Thailand to Samui to a new home off Big Buddha Beach. Amanda is now available for day charters and will take a preferred minimum of four people to pretty much anywhere in the vicinity. The most popular trip is a sail over to Koh Phangan for a barbecued lunch on the beach, before enjoying some snorkelling and heading back along the stunning coastline. Prices start at 1,500 per baht per person (inclusive of all food and drinks). All charters are completely private and a maximum of 10 people can go aboard. For more info. call Matt McGrath on 095871862 or email sail@worldguide.com
Coco Blues
The Australian designed, 8m Catamaran, Coco Blues is the first production yacht to be built on Samui. The Radical Bay 8000 boat has a bi-plane rig and unstayed rotating carbon fibre masts - each sail having a sail area about the same as a beach catamaran. Coco Blues can sail faster than wind speed, tacks effortlessly and can be easily sailed by two people. It also won the multi-hull class in the 2004 King's Cup Regatta in Phuket. The company eventually plans to have a boat rolling off the production line every eight weeks and is certain to shake up the sailing scene in the region. For more information and charter rates see www.cocosailing.com or Tel. Peter 09-726-5728
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