Category Archives: Indian Ocean

Sailing Yacht ASIA: New Luxury Sailing Charter in the Andaman Sea

Sailing Yacht Asia - Andaman Sea Luxury Charter YachtSY ASIA is a magnificent new luxury sailing yacht, brand new in Phuket, Thailand for the 2009 charter season, that specializes in adventure holidays, sailing cruises to remote destinations, and expedition charters.

The sailing yacht charters around the Andaman Sea from November to April each year, then travels to East Indonesia to offer sailing cruises to Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat.

ASIA is Luxury Sailing Yacht ASIAa high performance sailing yacht, with spacious interiors, accommodations for 10 guests in five ensuite staterooms and an extremely knowledgeable crew. In fact, the skipper and owner of this charter yacht literally writes the cruising guides for remote destinations such as the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar and the Andaman Islands of India!!

Charter yacht equipment includes tender, kayaks, snorkeling, fishing and a dive compressor. Of course, all cabins on this luxury sailing yacht have ensuite facilities and LCD TV’s.

SY ASIA is an ideal charter yacht for a family sailing cruise, with optional configurations of two guest suites from king to twin beds. The voluminous shaded cockpit comfortably seats 10 guests around twin dining tables for outdoor dining and relaxation.

This winter, SY ASIA will be based in the Andaman Sea that laps the shores of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, and includes the cluster of 500 remote Andaman Islands known for superb snorkeling and diving. The gourmet cuisine onboard SY ASIA is based on fresh, locally available foods and relies on a variety of Thai, Indian and European recipes.

A luxury sailing yacht charter in the Andaman Sea has limitless possibilities for exploration above and below the waterline. There are hundreds of deserted islands, as well as exotic villages and coastal towns. There are lush jungles and pristine beaches, historic cultures and ancient tribes. A sailing cruise in these waters is truly the adventure of a lifetime.

Please view these links for more information: About Sailing Charter Yacht Asia,  Mergui Archipelago Yacht Charter Guide and Phuket Yacht Charter Guide on Boatbookings website for information on this region.

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Sri Lanka to promote luxury yacht charter, "boat safaris"

Sri Lanka’s English newspaper, the Sunday Observer, highlighted plans to promote yacht chartering from the island’s cities of Galle and Colombo. In a brief interview with the country’s Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation, Dayasritha Tissera, it appears that the government is enthusiastic about immediate investment in the marine sector.

The South Asian island country, located about 20 miles off the southern coast of India, is a destination of primal forests, pristine beaches, breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural traditions. The Ministry hopes to entice both local and foreign tourists to depart from hotel stays and embark on œluxury boat safaris to destinations around the exotic island. To this end, Tissera outlined plans to purchase four luxury yachts with four to six cabins, suitable for up to 20 guests.

The Ministry also wants to launch a luxury passenger liner yacht service to connect the harbors of Colombo, Trincomalee, Kankesanturai and Galle, with extended service to neighboring India. Plans also include construction of a first-class yachting center and marina in the old port area of Galle.

The Ministry is undertaking these initiatives with confidence that the now peaceful country’s lighter security restrictions will enable passenger travel unencumbered by red tape. The Ministry has set a November goal for the luxury yacht launch, however exact dates remain uncertain. Perhaps this is because, according to Tissera, the Ministry is presently seeking investors for the projects.

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Charter yachts now allowed to stay 90 days in the Maldives (up from 30)

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism has extended the period that a visiting yacht is allowed to stay in the Maldives with a cruising license from 30 to 90 days, effective 1st of June 2010. The full regulations are as follows:

All foreign vessels categorized as yachts must pay an entry permit fee of MRF 5000.00 to the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture

A Captains Declaration describing the crew and passengers onboard must be submitted to the Ministry

A Government Passenger Tax is charged for each passenger on a charter yacht in the Maldives

Fees for Charter licenses are the following:

Vessels less than 25 m in LOA – USD 15.00 per day
Vessels from 25 meters to 35 meters in LOA – USD 200.00 per day
Vessels from 36 meters to 46 meters in LOA – USD 350.00 per day
Vessels from 46 meters to 75 meters in LOA – USD 450.00 per day
Vessels above 75 meters in LOA – USD 600.00 per day

Read more in our Maldives Yacht Charter Guide.

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Christmas Specials Newsletter is Out!

We’ve just sent our Xmas and New Years Newsletter, with special offers in Thailand, the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mauritius and elsewhere. Still availability left if you want to go for it, or we also have suggestions for Yachts you can put under the tree as a present for next summer!

If you’ve signed up for the newsletter, you’ve already received it, otherwise, you can just click here for all the offers and details.  Or you can click her to see our Xmas Specials.

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Is the Indian Ocean Safe for Charter?

There’s been a lot written about pirates in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia. And there has been some pirate activity within 60 miles of the Seychelles. So we’ve gotten a number of enquiries as to whether its safe to charter in the Indian Ocean.

A sea turtle in the Maldives
A sea turtle in the Maldives

First off, the Indian Ocean is HUGE, and there have been no instances to our knowledge in the beautiful and inviting charter areas of the Maldives, Mauritius and Madagascar. So if you’re thinking of a charter in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, we recommend you choose one of these areas.

Secondly, the recent hijack of a British couple was in open waters as they were sailing to Mozambique from the Seychelles. It is far safer to stay in standard charter areas, near the coast.

If you’d like to charter in the Indian Ocean, but have any safety concerns, we recommend that you speak to our Indian Ocean office – please contact them here.

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