Set Sails off Lanta

An adventurous journey to Koh Haa

"I am sailing, I am sailing,
Home again, Across the sea.
I am sailing, Stormy waters,
To be near you, To be Free."

"Sailing", - Rod Stewart

Imagine drifting in the middle of the sea, no engine noise, only the whisper of the wind in your ears. Sunset on the horizon, limestone outcrops dot the sea all around you, the sails propel your vessel towards an idyllic destination: you are on a sailing boat. Throughout history sailing has been instrumental in the development of civilisation; after all Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas with his sailing caravels.
Sailing is one of the many activities to do in the area of the Andaman sea, a beguiling which is fast becoming one of the best sailing areas to explore. Koh Lanta is catching up on the sector, thanks to a combination of good winds, stunning scenery and prices still affordable to the average holidaymaker. We were going to put this to the test thanks to Wyn, a 51-year-old Canadian. Wyn manages his well-established sailing company and reguarly takes would-be sailors for Koh Lanta sea trips on board his 32' sailing boat, La Pinelle. He has over 20 years experience in boat charter and travel services, both in Canada and the Caribbean and has had the sea in his veins since enjoying his own small boat as a young boy. He is also an experienced sea plane pilot and a dive master.
It was a fine sunny day, with a slight morning breeze that cooled our bodies. We boarded the boat at the small beach jetty of the luxurious Rawi Warin resort in Klong Khong. After wazing goodbye to the manager, Mr Robert, who had kindly come to wish us a good day at sea, we departed. On board Wyn and his captain Don, an experienced Thai skipper and engineer, were busy maneuvering. At first the boat was propelled by the engine, but we were soon far enough from the coast to start employing the sails. Wyn struck only one sail which he reckoned would be enough for the ride there. The utter silence after turning the engine off was unbelievable. We felt the wind pushing the boat and the freedom of sailing was gradually starting to possess us. The destination was Koh Haa, a group of rocky islands off the Lanta coast that host plenty of marine life in its surrounding waters.
The CD player filled the air with classic rock songs. Wyn funnily described the 2 phases of seasickness: First you think you are going to die, and then you actually wish you were dead. I was not worried about seasickness, as I have never suffered from it; for people subject to this phenomenon, I advise taking some tablets as a ride on a sailing boat is wavy to say the least. Next we explored the boat. La pinelle has 4 sleeping spaces, a toilet, a small living room and a kitchen. Under the canvas-covered open space there are comfortable seats for those that do not wish to sunbathe on the deck.
During the fairly long trip to our destination, Wyn gave us a few notions on sailing. For the wind direction a sailor observes a little iron arrow positioned at the top of the mainmast; for forecasting gusty conditions one should look at the difference between water and air temperature: the greater this difference the higher the chance of a storm. Avoiding collisions with other vessels is in theory simple, says Wyn "Look straight at the target boat; if it's not moving your heading for a hit". It was obvious that sailing needs the skill of an navigator; Modern Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have made positioning easy enough for everybody (hooray, no more losing way at sea!), though a real sailor should have knowledge of the sky, stars and the winds. Wyn can defiantely help someone who wants to become a professional sailor, and he is also a great storyteller. His adventurous tales on Sea and air spanned from seeing orca whales chasing dolphins that were jumping out of the water in panic, to watching from the air a group of killer whales swimming behind unaware kayak paddlers, to having big bears for company at a mountain station in Canada.
Being at sea off Koh Lanta was quite different than in other busy tourist areas in the region: The only boat we came across on the way was a catermaran. The hourly average speed on the first leg of the journey was 6 knots, which is the equivalent of 9 kilometers an hour. When we finally reached Koh Haa islands after a bit more than 2 hours sailing time, Don secured the boat to a floating bouy and we were equipped with masks and snorkels. The snorkelling was indeed great, the visibility was excellent though the sea was very wavy; there was a fine variety of colourful marine life, with fish that ranged from tiny little things smaller than a nail, to huge multi coloured parrot fish.
After lunch on the boat we departed for our journey back to Lanta. The wind came and went, forcing Wyn to work hard at setting and moving both sails to optimize the performance of La Pinelle and give her the needed propulsion. A group of flying fish made a long flight above water, while the shape of Koh Lanta Yai slowly started to materialise in the distance. We were all put at the tiller and could test our ability at driving a sailing boat, keeping the desired direction and avoiding collisions with anything other than water; an exciting experience. The journey back was slightly longer than the first leg, mainly due to a mischievous wind that kept failing us. Back on the shore we sealed the glorious day with a view of a most stunning sunset on the bay.
Sailing allows you to head to anywhere in the world realy, once you learn the skills. A trip in the Krabi seas on a sailing boat will enlighten your holiday and make you feel like a bird. A turn of the wind, a reset of the sail and the destination changes.... Never tried sailing in your life? My advice is, give it a go; feel like one of the skippers in important regattas. Wyn will make sure you feel at ease and will guide you through the simple secrets of sailing. There are other alternatives to the sunbathing this trip can offer; diving for instance can be arranged. Wyn has decided against fishing on board for safety issues, as big hooks and knives would make for hazards on the boat. A full day tour costs 12,000 Baht for the boat and includes food and non-alcoholic drinks, plus the service of 2 experienced sail enthusiasts. All tours are fully insured. Check for details on www.lantasailing.com. Dont forget that the sun can be deceptive on a sailing trip; due to the wind, it might not feel so hot. But the sun is there, and in its strongest position this time of year. Use plenty of suncream if its a sun tan and not sunburn you are after.
Do you want to rush to your target island, share its most popular beach and its surroundings together with another 500 people and quickly return to shore with the minimum of fuss? Hire a speedboat. Are you the romantic type on an idyllic holiday with your darling? Do you long for adventurous trips? Do you love the seas and wish to live it in complete relaxation? Sailing is for you. Sailing is about sailing; not reaching the destination, but living the journey.