Our pages about sailing in Thailand are with the courtesy of the South East Asia Pilot's team.

Thailand has over 1,000 miles of mainland coastline bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. With thousands of islands, there are many more miles of beaches, creeks and headlands meeting the sea. Lying between 50 and 130 north, the climate is tropical and the beaches are palm fringed, with pristine white sand, crystal waters and superb coral reefs.

Add to that the renowned friendliness of the Thai people, their magnificent cuisine and culture − and Thailand has deservedly become Asia’s premier cruising destination.

Neither coastline is in a hazardous weather zone; there are no typhoons and even the seasonal monsoons are gentle. Temperatures are 250-320C and the sea rarely varies from 280. Comfortable cruising is possible all year round, even on the Andaman Sea coast, with its strong southwest monsoon breezes. Thai waters have long been an essential stopover for world cruisers; many never leave.