Phuket Open Boat shows yachts for charter and sale

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Phuket Yacht Haven Marina

Phuket Open Boat will be held at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina’s M dock on Thursday and Friday (2-7pm), November 11-12 as Thailand begins opening to tourists ahead of the traditional high season for tourism and yachting in Phuket. Following the recent ‘Phuket Sand Box’ policy, Thailand is preparing to welcome vaccinated and Covid-tested tourists from November 1.

Phuket Open Boat has been initiated by Northrop & Johnson Asia-Pacific while other participating companies include Asia Global Yachting, Asia Marine, Asia Yacht Agency, Boat in the Bay, Boat Lagoon Yachting, Derani Yachts, Lee Marine, Next Yachting and Simpson Yacht Charter.

The 122ft Xanadu of London will be on display

Rather than a boat show, the event has been described as a luxury yacht inspection, with no on-shore activities and no parties planned. Phuket’s luxury yacht and tourism industry professionals are invited to view the yachts and connect with the yachts’ charter managers and crew onboard the boats, while potential charter clients and yacht buyers are also welcome.

The two-day event has a provisional line-up of 11 yachts, with Northrop & Johnson showing the 86ft Sunseeker Maxxx and the 112ft Moonen Xanadu of London, both for charter, as well as the 62ft Sunreef sailing catamaran In The Wind, for sale.

Maha Bhetra, the 90ft Thai-built wooden motor yacht

Asia Global Yachting will display the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Tiger Lily, Princess 75 Sanook and 90ft Maha Bhetra. Other motor yachts for charter include the 38ft Atari VI (Lee Marine), Defever 49 Sea Princess (Derani Yachts), Princess S65 Kati (Boat In The Bay) and Princess 78 (Boat Lagoon Yachting), while Simpson Yacht Charter will display Blue Moon, the Lagoon 52 sailing cat.

“Northrop & Johnson wanted to provide an opportunity – before the high season starts – for charter brokers, yacht brokers, hotel concierges, luxury real estate agents, tour operators, direct clients and others to inspect some charter yachts available in Phuket. Then we met with other charter companies and decided to do something together,” said Lies Sol, who heads Northrop & Johnson Asia-Pacific’s charter business from Phuket.

The 86ft Sunseeker Maxxx is for charter

“Some yachts are for charter and some are listed for sale. There were potential buyers keen to look at yachts for sale when they couldn’t enter Thailand, so we’re welcoming them. We’re happy Thailand will open from November 1 and hopefully potential buyers are able to travel to Phuket.

“Phuket’s yacht charter and sales have suffered due to closed borders and travel restrictions, so now we’d like to send a positive message that Phuket and Thailand are open for tourists and we have beautiful yachts available.”

Kati, a Princess S65

Julia Hawkins, who heads charters at Boat in the Bay, added: “Thailand’s re-opening to international visitors is amazing news and an emotional boost to the boating industry. Phuket Open Boat Day is a great opportunity to show that we are ready for the coming season.”

Nicole van de Wall, Next Yachting’s representative in Asia, said: “I am looking forward to this event and supporting Phuket as a yachting destination. Sharing the yachting lifestyle with professionals in the tourism industry will benefit us all. This will open discussions for new possibilities and future endeavours. Now is the time to make new pathways.”