SailQuest Passage Plan – Samui Regatta 2019

May 23 - Depart OMYC at 12 noon and cross the gulf on a port tack, close with the west side and drop the hook. Last year with a south south west wind, we ended up about 5 nm south of the Pran Buri River entrance, anchored up at 2am and got a few hours rest. Other years we have ended up north of Hua Hin

May 24 - Underway at 7am, short tacking and motor sailing in light winds down the coast, bound for an anchorage just south of the Thai Air Force base, south of Prachuap Khiri Khan, last year the anchor dropped on a sandy bottom at 10pm or so.

May 25 – Underway at 7am, next stop 100+ nautical miles away at Ko Samui. Some years, when the wind is more southerly, we may continue to short tack and motor sail down the coast, looking for a better angle on the wind, and something other than a hard beat to the island. In any case, at some point we head offshore, hopefully at least laying the mark, ideally staying a bit higher, banking some westing to drop off later should we get headed.

May 26 – Anchor down in Ao Chewang (with a heavy anchor system – it is normal for the winds to howl thru this anchorage - which we will leave in place thru the event. This saves time at the morning starts and reserves our spot in the anchorage), target time is 12 noon, giving us a chance to tidy up and unload Hi Jinks for racing, call in at the regatta registration office and complete formalities, check into onshore accommodation (I usually book a room on arrival at The Loft, ideally located, decent room with balcony, about 800THB per night) and get dolled up for the opening ceremony which opens at 6pm.

May 27-June 01 – Samui Regatta race and party days.

June 02 – Nursing a serious hang over (if you’re not hung over at this point during the week long regatta event you are doing it wrong!), run around town for ice, provisions, etc. and weigh anchor at 12 noon for a direct nonstop passage to OMYC. Even after a week of exciting sailing and great social occasions, this is always my favorite part of the event. Skipping along on a beam reach, port tack, this passage has almost always been a text book example of “fair winds and following seas”. Punctuated by occasional squalls (as is the trip down), on this point of sail makes for some exciting sailing and occasionally great boat speeds.

June 03 – at sea, unless you have a fast boat! We will often slow down somewhat in the wee hours to keep things comfy and get a bit a rest along the way.

June 04 – in 2018 we were tied up in the berth at OMYC at 1am, total passage time 37 hours for the 215 nautical miles, or a speed made good of near 6 knots.