Trip Overview
This seven-day Mile Builder combines purposeful passage-making with life aboard a cruising yacht. The programme is designed to build practical confidence, sea miles and experience in watches, navigation, sail trim and everyday seamanship.
Choose between a southern loop through Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Rok, Koh Ha and Racha, or a Similan-only offshore programme. The skipper adapts the passages to the forecast, park access and crew. Surin and the distant Butang islands are not standard seven-day options.
The programme target is approximately 200 nautical miles; the Similan route is longer. The route pages distinguish mapped connecting passages from training time, and actual logged mileage is not guaranteed. A matching seven-day Competent Crew or Coastal Skipper Practical run may share the yacht, subject to instructor approval of the route and crew.
🌞 Sailing conditions 🌊
Phuket offers year-round tropical sailing. The northeast-monsoon months are generally drier, while the southwest monsoon can bring fresher winds, tropical showers and larger swell on exposed Andaman routes. Phang Nga Bay provides more sheltered water, allowing the instructor to select suitable training areas for the day’s conditions.
⛵️ Places to explore 🏝️
Depending on weather and training objectives, the cruising area can include limestone anchorages in Phang Nga Bay, islands near Phuket and, on suitable passages, the Phi Phi Islands. The final route is always set by the instructor and is not a fixed holiday itinerary.
Who Is This Trip For?
Sailors who want meaningful sea time between formal courses, a Day Skipper refresher or a confident return to sailing after time away. It also suits those keen to explore Southeast Asia under sail while logging useful experience toward an advanced pathway.
Prerequisites
- Some sailing or crewing experience at Competent Crew level or equivalent
- Reasonable fitness and mobility for an extended liveaboard voyage
- Minimum age: 16 years old
Typical Itinerary
Board from 18:00 on Sunday and check out by 14:00 the following Sunday at Yacht Haven. The southern route keeps its main return on Day 6. The Similan option includes outward and return overnight passages, with arrival planned on Day 6 and Day 7 protected as a buffer. Overnight watches require crew preparation and instructor approval.
- Safety briefing, passage planning and crew organisation
- Day passages, watchkeeping and practical navigation
- Helming, sail trim, anchoring and pilotage
- Regular reviews and rotating onboard responsibilities
- Return to Phuket at the end of the seven-day programme
Typical Iconic Routes
These routes show the kind of passage the skipper may choose. The final track remains flexible around weather, sea state, park access, international formalities and the experience of the crew.
Sailing Yacht on This Trip
Andaman cruises and Mile Builders may operate aboard Andaman Cruise 2 or Andaman Cruise 1. The assigned yacht is confirmed for each departure according to the programme, crew and operational plan.
Skills in Practice
The skipper adapts the emphasis to the route, conditions and experience aboard, giving each participant useful responsibilities throughout the passage.
Passage planning
Waypoints, pilotage, weather, tides, hazards and realistic alternatives.
Day and night navigation
Position fixing, lights, radar, AIS and maintaining awareness on watch.
Sail handling
Trim, reefing and balancing speed, safety and comfort as conditions change.
Safety and emergencies
MOB recovery, heavy-weather preparation and disciplined onboard routines.
Anchoring and mooring
Choose an anchorage, prepare the approach and manage the yacht as a crew.
Command experience
Practise leadership, communication and decisions through skipper-of-the-day rotations.
What Is Included
Included
- Seven days aboard the scheduled yacht
- Skipper-led passage planning and experience building
- Onboard accommodation
- Yacht safety and navigation equipment
- Prepared bedding and one onboard towel
- Simple breakfast and lunch onboard
- Fuel, home marina fees and normal yacht operating costs
- Drinking water, tea and coffee
- Simple onboard dinner provisions when the itinerary makes dining ashore impractical
Not included
- Flights and transport
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Supporting courses and optional services
- Accommodation ashore
- Non-home marina, park, customs and immigration charges unless expressly included
- Dinner ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions
Optional extras
- RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC€200 per person
- RYA logbook€30 per book
- Airport pickup€30 per trip
- Onboard air conditioning€5 per generator hour
Bookable extras can be selected on the booking page.
AC charge covers extra fuel, generator running hours and maintenance; settled onboard according to actual use.
Recommended to Bring
- RYA logbook
- Quick-drying clothing and non-marking footwear
- Sun protection and a light waterproof layer
- Soft luggage suitable for liveaboard sailing
Local Information
Flights and Arrival
Phuket International Airport is approximately 20–30 minutes by road from Yacht Haven Marina in normal traffic. Plan to arrive with enough time for Sunday-evening boarding. Airport transfer and accommodation before or after the course can be arranged separately.
Typical Weather
Phuket is warm throughout the year, but the monsoon seasons influence wind, rainfall and route planning. These are typical patterns rather than a forecast.
Mid Oct–Jan
24–31°C
Drier northeast-monsoon period with more sunshine and generally comfortable cruising conditions.
Feb–May
25–33°C
Hot, mostly dry weather. Winds can become lighter and more variable as the season progresses.
July–Aug
24–32°C
Southwest-monsoon sailing with tropical showers, fresher winds and more swell on exposed routes.
Sep–Mid Oct
24–31°C
Typically the wettest and most changeable period, with squalls and routes adjusted to conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miles does the seven-day trip aim to cover?
A seven-day Mile Builder usually aims for around 200 nautical miles. This is an objective rather than a guarantee: weather, safety, routing, crew development and operational conditions determine the final track.
Are accommodation, meals and cabins included?
Onboard accommodation, prepared bedding and one onboard towel are included for the scheduled trip. Shared cabins or berths are the standard arrangement. A private cabin must be reserved using the applicable private-cabin tariff. Couples or friends may ask to be allocated together, subject to the assigned yacht and existing reservations. A simple breakfast and lunch are provided onboard each sailing day, together with drinking water, tea and coffee. When a longer passage or anchorage makes dining ashore impractical, provisions for a simple dinner onboard are included. Other dinners ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions are not included. Students share simple meal preparation, washing-up and normal yacht housekeeping as part of cruising-yacht life.
What practical experience can I develop?
The passage can include planning, pilotage, watchkeeping, sail handling, anchoring, night navigation and skipper-of-the-day responsibility. The skipper adapts roles to each participant's experience and the conditions.
Will I have internet and laundry access?
Mobile coverage is often available near Phuket and some islands but is not guaranteed offshore. Laundry may be available near the marina or during a suitable shore stop, but the route cannot promise a laundry visit.
