Trip Overview
The 14-day Mile Builder is a Phuket–Langkawi round trip with an approximately 400-nautical-mile programme objective. Longer coastal passages develop watchkeeping, navigation, helming and crew-management skills. Mapped connecting legs are shown separately; additional training miles are not pre-counted or guaranteed.
The draft reaches Langkawi on Day 6, keeps Day 7 for rest, formalities and yacht checks, and departs on Day 8. Arrival back at Yacht Haven is planned for Day 13, leaving Day 14 as a weather and clearance buffer before Sunday’s 14:00 checkout.
The international route requires confirmation of Thai and Malaysian yacht and crew clearance arrangements before release. A location on an illustrative map is not an approved port call. The final route, training plan and any overnight watches require instructor approval for the yacht, crew and conditions.
🌞 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 seeking a substantial block of sea time and deeper experience of living, navigating and working as part of a cruising crew.
Prerequisites
- Minimum Competent Crew experience or equivalent
- Reasonable fitness and mobility for two weeks aboard
- Minimum age: 16 years old
Typical Itinerary
The exact route is confirmed close to departure and may include a Phuket–Langkawi round trip when weather, clearance arrangements and the crew make it appropriate.
- Preparation, passage planning and crew organisation
- Longer coastal passages, with distances checked against the selected water route
- Langkawi arrival on Day 6, a full intervening day and planned departure on Day 8
- Day and night watchkeeping where appropriate
- Navigation, pilotage and rotating onboard duties
- Planned return to Yacht Haven on Day 13; protect Day 14 and Sunday’s 14:00 checkout
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
- Fourteen 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
- Course textbook€25 per book
- RYA logbook€20 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 sailing clothing
- Sun protection and waterproof layer
- Compact soft luggage
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 fourteen-day trip aim to cover?
A fourteen-day Mile Builder usually aims for around 400 nautical miles. This is an objective rather than a guarantee: weather, safety, routing, border formalities, crew development and operational conditions determine the final track.
Can the passage include Langkawi?
Yes. Langkawi is a typical passage possibility for the fourteen-day programme, but it is not guaranteed. The final plan depends on weather, route planning, immigration and customs formalities, yacht readiness and the crew's experience and progress.
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 extended passage can provide meaningful watchkeeping, night sailing, passage planning, pilotage, command practice and experience of longer crew routines. The skipper assigns responsibility according to safety and each participant's ability.
Will I have internet and laundry access?
Expect periods without mobile coverage during offshore legs and at remote anchorages. Laundry may be available during an appropriate shore stop or in port, but access depends on the final route and timing.
