- CURRENT NEWS / Asia
- 15 June 2020
THE CUSTOM-BUILT VESSEL M/Y Cloudbreak began her journey with some great cruising, but her course had to change drastically with the arrival of COVID-19.
Early on in the pandemic, Captain Jeremey and the crew relocated to Thailand, spending several weeks there. In a letter, Captain Jeremey described the experience as a positive one, saying: “We are all pleased and proud that we did our lockdown in Phuket.”
Captain Jeremey worked with Gordon Fernandes and the Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS) team in Phuket, Thailand, to secure their onward journey. In communications to Fernandes, Captain Jeremey noted, “It is safe to say that without your assistance we would not be here, but would still be berthed in Phuket.
“I was most impressed that you took my request for assistance very seriously and conveyed these requests to the highest levels of local and national government, doing all you could to assist us in departing Thailand when we did,” he said.
Captain Jeremey continued to say, “It was challenging, and not something we could have achieved alone. We are exceptionally grateful for your efforts. We appreciate all the support from cruising and logistics to lockdown. Hopefully, we will see you back in Phuket the winter after next. On behalf of the owner and crew on Cloudbreak, thank you.”
When asked about Phuket’s attraction to visiting superyachts, Fernandes commented, “The Surin and Similan Islands in Thailand are great for their beauty, and in the Similan Islands you have world-class diving with visibility of 30-plus metres.”
He continued, “In addition to the beauty of the islands, Thailand and nearby Myanmar are very safe.”
“You never see muggings, and the rate of street crime is extremely low. The locals are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, hence the Thai Smile. In the Phuket area, you can have the best of both worlds – islands all to yourself or in non-COVID times, a vibrant nightlife and unique culture as well.”
At the back end of the pandemic, yachts returning can select amongst Phuket’s four marinas. The region is building more marinas to berth superyachts, such as one of the marinas in Phuket that can berth a 130-metre yacht.
Noted Fernandes: “We have the marinas and the cruising areas, but not enough haul-out facilities for superyachts in the region. Some projects have started to address this, so hopefully, Phuket will have more haul-out facilities in the future for visiting superyachts.”
The airports and infrastructure for owners’ visits are already in place, with airports that can handle large private planes and the upgraded international airport offering numerous commercial flights.
