30 November, Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket

Rex1
Tue 3 Dec 2013 09:31
08.10.2N 98.20.3E
After spending a very uncomfortable few days at Ao Chalong, we were up and gone by 6.30am to arrive at Yacht Haven Marina a few hours before low tide (entrance is shallow in a few places). A friend of Greg’s from Sydney, Barrie Elsbury has a boat at the marina and managed to get us a berth as we wanted to escape the weather and to enquire about some repair jobs for the boat. It is a large marina with a number of big yachts, catamarans, power boats and super yachts and is located at the northern tip of Phuket Island. The marina is approx 45 mins by car to Phuket Town so we have hired a car for a week (Toyota Vios) while we find out about a new anchor chain, batteries and upholstery for the saloon lounges. December and January is high season in Phuket so hopefully we can schedule some work before or after Christmas. We have met some lovely Aussie neighbours on our dock in the marina who have given us lots of tips and advice about getting around Phuket and cruising the islands. Despite being a long way away from the town centre, there are a couple of good local restaurants nearby (average price $7 per person for dinner) and a local village where I walk most mornings and buy Thai delicacies from the Muslim ladies (sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves, coconut and palm sugar balls, local spicy egg, noodle and veggie salad – average spend about $2).