Phuket is the sailing capital of Southeast Asia. The Andaman Sea offers some of the world’s finest cruising grounds, the Phi Phi Islands, the Similan Islands, Phang Nga Bay, and access routes to Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago. Phuket hosts the King’s Cup Regatta (one of Asia’s largest yacht races), multiple international boat shows, and a year-round charter industry that makes the island a hub for blue-water sailors and powerboat enthusiasts alike.
For yacht owners seeking a property base, the location relative to marinas is the primary decision factor. The wrong marina or the wrong anchorage relationship can make daily operations impractical.
Best Areas for Yacht-Owning Property Buyers
Property adjacent to or within RPM starts at approximately $200,000 for a marina-view condo. The rental market is niche but strong, yacht charter guests, boat delivery crews, and visiting sailors during boat show season all generate demand.
Ao Por Grand Marina, Northeast Phuket Ao Por is the gateway to Phang Nga Bay, the spectacular limestone karst landscape that defines Phuket’s most dramatic sailing scenery. Day trips and multi-day cruises to Phang Nga typically depart from Ao Por. Property in the Ao Por area is less developed than the west coast, more villas and houses than condominiums, generally lower prices.
For sailors who prioritise Phang Nga Bay access and want to be 15 minutes from the water in the morning, Ao Por is an underappreciated choice. Development activity is growing.
Chalong, South Phuket Chalong Bay has been Phuket’s traditional sailing community hub for 30+ years. The Royal Phuket Sailing Club is based here; most of the island’s cruising yachts anchor in the bay. The infrastructure, chandleries, marine engineers, boat yards, dive shops, is concentrated around Chalong Bay Road.
Property prices are among the more affordable on the island (studios from $80,000, villas from $250,000). The trade-off: Chalong has no beach swimming access and the pier area is functional rather than aesthetic. For active sailors who don’t care about beach location and want practical infrastructure, Chalong is ideal.
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What to Look For: Yacht Owner Property Checklist
Property features:
- Garage or storage for marine equipment, dive gear, and sailing kit
- Workshop or storage room for maintenance supplies
- Secure parking for chase cars, tenders, and trailers
- Good internet for weather routing and weather window tracking
Community:
- Other sailors nearby, the sailing community in Phuket is active and social; Chalong is the hub
- Access to yacht clubs: Phuket Yacht Club, Royal Phuket Sailing Club
- Proximity to boat service providers
Marine Calendar: Why Timing Matters for Property Use
High season / sailing season (November-April):
- Northeast monsoon, flat Andaman Sea, perfect sailing
- King’s Cup Regatta (December)
- Phuket International Boat Show (typically February)
- Tourism peak = strong rental income if you’re chartering or renting your property
Monsoon season (May-October):
- Southwest monsoon, rough Andaman Sea west of Phuket
- Best for maintenance and refit on the east coast (marinas protected)
- Phang Nga Bay remains accessible throughout monsoon
- Property low/shoulder season, use this time for boat work and personal residence
Owners who plan their property use around the sailing calendar find Phuket works extremely efficiently: base yourself during sailing season, rent the property during your absence, and have the boat ready for the next season.
Investment Returns for Marina-Adjacent Property
- Gross yield: 6-9%
- Tenant profile: Long-stay yacht delivery crews, charter guests, marine industry workers, short-season sailing tourists
- Average stay: Longer than typical tourist (7-21 nights for sailing-focused guests)
- Seasonality: Strongly seasonal, November-April is 80%+ of income
The longer average stay compensates for lower overall occupancy compared to beach-area properties. Marina community properties often perform better on long-term rental (6-12 months) than short-term, as marine industry workers and long-stay sailors prefer fixed arrangements.
Royal Phuket Marina Residences Model
This is the only model in Phuket where a property owner can watch their boat from their bedroom window. For serious sailors or powerboat enthusiasts, the convenience value is substantial and the capitalization rate is higher than for equivalent non-marina locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) in Koh Kaew is the best superyacht facility in Southeast Asia with berths up to 100m, full refit facilities, and customs clearance services. Ao Por Grand Marina and Yacht Haven cater to mid-size vessels. RPM regularly hosts superyachts during the King's Cup season and boat show.
Chalong Bay has a large liveaboard sailing community and is Phuket's traditional cruising hub. The bay is partially protected but can be uncomfortable in strong southwest monsoon swell. Mooring buoys and anchor grounds are available but less secure than marina berths. The surrounding area has excellent marine service infrastructure.
Royal Phuket Marina is on Phuket's east coast in Koh Kaew, approximately 25-30 minutes from Phuket International Airport. It's 35-40 minutes from Patong Beach. The east coast location is more practical for airport access and customs clearance than the west coast beach areas.
Yes, this is a common model for serious sailor-investors. Your boat is chartered out through a Phuket charter company while your property is managed by a rental management company. Both assets earn income simultaneously during peak season when you're not present, typically November-April.
The King's Cup Regatta is one of Asia's largest sailing regattas, typically held in late November or December in Phuket waters. It attracts hundreds of boats and thousands of participants from across Asia and internationally. During the regatta week, accommodation prices spike and demand is extremely strong, a peak rental event for property owners.
Maksim Shchegolev
Founder, MORE Group
Founder of MORE Group. Four years in investment banking before moving to Phuket, where he has worked in the local property market since 2018. Oversees developer relationships and every engagement above $300K.
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