Koh Phangan Activities - Sailing

There is one supplier on Koh Phangan providing Hobie style Catamarans and also Laser boats, available through December to April, in the Woktum area. It's ideal for learning with tuition or an adventure for an experienced yachtsman. The waters of Woktum are some of the calmest on koh phangan and since it is on the west side of the island has some of the most beautiful sunsets. 

The island of Koh Tae Nok is closeby and easily accessible by boat.  It is famous for its islanders collecting birds nests for the famous Chinese ‘birds nest soup’ market however, visitors must not approach the island nor set foot on it due to the nesting birds.

Although the principles of sailing are the same for both catamarans and monohulls, there are some "peculiarities" to sailing catamarans. For example:

Catamarans can be harder to tack (turn through the wind). Because they are lighter in proportion to their sail size, they have less momentum to carry them through the turn when they are head to wind. Correct use of the jib sail is often essential in successfully completing a tack without ending up stuck in irons (pointing dead into the wind and sailing backwards).

They have a higher average speed.

All boats sail faster when travelling in certain directions relative to the wind with the best speeds typically being achieved when heading away from the wind at about 135 degrees. This effect is much more noticeable with catamarans, even to the extent that it can be more efficient to jibe ('tack' downwind) in zig zags, rather than heading directly away from the wind as a monohull would.

Catamarans are less likely to capsize in the classic 'beam-wise' manner but often have a tendency to 'pole-axe' (or 'pitchpole') instead - where the leeward (downwind) bow sinks into the water and the boat 'trips' over forward, leading to a capsize.

For safe Sailing, stay on the boat, wear a life vest and make sure you can swim!

Sailing requires respect for the risks of being on the water. All sailors therefore should be sensibly prepared.