Revisiting The Andaman Sea

Looking ahead to the traditional peak charter season in the Andaman Sea, Yacht Style revisits popular cruising options from Langkawi in northern Malaysia up through Thailand’s iconic hot spots and onto Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, for those keen to cruise in true isolation.

- Jim Loe

Southeast Asia’s charter industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus, but for those of you planning to cruise in the Andaman Sea in the post-Covid-19 area, you’re likely to find less humans and a lot more marine life.

It’s an attractive proposition for the new age of charter in the region, with southern Thailand reporting a huge resurgence in the visibility of sea turtles, dolphins, dugongs, blacktip sharks and false killer whales, an oceanic dolphin.

“Covid may have even benefited the environment in this part of the world,” says Captain Gerry Ross of 39.4m charter yacht Lady Azul. “Wildlife and marine life are coming back, and having dugongs come back in such great numbers is remarkable.”

Like Ross and his family, the five-cabin Lady Azul is based in Langkawi. The four-deck, Dutch-built superyacht is scheduled to spend its second straight winter since its extensive seven-month refit by cruising up and down the Andaman Sea off the west coast of northern Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Having lived in Langkawi for a decade, Ross has a range of favourite anchorages and destinations he suggests to clients, starting with the Kilim Geoforest Park on the northeast coast of Langkawi Island, one of 99 islands in the archipelago of the same name.

“This area is bulletproof for weather and we typically anchor out in front of ‘Hole in the Wall’,” says Ross of the entrance situated by the huge Kilim Geoforest Park sign on the side of a vertical limestone karst.

The 100sqkm nature reserve is notable for its karsts, mangrove swamps and pristine beaches, and Ross says it’s a great place to watch eagles feed and explore caves.

Datai Bay is on the west end of the island’s north coast and Ross suggests anchoring in front of The Andaman, where guests can use the beach and resort facilities, a nice way to break up a trip.