Thailand Cruising Conditions
General Conditions
Thailand is a year round sailing destination. There are two main seasons, which are called the wet and dry season, or the SW or NE monsoon, respectively. Seasonal winds tend to be predictable, although there may be inconsistencies as they change from one to the other.
Monsoons
North East Monsoon (Dry - November to April)
The NE monsoon runs from November to April and has wind speeds of force 2 to 4 from the NE. The winds are quite stable during this period and temperatures are usually in the region of 30 deg C. It is consistently dry and sunny, with ideal conditions for sailing. If you wish to visit the Similan Islands you can only do so during the North East Monsoon and will be asked to sign a Moorings disclaimer before you leave the base.
South West Monsoon (Wet - May to Oct)
The SW monsoon, takes place from May to October with winds force 2 to 6, from the SW. There is more wind during this season, making sailing a bit more exhilarating than the NE season. There are some rainy periods, sometimes prolonged but usually only lasting approximately 1 to 2 hours in the late afternoon or early evening. The direction of the prevailing wind means that the anchorages on the West Coast of Phuket cannot be used during this period. You are advised to anchor on the East coasts of the islands or in sheltered bays. There is still safe sailing in Phang Nga Bay right down to Koh Phi Phi with larger swells in more exposed areas. The Similan Islands are closed to visitors during the South West Monsoon. During September and October there can be extended periods of rain sometimes lasting up to 5 days at a time.
Historical Weather (Averages by month):
| °F Max | °F Min | °C Max | °C Min | Ave Precip (in) | Ave Precip (mm) | Ave Water Temp (°F) | Ave Water Temp (°C) | Ave Wind Speed |
January | 89 | 73 | 32 | 23 | 1.6 | 40 | 82 | 28 | NE 10-20 kts |
February | 91 | 73 | 33 | 23 | 1.1 | 27 | 82 | 28 | NE 10-20 kts |
March | 93 | 75 | 34 | 24 | 2.3 | 59 | 84 | 29 | NE 10-20 kts |
April | 95 | 75 | 35 | 24 | 5.5 | 140 | 86 | 30 | NE 10-15 kts |
May | 98 | 75 | 37 | 24 | 13.1 | 334 | 86 | 30 | SW 10-20 kts |
June | 91 | 75 | 33 | 24 | 10.8 | 275 | 86 | 30 | SW 10-25 kts |
July | 89 | 75 | 32 | 24 | 11.2 | 284 | 84 | 29 | SW 10-25 kts |
August | 89 | 75 | 32 | 24 | 10.4 | 265 | 84 | 29 | SW 10-20 kts |
September | 87 | 75 | 31 | 24 | 15.7 | 398 | 84 | 29 | SW 10-20 kts |
October | 87 | 75 | 31 | 24 | 13.3 | 339 | 84 | 29 | SW 10-20 kts |
November | 87 | 75 | 31 | 24 | 7.4 | 187 | 84 | 29 | NE 10-20 kts |
December | 87 | 73 | 31 | 23 | 2.6 | 66 | 82 | 28 | NE 10-20 kts |
Tides
Thailand has two high tides per day. The range varies from half a metre to just over 3 metres. The Ao Po marina has instant all tide access to Phang Nga bay. The latest that a Moorings yacht can depart from the marina is 5.00 pm as the nearest anchorage is half an hour away and all yachts must be anchored by 5.30 pm. The area and yacht briefings take up to an hour each and provisioning shopping will take around 3 hours including taxi transfers. Therefore if you wish to depart on the day their charter starts they should arrive no later than 12 noon if you are doing your own provisioning or 3.00 pm if you have provisioned online.
Tide timetables for our Phuket base can be found at www.phuketgazette.com/tidetable
Weather Forecast
The base provides clients with daily weather forecasts.
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