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Tim Magee – Skipper. Anchored up n Patong and had a morning of bureaucracy. Sorting out some immigration with that all done weighed anchor under sail. Had a lovely sail down to Nai Harn with the kite up. Little bit of a swim and a lovely meal ashore to round up another day.

Mikaela Zehnder. 1st Mate. After dodging a few fishing boats we arrived safe and sound in Patong where there were large hotels and many beach shops. We flagged down a long tail and headed to shore to explore. Saw many Thai gifts and found an air-conditioned café for lunch. Leaving around noon we headed for the cove Nai Harn where we ate an amazing dinner and had a great nights sleep.

Brad Osman. What is the point of sailing? The last 24 hours were packed with the usual variety of great experiences and wonderful sights. Anchoring at Patong Bay with its high rise hotels was a big contrast to the beach we had come from at the Similan Islands. Hiring a long tail for my first taxi ride home was great fun with a ten year old Thai apprentice driving it! A bit of Christmas shopping in the overwhelming numerous market stores and shops resulted in some good bargains. Off to Nai Harn for the evening under spinnaker again. Great! A nice long swim on arriving followed by some high spirits on a good run ashore to a local restaurant. Big discovery for the day that David’s Rolex might not be a fake after all.

Ben McGill. Arrived to yet another beautiful sunrise for Patong Bay, anchored and then fell asleep! We left Patong bay at lunchtime and managed to sail over to Nai Harn. Rising and using the spinnaker on the way. It was great to see GMIV with all that sail up. Had a fantastic meal ashore in a local café and a good chinwag with everyone. Back to Phuket Yacht Haven tomorrow for scrubbing, and cleaning. I can’t believe it’s almost time to leave this marvellous place!

David Eyles. The last 24 hours have been typical of the week trip, good weather, wonderful sights, but best of all great company. Last nights anchorage and in particular the restaurant summed up for me why people sail. The Island was spectacular, the bar hospitable cold beer, and good food service with a smile and of course we managed to get the spinnaker up. Smiles all around!

Tim Magee – Skipper. Anchored up n Patong and had a morning of bureaucracy. Sorting out some immigration with that all done weighed anchor under sail. Had a lovely sail down to Nai Harn with the kite up. Little bit of a swim and a lovely meal ashore to round up another day.

Mikaela Zehnder. 1st Mate. After dodging a few fishing boats we arrived safe and sound in Patong where there were large hotels and many beach shops. We flagged down a long tail and headed to shore to explore. Saw many Thai gifts and found an air-conditioned café for lunch. Leaving around noon we headed for the cove Nai Harn where we ate an amazing dinner and had a great nights sleep.

Brad Osman. What is the point of sailing? The last 24 hours were packed with the usual variety of great experiences and wonderful sights. Anchoring at Patong Bay with its high rise hotels was a big contrast to the beach we had come from at the Similan Islands. Hiring a long tail for my first taxi ride home was great fun with a ten year old Thai apprentice driving it! A bit of Christmas shopping in the overwhelming numerous market stores and shops resulted in some good bargains. Off to Nai Harn for the evening under spinnaker again. Great! A nice long swim on arriving followed by some high spirits on a good run ashore to a local restaurant. Big discovery for the day that David’s Rolex might not be a fake after all.

Ben McGill. Arrived to yet another beautiful sunrise for Patong Bay, anchored and then fell asleep! We left Patong bay at lunchtime and managed to sail over to Nai Harn. Rising and using the spinnaker on the way. It was great to see GMIV with all that sail up. Had a fantastic meal ashore in a local café and a good chinwag with everyone. Back to Phuket Yacht Haven tomorrow for scrubbing, and cleaning. I can’t believe it’s almost time to leave this marvellous place!

David Eyles. The last 24 hours have been typical of the week trip, good weather, wonderful sights, but best of all great company. Last nights anchorage and in particular the restaurant summed up for me why people sail. The Island was spectacular, the bar hospitable cold beer, and good food service with a smile and of course we managed to get the spinnaker up. Smiles all around!

14December 2006
Position: Phuket Yacht Haven



Tim Magee – Skipper. Arrived at the Similan Islands: absolutely gorgeous scenery. Ben went off for a couple of dives. The rest of the crew had a chill out day swimming around the islands. Absolute bliss.

Mikaela Zehnder- First Mate. Today was a calm and peaceful day at the Similan Islands. Most of us spent the day relaxing in the shade and admiring all the colourful fish. Then after a filling dinner we set off on another night adventure.

Brad Osman. Beautiful arrival at the Similan Islands with the sound of tropical birds. Had a fantastic snorkel amongst the coral and have never seen so many species of brightly coloured fish. After lunch we went ashore again in the tender. I enjoyed a lovely snooze on the lovely beach covered in white sand. Had a delicious meal made by Mikaela. Team snooze. Looking forward to another night passage through the fishermen.

David Eyles. Yesterday was the ultimate chill snorkelling, sunbathing and swimming in chill crystal clear water day. With a myriad of fish for company. Until I decided to explore the island….my navigation skills let me down. Some three hours later covered in cuts and bruises I arrive exhausted back to the dinghy. To find the rest of the team in aww of my mishap. Reminder navigation lessons for me I think.

Ben McGill. Did some spectacular diving at the Similan Islands. Promptly fell in love with a moray eel named Emma. I had a good day diving and I suspect the others had a good day as well. We then left and went to Patong and have since moved to Nai Harn in this idealistic spot. Can’t believe it is almost time to go home and I don’t want to go!

13 December 2006
Position: Phuket Yacht Haven



Tim Magee – Skipper. Good party for the Blue Water Rally on Monday night. Bit of cabaret and met lots of nice people. Good day sailing on Tuesday got the kite up. And as usually the wind died off but not to worry as we anchored at another fine beach. Bit of shopping all sorted and then off to the Similans over night. Which was pleasant and ventfull over nighter and they are lovely.

Mikaela Zehnder- First Mate. We have now set off for Kata Beach, and with little wind we have decided to haul out the spinnaker and gain some speed. After rigging the boat we had her flying nicely and the speed came. We rounded some headlands and awed at the extremely large Buddha on Ko Kaeo Yai Island. Soon after we came upon our first destination stop where we found ourselves walking through the streets and markets of Phuket. And where I caught my first jellyfish. Round 10 pm we found ourselves back on GMIV preparing for our night passage to the Similan Islands.

Brad Osman. Enough wind this morning to sail south along the East Coast of Phuket. It was especially good to be able fly the A symmetric spinnaker, which Tim and Mikaela guided us through perfectly. Around to Kata Beach anchored and off in to town for some gift shopping and a Starbucks (Gingerbread Latte)!! Back to the beach for dinner, more shopping, and GMIV. I was excited to be setting on a long 60mile-night passage to Similan Islands. Before leaving we had a failure of the windless switch, meaning I had to help manually haul up the anchor chain. Leaving me fit, strong, and ready for my 3-hour watch rotation.

David Eyles. What a good day, a very good day! The morning started brilliant 10 knots of wind and close hauled and I was lucky enough to be on the helm. The old girl zipped along at 5-6 knots. Fantastic scenery, sun, what more could you ask for. The night sail was an experience! A fishing fleet top avoid and eventually a brilliant starlit night. Tired but happy!

Ben McGill. Just finished a night sail. Yippy! We are now in the Similan Islands where later on today I hope to see life under water. Travelling form Kata Resort we were set watches and settled down for a night passage. Eventually the clouds cleared to reveal a beautiful starlet night sky. Then I was fortunate to be on watch for sunrise, which is just as spectacular, as sunset!! Tonight another night passage I can not wait.

11 December 2006
Position: Phuket Yacht Haven



Tim Magee – Skipper. The Gipsy moth exploration team wondered at the delights of Phi Phi Le this morning before having, beyond expectation, a glorious wind for the better part of the day. Sailing was splendid, campaign going well, looking forward to the ongoing PR activities tonight!

Mikaela Zehnder. We had a wonderful sunny start off to Phi Phi Le where we encountered beautiful beaches, lots of marine life and a nice walk to the East-side of the island. (I do not recommend flip-flops for coral wading!) Very hot and humid this afternoon ending the passage with two thunderstorms one in front and one behind. This has now brought nice cool rain this evening. No Jellyfish spotted today until a bigger one we were ‘home’ at the Phuket Yacht Haven. (P.S. Hi Andy!)

Brad Osman. Vege-mite stocks getting desperately low. Once again some emotional moments when we hoist sails on Gipsy Moth. Some firsts for me: Hanking on foresails, sailing in a ketch and I also realised the passage today took me the furthest East I have ever been. Ko Phi Phi Le exceeded my expectations, Thanks to Tim’s good planning we got there early in the morning after anchoring overnight at Phi Phi Don, and had the place to ourselves which was special. We are all feeling more familiar with Gipsy Moth and enjoying the routine and the waters. Can’t believe this is only the end of day two. (Hi Tiggy! : ) )

David Eyles. Deep joy - wind at last! I spent the majority of the day with a broad grin on a broad reach! Who says that heaven is a place that you only visit when you are no more? This morning we visited Ko Phi Phi Le that was magical - I can’t wait for the rest of the week.

Ben McGill. Raising anchor this morning for the short trip to Pi Phi Lee I remained on board to catch up with some serious sunbathing. Coming back towards Phuket we managed to get some good sailing which was exhilarating as Gipsy Moth cut through the water nicely. Now back in Phuket making arrangements for this evening and another great passage.

Position: Ko Phi Phi Don




Tim Magee – Skipper. LEFT THE YQACHT haven, did a few skills and drills and had a glorious a sail over to Phi9 Phi do9n. Whilst at anchor at Phi Phi found interesting jelly-fishing techniques going on – in the process an anti-jelly fishing society started by the sipper has met with zero support from the crew. I am now campaigning tomorrow with no strike action considered yet.

Mikaela Zehnder. 1st Mate. I hurt jellyfish.

Brad Osman. A glorious day heading South and East in search of Marmite. There’s only Vege-mite onboard, which Dave and I think is totally unacceptable. No fresh fish yet but we all had a good swim after anchoring, a nice cold beer onboard followed by a large cold beer and a good Phi Phi Don meal. If only David had put the anchor light on we could have got back to the boat more easily. Turns out the bulbs gone so not Dave’s fault.

David Eyles. I plan on hurting as many jellyfish as I can tomorrow. I am having a great time, enjoying the sailing, weather and scenery. Looking forward to tomorrow and the hope of finding Marmite. Phi Phi Lei in the morning and more sailing – great!

Ben McGill. Sailing from Phuket to Ko Phi Phi Don was a magical experience on such a unique yacht with all its particular characteristics. It is very hot here, in this beautiful part of the world and great to get sails up on Gipsy Moth this morning and do the 60 nM passage today. Had an interesting trip back to GMIV at her anchorage in a Thai ‘long-tail’ boat taxi while Tim managed the dark on his own in the dinghy. All in all had a great time and really loo0king forward to some more sailing tomorrow.

Position: Phuket Yacht Haven




Tim Magee – Skipper. Joined on 25th November and has been busy getting GMIV ready to sail, as well as some exciting PR work for the King’s Cup, including prestigious sail pasts an local TV interviews. Tim’s with GMIV all the way through to Sri Lanka after which he is looking forward to a break in Durban playing on his own yacht.

Mikaela Zehnder. 1st Mate. A UKSA PCST student who graduated in Novemeber 2006. First assignment Gipsy Moth in Phuket! From Santa Cruz in California and a graduate (BA Hons Psychology) San Francisco University, Mikaela is with Gipsy Moth until 30th December when she flies to UK for new sailing adventures.

Brad Osman. From Fordingbridge in Hampshire, Brad’s wife Judy bought him the week on GMIV as his 50th birthday present. Brad is form Plymouth and saw Chichester’s return in 1967 – so this is a kind of 40th anniversary for him too. Brad is looking forward to more sailing experience, especially as he has not sailed in Thai waters before. He is also hoping to supplement the crews diet with some fresh fish!

Ben McGill was also treated to this trip - as a Christmas present so he really did take the advert “Cancel Christmas I’m going to Phuket” seriously. As well as wanting more sailing experience Ben’s looking forward to getting some spectacular diving in this week.

David Eyles is going to enjoy his break from the pressures of working in London’s Metropolitan {Police. A keen sailor David regularly sails Halberg Rassys in the Solent from the Met Police Sailing Club. Like Brad and Ben, David is delighted at the prospect of some tropical sailing and learning more skills aboard such a world famous yacht.

Position N007 48.9
W098 17.6

Wind Ne 1

At anchor off Kata Beach For Celebration of Kings Birthday


Tim

Well, we have had a busy few days working on the boat and getting things sourced . Greg departed on Sunday after doing a sterling effort inventorising the whole of the boat. We have a good stock of stores for the next month. It has been a good day today, having enlisted the help of Roger, an expat who runs Southeast Asia Marine Services to give us a hand moving the boat from Phuket Yacht Haven about 60 miles to Kata Beach. This is the location for the King’s Cup, one of the biggest sailing regattas in Southeast Asia. We have been busy cleaning the hull and making the boat look pretty for tomorrow which is the King’s birthday. Gipsy Moth will be fully dressed and be part of a procession in honour of the king before racing starts, which we will gracefully bow out of and return to anchor. Very nice to be out sailing today!

Position N007 48.9
W098 17.6

Wind Ne 1

At anchor off Kata Beach For Celebration of Kings Birthday


Tim

Well, we have had a busy few days working on the boat and getting things sourced . Greg departed on Sunday after doing a sterling effort inventorising the whole of the boat. We have a good stock of stores for the next month. It has been a good day today, having enlisted the help of Roger, an expat who runs Southeast Asia Marine Services to give us a hand moving the boat from Phuket Yacht Haven about 60 miles to Kata Beach. This is the location for the King’s Cup, one of the biggest sailing regattas in Southeast Asia. We have been busy cleaning the hull and making the boat look pretty for tomorrow which is the King’s birthday. Gipsy Moth will be fully dressed and be part of a procession in honour of the king before racing starts, which we will gracefully bow out of and return to anchor. Very nice to be out sailing today!