Year 2 -19 December 2025 –Phuket -Koh Lak -Thailand

We had our last breakfast at Santhiya and said goodbye to all the staff who had looked after us so well. They and we were sorry we were leaving. It had been a great couple of weeks in a lovey quiet resort and we had enjoyed it.

We were moving on to a hotel called La Flora at Koh Lak on the mainland North of Phuket. This area had been destroyed in the 2004 Tsunami. My three daughters Francesca, Isabel and Rosanna are coming out to join us here for Christmas. Unfortunately, my son Alex suffered a head injury in September and is still recovering and has been advised not to fly long distance.

I got the 10.00am boat back to the marina as I wanted to check on Stormbird. Jules was getting the 12.00noon boat and we had arranged a taxi for 12.45pm to take us to La Flora.

Stormbird had men crawling all over her when I arrived and there were finishing the undercoat of the antifoul. The propeller had been cleaned and the anodes replaced. I caught up with the antifoul man and he knows Stormbird is going back in the water on Monday. I discovered this is now 11.00am not 11.00pm which is much better.

The engine people came to finish off the engine and I wanted them to be confident it will start when we go in the water. They started the engine but needed to bleed it for it to fire up. They could only do this briefly as there is no water to circulate around the engine.

I checked the windlass which had two new electric switches and there were two new skin fittings in the engine room. There was also a new pipe for the generator inlet etc which was good.

The engineer also came to replace the pressure gauge on the water maker. Puffin was still being varnished and most things have been done that I needed to be done. The rigger can come and complete after Christmas. I cleared the saloon as they are going to clean the upholstery as well. It was so hot but I got what I needed done. Things are going well and I look forward to her going back in the water.

I met Jules off the 12.00noon boat which arrived at the marina at 12.30pm and we got our taxi at 12.45pm. We had about an hour and 40 minutes to La Flora. The journey took us back to the West of Phuket and then we went over the Sarasin Bridge which links the mainland. It is not a long bridge and the distance of water is only about half a nm.

The roads were long and straight and we soon came to the Koh Lak area which is quite built up on the road and we eventually turned off to the beach and La Flora was one of a number of hotels on this are of the beach.  You could tell it was a touristy area.

It looked quite modern in comparison to Santhiya and we had a poolside room which meant we could come out of our French doors and into a pool which is quite fun. There are 4 bars dotted about and a number of pools which separate the hotel areas. There was a lovely beach and dinning is effectively on the beach or just behind it.

We sorted ourselves out and had a walk around and got the geographical understanding of the place. We visited the spa and gym and Jules had a snack to keep her going.  

Supper was quite loud as there was live music on the beach and then a fire show which had quite heavy music. The buffet was on but we were not that hungry. However, the choice of the buffet was enormous and you could really have pigged out. We just had a main and then walked along the beach after supper and saw various other hotels etc. We clearly need to explore further and to consider what excursions we may like to do whilst here.   

The picture of the day is of course Stormbird with a new coat on her bottom. The topcoats are still to come.

 Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

I am looking for crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town and from Cape Town to the UK. If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com