Serving the Yacht Charter industry for 30 years
Island Spirit Yacht Charter
Meet the crew
Ron Patston
Fearless CEO Responsible for all things Business
Craig Verrall
Yacht Knowledge Extraordinaire, helps you buy a boat
Kristof Vanderschueren
Relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction
Francois Myburgh
Krusty Seadog, Keeps everything running
Raymond Khoo
Remote Charter Base Manager
Kelly Simmawong
Thailand Charter Expert
Anthony Symons
Seychelles Charter Expert
Island Spirit Yacht Charter
a 30 years adventure
Today
It is Asias’a most prominent independent Charter Operator with a fleet of over 40 yachts and is the only yacht Charter Company with a base in all three of Thailand’s sailing destinations: Phuket, Koh Chang and Koh Samui as well as the Seychelles.
It is also Asia’s largest sailing school with locations in Phuket, Pattaya and the Seychelles offering from beginner learn-to-sail programs all the way up to a very unique “learn to cruise the world” 3-month course only available from Island Spirit.
Island Spirit Charters is core to the Island Spirit Group of companies, including Yacht and Commercial boat Manufacturing, Brokerage and Finance.
Early days
Established in 1993, Elite Yachting was a pioneer of the Yacht Charter industry in Phuket. Some ten years later, in 2003, Gulf Charters Thailand pioneered the start of the Yacht Charter industry in the Gulf of Thailand, opening Charter Bases in Koh Chang and Koh Samui.
At the same time, it established Asia’s first International Yacht Training School at Ocean Marina, located in Jomtien, just two hours south of Bangkok.
Evolution
Group Island Spirit began its journey with the acquisition of Island Spirit Manufacturing, which today produces the Island Spirit range of recreational Catamarans and the Austhai Marine range of commercial Catamarans. In 2018, Island Spirit Group acquired both Gulf Charters Thailand and Elite Yachting to form Island Spirit Charters, to form Thailand’s largest independent bareboat charter fleet. In 2023 Island Spirit Group acquired Bat-O-Bleu as the first expansion out of Thailand to add a premiere charter destination in the Seychelles.
Elite Yachting brought with it the Bavaria Yachts dealership, which proved synergistic to the Gulfs representation of Catalina Yachts, forming the building blocks for what is today the Island Spirit Brokerage. Introducing Island Spirit Finance was a fortuitous move designed to improve buyer access to the benefits of owning a yacht in the Island Spirit Charter fleet.
Brands we represent
