Skippered Charters
Sail with confidence, with a professional skipper on board
Skippered Charters
JOIN THE SAILING SOCIAL THIS AUGUST!
No sailing experience needed — just a sense of adventure.
A skippered charter gives you the complete freedom of your own private yacht, with an expert at the helm who knows these waters better than anyone.
Our skippers are hand-picked from the best the region has to offer. All hold Thai Maritime Department certification, but what sets them apart goes beyond qualifications — after 30 years operating in Phuket, Koh Chang and Koh Samui, we know exactly who the outstanding skippers are in each location. We choose people with deep local roots, exceptional seamanship, and the kind of character that makes a week on the water genuinely memorable. They know our yachts inside out, they know our base teams personally, and they know these cruising grounds in a way that only decades of local sailing can teach.
This isn’t a skipper assigned from a roster. It’s someone who has earned their place on an Island Spirit yacht.
What your skipper brings to your charter:
- Knowledge of anchorages, channels and bays that don’t appear on any tourist map
- Direct relationships with local fishermen, restaurant owners and community figures built over years — not a guidebook recommendation
- Familiarity with every yacht in our fleet, so maintenance issues are spotted early and your time on the water is uninterrupted
- Honest, personalised route planning based on your group, your pace and the conditions — not a standard itinerary
- The seamanship to keep you safe in any conditions these waters present
You handle nothing. Arrive at the marina, meet your skipper, and within the hour you’ll be under sail toward your first anchorage. Your skipper handles navigation, provisioning logistics, weather routing and local knowledge — leaving you free to swim, eat, explore and relax entirely on your terms.
Skippered charters suit everyone from first-time sailors to experienced seafarers who simply want local expertise on their side. If you’ve ever wanted to explore Thailand by sea without the responsibility of the helm, this is exactly that.
Is This Right for What is Skippered Charter?You?
A skippered charter is your own private yacht, with a professional captain included. You choose where to go and how to spend your days — your skipper handles all the sailing, navigation and local knowledge. No experience needed.
Is This Right for You?
Not sure if you need a skipper? If you don't hold a recognised sailing qualification, a skippered charter is the answer. And even if you do sail, many experienced sailors choose a skipper simply for the local knowledge — someone who knows exactly where to anchor, where to eat, and which bays to avoid in certain winds.
Why Choose Skippered
Because knowing where to go is only half of it. Knowing which bay to leave before the wind shifts, which fishing village serves the freshest catch, and which anchorage you'll have entirely to yourself — that takes years. Our skippers have those years. You get to benefit from them in a week
What Your Skipper Does
Your skipper plans each day around your group, the weather and the conditions — not a fixed itinerary. They handle all navigation, anchoring, safety monitoring and passage planning, drawing on years of experience in these specific waters. Off the boat, they're your most valuable local contact — the person who knows which beach to visit on a Tuesday morning before anyone else arrives, which restaurant the fishing boats supply directly, and which route home makes the most of the afternoon breeze.
Your yacht. A skipper who knows where to go
Where You Can Sail
The difference with a skippered charter is not just having someone to sail the boat. It is having someone who knows where to go. Our skippers have spent years exploring Thailand’s coastline across all three of our sailing grounds, the Andaman Sea out of Phuket, the Gulf of Thailand from Koh Chang, and the waters around Koh Samui. They know which anchorages are worth the detour, which reefs are worth the dive, and which bays are still empty at sunrise. That local knowledge is not something you can find on a chart. It comes with experience, and it comes with your skipper.
PHUKET
Phuket, Phang Nga Bay & Krabi — The Andaman's signature landscape: ancient limestone karsts rising vertically from the sea, draped in jungle and circled by sea eagles. Our crew know the quiet corners of this bay that day-trip crowds never reach.
Koh Chang
Koh Chang — Thailand's best-kept sailing secret, and one our guests return to repeatedly. Swim alongside elephants, anchor off uninhabited islands, and wake up to a horizon you'll share with no one. This is the Thailand that existed before tourism found it.
Phuket
Koh Samui & Ang Thong Marine Park, Koh Tao & Koh Phangan — Hidden lagoons, soaring viewpoints, and a kaleidoscopic underwater world that leaves our guests speechless. World-class dive sites and idyllic beaches within easy reach, and our crew knows exactly which ones to seek out and which to skip.
Your yacht, your way
Choose Your Bareboat Yacht
Every group sails differently. Whether you need two cabins or six, a performance monohull or a spacious catamaran, our fleet covers the full range. All yachts are selected, maintained and operated by Island Spirit to the same standards we have held for over 30 years. Find the one that fits your crew, your route, and the way you want to sail Thailand.
What’s Included
- Professional Skipper
- Insurance
- All linens and towels
- A fully equipped galley
- A starter pack
- RIB dinghy with an outboard
- Snorkeling gear
- Galley cleaning supplies
What’s Not Included
- Fuel
- Food & drinks
- Marina fees
Find Available Yachts
Your yacht, your way
Let us know your plans and we’ll guide you from there
A Thailand-based sailing expert will be in touch shortly with options built around your dates and destination.
View Island Spirit Yacht Charter Customer Reviews
What our customers say
Guest Experiences
These reviews are shared directly by our guests after their time on board, reflecting their real experience with us.
Not sure which charter is right for you?
Our team has over 30 years of local knowledge and is happy to help you plan the perfect sailing holiday.