Sailing in Phuket's Andaman Sea

RYA training in Phuket

Learn to sail
Explore the Andaman

RYA sailing courses from Phuket Yacht Haven Marina

Learning and Having Fun

Sail with Interesting People

Genuine Liveaboard Adventure

Learn to sail

From first sail to confident skipper

Learn to crew and skipper a cruising yacht in a small group, with real time at the helm and life onboard included.

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Explore the Andaman

Iconic islands. Real passages. More miles under sail.

Build miles while discovering limestone bays, remote marine parks and unforgettable anchorages.

Our home port

Phuket Yacht Haven Marina

Our practical courses begin at a full-service, deep-water marina on Phuket's sheltered northeast coast—an easy place to arrive, prepare and set sail into the Andaman.

Cruise Asia - Phuket Sea School office and classroom

Easy to reach from the airport

Around 20 minutes by road from Phuket International Airport, the perfect starting point for your Andaman Sea adventure.

Gateway to the Andaman

Sail toward Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Phi Phi, Racha and the southern islands with scenic passages.

Steve Miller, Chief Instructor at Cruise Asia - Phuket Sea School

Stephen Miller

Chief Instructor

Learn with Steve

Commercially Endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Ocean — Sail and Power

Yachtmaster Instructor Sail Shorebased Theory Instructor VHF Assessor
30,000+
Sea miles
10+
Years teaching
EN · ES
Languages

Steve is an accomplished RYA Yachtmaster and Shorebased Theory Instructor with more than a decade of professional teaching experience. His sailing and training experience spans the Baltic, UK and Atlantic coasts, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.

Experienced in the waters between Langkawi and Phuket

Steve served two teaching seasons with Red Cap Sailing School in Langkawi, delivering courses and sailing regularly between Langkawi and Phuket. He brings first-hand familiarity with the passages and training waters of the Andaman Sea.

In 2018, Steve founded Marbella Sailing School and served as its Principal and Chief Instructor for five years. Students value his clear explanations, patient approach and ability to build confidence at every level—from first-time crew to aspiring Yachtmasters.

Training yacht

Andaman Cruise 2

A modern 2012 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS, carefully maintained, commercially coded for RYA training and operated to the highest safety standards.

Rare training-yacht comfort

Unlike many practical RYA training yachts, Andaman Cruise 2 is equipped with AIR CONDITIONING—adding welcome comfort during a liveaboard course in Phuket's tropical climate.

Length
42 ft / 12.8 m
Training capacity
Maximum 5 students / 8 crew
Accommodation
3 double cabins + galley sofa, 2 heads
Comfort
AC and electric toilet
Safety
Category A and RYA coded
Navigation
Radar, AIS, chartplotter, Wi-Fi
Explore our training yacht
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS sailing near Phuket

Sailing the Andaman

See life on the water

Watch sailing around Phuket and the Andaman Sea—from tropical island passages to everyday life aboard.

Why train with us

Why Phuket Sea School

Choosing a sailing school that suits you can make a huge difference to your experience of learning. Here are six reasons people love us and choose to sail with Phuket Sea School.

01

Amazing training grounds

Learn among spectacular scenery, beautiful beaches and warm swimming spots, with welcoming local communities and excellent Thai food along the way.

02

RYA Training Centre

Train within the recognised RYA system, with clear standards for safety, course delivery and training quality.

03

Experienced instruction

Learn with an experienced British instructor who knows how to teach, how to make training enjoyable and how to use local Andaman knowledge effectively.

04

Comfortable liveaboard yacht

Train aboard a well-maintained yacht with onboard accommodation included, air conditioning and support from the experienced Cruise Asia charter team.

05

Excellent sailing conditions

Phuket offers rewarding wind and varied conditions for every level, from complete beginners to experienced sailors developing advanced skills.

06

An international community

Meet students from around the world—around 60% from Europe and the Americas and 40% from Asia-Pacific. We love that diversity.

Course reviews

What students say

Illustrative testimonials for design development. Replace these examples with verified student feedback before public launch.

1 / 20
Alex Morgan, sailing course student

I arrived as a complete beginner and finished the week confidently helming, handling sails and helping around the yacht. Steve Miller explained everything calmly, and learning among the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay was unforgettable.

Alex Morgan

RYA Competent Crew

United Kingdom

Sofia Bennett, sailing course student

The liveaboard format made the course feel like real cruising rather than a series of classroom exercises. Phuket's warm water, quiet anchorages and spectacular scenery made an ideal place to learn.

Sofia Bennett

RYA Competent Crew

Singapore

Daniel Wu, sailing course student

Steve gave me space to make decisions while always keeping the boat and crew safe. By Friday I was planning approaches, briefing the crew and taking command with much more confidence.

Daniel Wu

RYA Day Skipper Practical

Germany

Lena Fischer, sailing course student

A challenging but very rewarding week. Pilotage around Phuket's islands turned the chartwork into something practical, and Steve's feedback after every manoeuvre was clear and useful.

Lena Fischer

RYA Day Skipper Practical

Hong Kong

Oliver Grant, sailing course student

The passages, changing conditions and busy approaches gave us plenty to work with. Steve remained calm throughout and pushed each student at exactly the right level.

Oliver Grant

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

Australia

Camille Laurent, sailing course student

I wanted more confidence leading an experienced crew, not just another certificate. The coaching was precise, the yacht was comfortable, and the Andaman sailing area was genuinely beautiful.

Camille Laurent

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

France

Thomas de Vries, sailing course student

Steve quickly identified the small habits that were weakening my skippering. The week was intensive, practical and focused, and I went into the exam feeling properly prepared rather than simply rehearsed.

Thomas de Vries

Yachtmaster Preparation

Netherlands

Maya Hassan, sailing course student

Excellent preparation for command, pilotage and crew management. Steve asked difficult questions but always explained the reasoning, and the varied waters around Phuket provided a superb training ground.

Maya Hassan

Yachtmaster Preparation

United Arab Emirates

Narin Chai, sailing course student

The passage-planning and navigation topics finally made sense. Every exercise connected back to situations we could encounter around Phuket and Phang Nga Bay.

Narin Chai

RYA Day Skipper Theory

Thailand

Li Wei, sailing course student

A well-structured course with patient explanations and plenty of practical examples. It gave me the confidence to move from theory into my Day Skipper practical week.

Li Wei

RYA Day Skipper Theory

China

Erik Lund, sailing course student

An intensive programme made manageable through logical teaching and excellent course materials. Weather, passage planning and collision regulations were all connected into one clear picture.

Erik Lund

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory

Sweden

Aisha Rahman, sailing course student

The radio procedures were taught clearly and then practised until they felt natural. I left understanding how to make routine, urgency and distress calls—not merely how to pass the assessment.

Aisha Rahman

RYA Marine Radio SRC

Malaysia

Connor Murphy, sailing course student

Steve made a technical subject relaxed and practical. The DSC exercises and realistic call scenarios were especially useful, and I felt fully prepared for the exam.

Connor Murphy

RYA Marine Radio SRC

Ireland

Hannah Brooks, sailing course student

A practical first-aid day focused on the realities of helping someone afloat. The marine scenarios made the training far more relevant than a standard workplace course.

Hannah Brooks

RYA First Aid

New Zealand

James Walker, sailing course student

Two packed days of manoeuvring, planning and close-quarters handling. Steve was patient, precise and encouraging, and I finished feeling ready to handle a powerboat independently.

James Walker

RYA Powerboat Level 2

United Kingdom

Emi Tanaka, sailing course student

The training was professional without feeling pressured. Practising around Phuket gave us a useful mix of open water, marina handling and real traffic.

Emi Tanaka

RYA Powerboat Course

Japan

Chloe Martin, sailing course student

A perfect introduction to sailing. I was nervous at the start, but Steve had me steering and helping with sails on the first day. I immediately wanted to continue to Competent Crew.

Chloe Martin

RYA Start Yachting

Canada

Pieter Jacobs, sailing course student

Real miles, proper watchkeeping and useful coaching rather than simply being a passenger. Sunrise among the islands and the overnight sailing were highlights of the trip.

Pieter Jacobs

Andaman Mile Builder

South Africa

Luca Bernardi, sailing course student

The two-course pathway worked brilliantly. I built solid crew skills first and then learned to make decisions as skipper, all while living aboard in one of the most scenic sailing areas I have visited.

Luca Bernardi

Competent Crew + Day Skipper Package

Switzerland

Rachel Adams, sailing course student

The private format let Steve tailor every exercise to our family and our future cruising plans. We learned a huge amount, enjoyed beautiful Phuket anchorages and never felt rushed.

Rachel Adams

Private Yacht Training

United States

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do I need sailing experience?

No. Competent Crew is designed for complete beginners. We teach in a practical, supportive environment.

What sort of qualification will I be awarded?

You will receive the relevant RYA course certificate when you complete the course and demonstrate the required standard. Practical courses such as Competent Crew and Day Skipper are continuously assessed. Yachtmaster Preparation is training rather than a qualification; the Yachtmaster certificate is awarded only after passing the separate examination.

What boat will I learn on?

Our initial practical courses use Andaman Cruise 2, a well-maintained Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS based at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina. She has three double cabins, a galley sofa, two heads and air conditioning, and is equipped and operated for RYA training. Your confirmed course run and joining instructions identify the assigned yacht.

How many students are there on my course?

RYA sail-cruising practical weeks are limited to a maximum of five students aboard our training yacht. Yachtmaster Preparation and examination programmes have a maximum of four candidates. Actual groups may be smaller, and the school may further limit advanced-course numbers to protect training quality.

How will I pay?

Online card bookings are paid securely through Stripe. Bank transfer is also available; when a course starts at least 90 days after booking, an eligible transfer booking may pay a 30% deposit with the remaining 70% due 60 days before the course. Otherwise, full payment is required. The checkout shows the payment methods and currencies currently available for your booking.

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Life at the school

A glimpse of Phuket Sea School

Sailing students training aboard a yacht in Phuket
Learn on the water
Practical sailing instruction in Phuket
Practical training
Sailing through the Andaman Sea
Explore the Andaman
Phuket Yacht Haven Marina
Our home port
Cruise Asia - Phuket Sea School base
Meet the school
Phuket Sea School office at Yacht Haven Marina
The school office
Cruise Asia base in Phuket
Our Phuket base
Sailing yacht underway near Phuket
Sailing Phuket
Life aboard a sailing yacht
Life aboard
Cruise Asia sailing experience in Phuket
Cruise Asia
Sailing course experience in Thailand
Course adventures
Skipper training aboard a sailing yacht
Build confidence
International sailing course student in Phuket
International students
RYA sailing student in Thailand
Learn together
Student enjoying a Phuket sailing course
Memorable training

Talk to the school

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