Its gradually sloping, sandy bottom permits anchorage in 5 - 15 metres anywhere in this broad bay.

Patong is the busiest bay on the west coast, particularly around Christmas, New Year and the Songkran water festival. It is also the main high season anchorage for cruise ships, live-a-board dive boats and in recent years the growing number of visiting superyachts.

To the south end of Patong bay is a fixed jetty and a floating jetty which is used during the high season as a transit point for visiting cruise ships and Superyachts.

On the northern rocky side of the bay are three landmark restaurants, Baan Rim Pa, Da Maurizio's and Joe’s Downstairs, all founded by Tom McNamara, an American entrepreneur who, over 20 years ago, set the standard for Phuket.

Anchor in 8-10 metres on a sandy bottom off one of the small beaches. This is a good stop for the night if a southwesterly swell is running early or late in the season. South Point is also a favourite daytime excursion for longtails operating from the main beach. Many divers and snorkellers come to enjoy the underwater sights within easy range of the beach facilities of Patong.

Look for a small bay just east of the Thavorn Beach Village resort’s concrete jetty. You’ll find a water hose has been laid from a hillside spring to a buoy offshore. Good tank water is usually available for a modest fee, even at the end of the dry season.

Just inside the northernmost point in Patong, this bay has a steep coral shelf rising from a sandy bottom in about 12 metres. Lots of colourful corals and fish await the underwater explorer. This is a good haven from the northwesterly swell, common in February and March. Access to the beach, now overlooked by a villa housing development, is best at high water.

This mere indentation in the headland affords shelter for one or two boats. Anchor in about 12 metres on a sandy bottom with scattered coral in front of the residential villas.

In the corner of the bay you will find a spring which is accessible by dinghy – bring your jerry cans. The spring often dries up by the end of the dry season, so don’t rely on it.

Kamala Beach lies in a pretty bay, with several hotels. There are plenty of restaurants ashore in a busy village atmosphere on the south end of the beach. The bay is easily recognised from seaward by the large structures of the Phuket Fantasea Park and the developments on the southern hill.

Kamala Dreams fronting the beach in the centre of the village is owned by a yachting veteran of 26 years in Phuket, Jan Jacobs, who has many tales of sailing the local waters.

Care should be taken when coming from the south to avoid the rocky patch 300 metres off the headland. Anchor anywhere well out in the bay in 6-8 metres on a sandy bottom.

Laem Sing is a beautiful bay framed by two rocky headlands. It is the favourite spot for paradise seekers and ageing hippies who prefer the short longtail ride from Patong to the gruelling bus ride to Krabi. Look for the famous Sunday afternoon parties at Ott’s Bar in the very south of the beach.

Anchor in 10 metres on a sandy bottom. In the south part of Surin Bay is a floating high season jetty. There are several daytime restaurants here, in the high season, with more in nearby Surin Beach, around the headland, which is one of the island’s only zoned public beaches.

As such, all the resorts are situated behind the park, but there are many restaurants, bars, beach clubs and food stalls along the beach, some of which have become transformed into trendy beach clubs for the 4 and 5 star resorts a few hundred metres away.

You should anchor outside the hotel moorings (which are not available for public use) in 10 metres on a sandy bottom. This anchorage is uncomfortable when the northwesterly swell is running in February or March.

This secluded spot is one of the nicer bays on the west coast and is home to The Chedi Phuket and Amanpuri exclusive resorts. Yacht crews may use the hotel restaurants for that special occasion, but it is wise to make a reservation.

There is an excellent sandy beach, and good snorkelling is to be had on both points.

Extracted from The Southeast Asia Pilot (3rd Edition) cruising/sailing guide by Bill O'Leary & Andy Dowden − www.southeastasiapilot.com