For a Buddhist in Thailand, Christmas and Boxing Days are normal working days and if you run the Hotel Sailing School in Phuket, you provide tuition and take the money.

I had booked a lesson for my Grandson at 10.00am on Sunday 26^th December and so there we were, on the beach waiting for the arrival of a Catamaran.  Matthew is 11 and a keen sportsman but not yet a sailor, so perhaps I could witness the start of a new interest for him.

Phuket generally has a calm sea and a tide of only a few feet.  So to observe the water receding some 400 yards that morning was very strange and the Sailing School team were confused, but not alarmed.  Must be a special Neap tide, I thought and casually chatted away. 

Within minutes the water had returned to normal, but then it was not normal, but started to come up the beach very quickly.  We were still not concerned.  The top of the beach is some 12 feet above the normal sea level and  it quickly reached this height and our feet, were wet.  Immediately we ran and leapt on to a raised concrete counter and stood watching the water steadily rising.  It was really eerie, no noise, no wind and no wave to give us a warning.  Then without any fuss the sea receded leaving behind all manner of flotsam from the inside of the local retailers' stalls that had been on top of the beach.  What a mess, but what a relief that the sea only rose 14 feet above the norm, because anymore and we would have been in serious trouble with more than wet feet.

Reviewing the damage I was pleased to see no structural damage to our Hotel. Matthew and I decided that sailing was off and went to find the rest of the family.  On returning a few minutes later to show off the mess we were met by the second flood already 2 feet deep in the lowest floor of the Hotel.  A very rapid ascent of the nearest staircase got us out of the danger and we could view some of the devastation caused by a tide of 18 feet above normal.  14 rooms were flooded and one couple, caught inside, had to swim through the broken glass doors and were badly cut in the process.

At 11.30 the Guests assembled in the Hotel Lobby, well above sea level, to review the situation. 6 people badly cut and one broken leg, but no fatalities.  After we had viewed the devastation along the beach we reckoned that we had come off lightly.  Next day we heard that other Hotels, villages and townships along the coast had not been so lucky, many with fatalities involving all family members.

The conclusion to this story is that Phuket is a wonderful holiday island, with friendly people, fabulous food and warm seas.  They desperately need Tourists to help rebuild their economy and their lives.  Go there for yourself and for them.

John Bradstreet

Paviors Sailing Day, Saturday 14th May

As their spring event, The Liverymen's Committee have organised a sailing day for Saturday 14^th May, based on the 38ft Sigma "Stormalong".  This is a fairly spacious boat, with ample inside cabin space and standing head room - and yes, it does have a separate compartment with flushing facilities.

Pictures of the boat and further details of Paviors Sailing  at http://www.paviors.org.uk/LiverymensCommittee/Sailing and/or you can also contact us by e-mail on this address to make a booking.

The event is very definitely a social day outing, and the objective is to provide a gentle and relaxing cruise to enable a positive introduction to sailing.  Those attending therefore will require no prior experience of sailing and no specialist clothing or equipment, and those seeking some rope pulling activity will equally have every opportunity to participate!

The intended programme for the day will entail:-  Meeting at Port Solent for bacon sandwich and real coffee;
an introductory sail up Southampton water with…… Champagne and canapés;  an ocean passage to the distant Isle of Wight;  a pub lunch in the Medina River; and a gentle return to Southampton.

Not as arduous as you thought!  The cost of the day will be around £75 per head, which is very good value, and we would appreciate an early response to enable the booking to be secured.  Please contact me as soon as possible to secure your place.

Miles Ashley:-  Home: 01980 610 374;  Work: 01962 813331;  E-Mail: miles@bpogroup.com

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