Sailing Up The Chao Praya River?

[peter267]

A SAILING ADVENTURE FROM KOH SAMET TO AYUTTAYA UP THE RIVER CHAO PRAYA RIVER?

 

 

I have an itch to scratch,  to make a  one way voyage in my 6m open drop keel  Hawk sailing boat from Koh Samet (Rayong) to the city of Ayuttaya - sailing up the Gulf of Thailand into the Chao Praya River and passing through Bangkok to the north - transiting some 30 bridges over a total distance of  200Nm (400km)

 

Always sailed most of my life and now some 15 years living and working in Thailand have been fascinated and intrigued about the  Portuguese sailors in  the year 1511 , that found the mouth of the Chao Praya and thought it was worth a sail up to see what might be there.

 

I am actually relocating my residence from Rayong to Ayuttaya and want to be able to say to people who meet me post sail,  now a 66-year-old man, “I am so old, I came here on a sailing boat”.

 

So a 200Nm sailing trip travelling at an average of 4 knots  (400km @ 8km/hr)  makes it a continuous journey time of 50 hours.  An open boat, sun & wind - a 5-hour sail more than enough in a single day.

The pressure of modern life, working, Premier League watching and webering puts pressure on time and thinking do some long days and get it done in 6 or 7day - use the boat engine a bit more than the Portuguese did.

 

But wait, this is an adventure of a lifetime, mine anyway,  think of all the waterside things to pass by, maybe visit and ponder about.  Those 30 bridges to think about some with 4m head height (the boat rigged to lower & raise mast underway)    But the temples, palaces, restaurants, quirky guest houses - poking down odd side canals - Ox Bo bends and wildlife - stuff just not seen from roadsides. So why not slow down and take it all in, plan it in detail to stop when wanted for as long as wanted before moving along.   Not as a continuous sail but taking it in bites of 2-3  weekend days at a time over a couple of months?

 

Technically river sailing is an interesting challenge - effectively a low gutter - wind direction and strength can be variable + in a river that is a bit tidal but also has huge level effect from upstream dams turning flows on & off - and those 30 bridges.  Opportunity for an interesting interaction with other riverboat users.    All stuff I am sort of prepared for technically and with experience  - having sailed down the River Thames in the UK a couple of times -  from Lechlade & through the lock system, bridges and into the tidal Thames estuary.

 

 

So what I am wondering is,  are there any Thai based, Thai Visa members,   potential adventurers, that could develop an itch to participate - make up an ad hoc team to maybe help plan & see all or some of the cruise.  What could be interesting is to involve some web bloggy types to get involved to push the envelope on discovering interesting places to stop and of course record the adventure on Go Pro’s & cameras.   

 

Currently thinking early months of 2020?

 

Responses here or PM will decide where this goes and how 

 

[Puccini]

14 hours ago, peter267 said:

transiting some 30 bridges over a total distance of  200Nm (400km)

N = newton (= kg m s^-2)
m = metre
Source: https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure

 

This is the first time I see Nm (newtonmetre) and as far as I see in the SI brochure mentioned above it does not exist, since there is no prefix N. It also cannot be the multiplication newton*metre, as this would make no sense.

 

Anyway, happy sailing!

 

[Carib]

20 minutes ago, Puccini said:

N = newton (= kg m s^-2)
m = metre
Source: https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure

 

This is the first time I see Nm (newtonmetre) and as far as I see in the SI brochure mentioned above it does not exist, since there is no prefix N. It also cannot be the multiplication newton*metre, as this would make no sense.

 

Anyway, happy sailing!

 

How about Nautical Miles...

[Crossy]

It's pretty evident our OP means Nautical Miles, Nm is an acceptable abbreviation.

 

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_mile

 

There is no single internationally agreed symbol.^[1]

• M is used as the abbreviation for the nautical mile by the International Hydrographic Organization^[4] and by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.^[1]
• NM is used by the International Civil Aviation Organization.^[5][6]
• nm (the SI symbol for the nanometre) is used by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.^[7]
• nmi is used by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers^[8] and the United States Government Publishing Office.^[9]
• nq (from the French word nautique) is used by the French Navy in the ship's logs.

While using M itself, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures recognises that NM, Nm and nmi are also in use.^[1]

 

[KittenKong]

18 hours ago, peter267 said:

I have an itch to scratch,  to make a  one way voyage in my 6m open drop keel  Hawk sailing boat from Koh Samet (Rayong) to the city of Ayuttaya - sailing up the Gulf of Thailand into the Chao Praya River and passing through Bangkok to the north - transiting some 30 bridges over a total distance of  200Nm (400km)

An interesting and unusual idea. I very much enjoy the many river-taxi trips I have taken on that river, but given the high amount of boat traffic on it I think that it would be safer to use a motor rather than wind-power.

[NancyL]

His sailboat has a motor, because if he actually attempted to sail up the this busy river, he'd have as much right-of-way as a pedestrian at a zebra cross walk with a signal light.

[AlexRRR]

Id be in the adventure.....sounds cool to me...

[Damrongsak]

Wear appropriate clothing.

 

[cheeryble]

As someone who's been forced to tack up the Hamble by sail many moons ago do remember (I’m sure u know well) that engines can fail. So the anchor needs to be ready to chuck, with plenty of chain/rope so it will hit the bottom at a low angle and catch hold.
Sure I’m reminding my grandma to suck eggs.
Do keep us posted.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[peter267]

Thanks for some interest guys,

 

OK I typed I wrote Nm as it looked right & familar & sure Nm metric for Nm a measurement of force - journeys over water classically nm =  nautical miles.  "torque" has little part in this trip but hoping "talk" might.

 

Yes, there are some very busy bits of the river thats for sure.  In theory under international rules sail boat has the right of way in many cases and as Nancy L observes - however like a "Pavlov dog" I still line up at many zebra crossings in Thailand to cross busy roads after years of observing it appears drivers speed up and take aim rather than get near to stopping. I will sail on the river with caution & little expectation! 

 

I don't have right of way over a tug boat & 4 barges. In maratime  law or practically.

 

Ahh yes the Hamble Cheeryble good bit wider at the busy bits,  and with the tide flowing with you at 5 Knots a sail boat is a jet powered "Pooh stick" !!  A proper sailor can bring a boat onto an anchor buoy or alongside a jetty under sail as could the Portugese.   My boat has 2 anchors, engine & tows a sit on canoe

 

The busy part of the river is maybe 10-15km and at normal day time - this just 2 hours motoring and most of the low bridges in this section.   But imagine the photo of the  blue & green spinnaker set with Rama VIII bridge suspension wires framing the shot, with sunset or sunrise  in-front, or even lit up.   Surely got to hang around and do that one.

 

Damrongsak,  You very welcome in uniform but,  sword plastic,  AlexRRR I will  PM message when I advance my planning.

 

 

 

 

[poohy]

Sounds like a great trip! i used to commute from Ratchawat pier to Banglumpoo pier for years!

However something sticks in my mind about "them" not allowing private boats on river in Banglumpoo area (palace areas)

 

Might have dreamt it, but worth checking

[peter267]

As plans develop I have to consider do I build confidence the plan is viable and acceptable and just do it or do I go 'cap in hand' to the authorities to seek approval.   

 

There is a South East Asia Pilot that writes up a bit the entry into the Chao Praya and passing up to the 'central plains'  that does not mention 'no sail' areas.

 

However

I have re-read the "ACT ON NAVIGATION IN THAI WATERS, B.E. 2456 (available in English)

 

Section 36. No seagoing Kampan ship shall anchor along the river between Sapanhan Canal and Bang Lampu Bon Canal except there is a necessity. The reason is because such location is reserved for anchoring of Thai gun ships. Any seagoing Kampan ship or foreign gun ship that sails or being tugged passing the canal up to the river way shall be deemed illegal except the special permission has been granted from the Master of Harbour with any condition as he or she thinks appropriate.

 

Section 37.17 In case of no urgent necessity, no Kampan ship shall anchor in the river area between Bookalo Temple and the area of 200 meters down from the mouth of Bang Pakaew Canal and between the mouth of Padung Canal and Sampeng Canal. The reason is because such location is reserved for a transportation route of vessels."

 

I think, if I approach the 'Master of the Harbour' I need to do so with some preparation - photo's of the boat detail the running lights, anchors etc etc, my UK Yacht Masters certificate and a planned itinery and ask for some guidance - rather than just arrive in the river one fine day,  dressed as a pirate.   

 

I also think at least in the lower parts of the river it would be wise to have a Thai national on the boat and involved in visiting the 'Master of The Harbour' 

 

Phoohy, Thanks for your input. 

[MikeN]

They obviously have not updated that section 36 since the aftermath of the "Manhattan rebellion" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Rebellion ) when the navy's "gunships" were banned from coming up river any more !

Sounds like a wonderful adventure if you can pull it off, but just one worry ....just what are you going to do about the TM30 every night ? ????

A few months ago I did see a large yacht with the stars and stripes tied up near the Saphan Taksin pier (Bangkok port?) so presumably you can get a yacht at least as far as that.

Edited August 8, 2019 by MikeN

[LA8RAT]

Sounds a great adventure, fair play to you for having the spirit and the get up and go to want to have a go at something like this. did you sail you yacht from the UK to Asia or did you buy it in Asia?

[RoyDee]

Hi Peter - a very exciting idea. Wish you all success. I wonder if you have read the books on Thai river journeys written by two other adventurous souls: Steve van Beek, "Slithering South", 1988 (paddled a wooden boat from source of Chao Phrya River all the way down its mouth); and Patrick Lemmon, "A River Less Travelled", 2012 (sailed home made boat down part of Ping River). 

http://www.stevevanbeek.com/2a2_slithering_south_intro.php

Can contact Steve or his Thai wife Piyawee:

http://www.stevevanbeek.com/contact.php

https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citylife-articles/a-river-less-travelled/

Best of luck!

 

 

[peter267]

On 8/9/2019 at 4:36 PM, LA8RAT said:

Sounds a great adventure, fair play to you for having the spirit and the get up and go to want to have a go at something like this. did you sail you yacht from the UK to Asia or did you buy it in Asia?

Its barely a yacht - its a  6m long open day sailer - it came to Thailand in a 40 foot container - could not commit to living here and not sail -  The Hawk is a very good sea boat - strong & safe - but shallow draft perfect for rivers and beaches

[peter267]

Hi Peter - a very exciting idea. Wish you all success. I wonder if you have read the books on Thai river journeys written by two other adventurous souls: Steve van Beek, "Slithering South", 1988 (paddled a wooden boat from source of Chao Phrya River all the way down its mouth); and Patrick Lemmon, "A River Less Travelled", 2012 (sailed home made boat down part of Ping River). 

http://www.stevevanbeek.com/2a2_slithering_south_intro.php

Can contact Steve or his Thai wife Piyawee:

http://www.stevevanbeek.com/contact.php

https://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citylife-articles/a-river-less-travelled/

Best of luck!

 

Thanks for this & found "Slithering South" as a kindle read on Amazon and bought it.  I will have to give thought to an equally good title to give my venture............. Return of the Pastel de Nata?