Sailing in Paradise - escape the winter blues at Thailand's stunning Royal Varuna Yacht Club
by Mark Jardine 9 Dec 00:00 PST
The view from the Royal Varuna Yacht Club © Mark Jardine
The Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand is a hidden gem, with a stunning view towards Ko Lan, a small island in the Gulf of Thailand.
During the winter months in the northern hemisphere, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club can give visiting sailors some of the best warm water sailing available. The club welcomes guests from around the world and has accommodation on-site, a beautiful clubhouse while enjoys the most amazing sunsets, great facilities including full bar and restaurant, and super-friendly staff who are ready to help with whatever you need.
We take a close look at the club, talking to key people to find out more about its history and ethos, as well as the thriving sailing school which has been nurturing young sailors who have gone on to represent Thailand at the Olympics, and win huge World Championships in classes such as the Optimist.
The club hosts a number of world-class events and training camps, and in early 2026 will be hosting the ILCA Thailand National Championship, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club Open Masters Championship for ILCA 4, 6, 7 and International OK dinghies, and the OK Thailand Open Nationals. The club also hosts World Championships for major dinghy classes.
There is also a thriving catamaran section with large fleets of Formula 18s, Dart 18s and Hobie 16s. For foiling sailors the incredible Switch dinghy is built nearby at Element 6 Evolution, and it's an ideal place to learn to fly.
Royal Varuna Yacht Club organises the world-famous King's Cup Regatta, held in December every year, which is well established for keelboats and has a growing dinghy fleet.
If you are looking for a way to escape the cold in Europe or North America, and keep your sailing up during the winter, then there's possibly no better place on earth to do so. The only warning is that you may not leave!
Find out more about the club at www.varuna.org and view the upcoming regatta schedule at www.varuna.org/regattas