Commissioning and enjoying the best of Southern Asia Sailing
Coinciding with the initial deliveries of the Seawind 1370, Seawind began refining its factory commissioning process, opting for a more personal and controlled experience. They found their answer in Phil Harper, an Aussie expat who’s called Thailand home for most of his adult life. Phil isn’t just an accomplished sailor and seasoned delivery captain; he also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of all things sailing in Southeast Asia, plus the uncanny ability to sort out boat issues with a quiet shrug and a multi-tool.
Seawind chose Ocean Marina, one of the finest marinas in Southeast Asia, as its commissioning hub. The program has been, by all accounts, a monumental success. Owners rave about having factory-level support close by, and the legendary Phil just a WhatsApp message away. Demand has grown so much that there’s now a waiting list for a coveted commissioning slot.
In April 2024, we joined the ranks, commissioning our new Seawind 1370 in Thailand. It was, without question, a deeply satisfying experience. Phil not only worked through our entire punch list; large, small, and personal, but also shared a wealth of sailing wisdom and local knowledge. We spent the following months sailing among the Gulf of Thailand’s gorgeous islands, dialing in the systems, honing our skills, and wondering if we’d ever really leave.
Many owners, after commissioning, ship or sail their boats back to their home countries. That was our original plan until Phil, in his gentle Aussie way, asked why anyone would go through all the trouble of buying a boat in Southeast Asia only to miss out on, well, Southeast Asia. He suggested we consider the Sail Malaysia Rally.
As it turned out, that was excellent advice.
The rally, now in its third decade, is organized by the indefatigable Sazli Kamal Basha, a Kuala Lumpur native who has built an impressive web of relationships with marinas across Malaysia and parts of Indonesia. He runs a tight, no-nonsense rally, handling everything from customs clearances to celebration dinners with local dignitaries. The rally runs from April through August, and participants can join or leave at any point along the route. It begins in Langkawi, loops around Peninsular Malaysia past Singapore, cruises up to Terengganu, and then crosses into Indonesia—winding through the Anambas and Natuna Islands before tracing the east and north coasts of Borneo and finishing in Tawau.
Having already sailed to Langkawi, we decided to join in at the Kapas/Redang Islands. At the end of May, we sailed down from Ocean Marina and dropped anchor off Redang, where we found ourselves surrounded by a small Seawind flotilla: No Regrets II, No More Tears, PusaKal, and Toujan, soon joined by Enso, Sunny Girl, and Nisma. In no time, we felt part of a close-knit tribe. The Seawind community is generous, welcoming, and always ready to lend a spanner or a story.
We’ve now been with the rally for a month, and the experience has been nothing short of surreal. Every day seems to offer a new blend of adventure, cultural connection, and jaw-dropping scenery. The camaraderie among sailors and the warmth of local communities—it’s the stuff you hope for but rarely find.
In the Redang/Kapas Islands, we anchored in water so clear it felt wrong not to just sit and stare. Hawksbill and green turtles drifted lazily beneath our boat, seemingly unbothered by our presence. When several Seawinds appeared, the locals came out to cheer us in—perhaps mistaking us for something far more organized. We visited a turtle sanctuary where we helped inspect nests, checking which baby turtles were ready for release. We snorkeled in vivid coral gardens and surface dove a massive sunken transport ship.
A few days later, we made our way to Terengganu, one of Malaysia’s more conservative Muslim regions, and received what can only be described as a hero’s welcome—though I suspect the word “hero” was used with generous imagination. The town held a bridge-opening ceremony timed to our arrival. Our boats, decked out in flags in an optimistic attempt to look official, motored beneath cheering crowds. It was as if we had circumnavigated the globe, rather than just puddle-hopped up the coast.
We were welcomed with warmth, shown around the city, and introduced to a bevy of smiling officials who politely ignored the fact that we all smelled faintly of diesel and damp laundry. After a few days restocking fuel and food, we set off again, headed for the Anambas Islands—a two-day crossing of the South China Sea.
If paradise has a postcode, it might be somewhere near the Anambas.
Scattered like green marbles on a blue silk sheet, the islands rise dramatically from the sea—untouched and mostly uninhabited. Here, the snorkeling is so good you don’t really have to leave the cockpit—just lean over the side with a drink and watch the reef life go by. Jungle waterfalls spill into the sea. Coral reefs fan out beneath your hull like living tapestries.
Historically, these islands were a waypoint for Chinese and Arab traders on the spice route. Then, for several centuries, absolutely nothing happened—which is part of their charm. Unlike Bali or Phuket, the Anambas never made it into travel brochures. They are, happily, overlooked.
The entire town of Tarempa (population 5,000) came out to greet us with banners, speeches, and a parade. Local dancers performed. Officials with clipboards posed for selfies. It was elaborate and sincere—and went on well into the night. We were humbled and slightly dazed.
In the days that followed, we were taken on guided tours of waterfalls, mosques, and markets before being let loose to explore the islands, with palm-fringed beaches so idyllic it felt as if we had fallen into a dream.
We found a unique and notable experience on a remote island, where we met a woman who had bought her own slice of paradise and decided to live off the land with her two daughters. Solar power, a freshwater well, chickens, rabbits, a garden, it was like something from a modern day Robinson Crusoe, if Crusoe wore a sarong and knew how to compost. She invited many of us for dinner and shared her story, and for a while, we forgot all about our own journey, swept up in hers.
We then sailed 170 nautical miles to Serasan Island, another hidden gem with powder-white beaches and swaying palm trees. Fewer than 5,000 people live there and rarely see sailboats, let alone a parade of them. The locals prepared a barbecue dinner—grilled chicken, fish, and a couple of beers—and treated us like celebrities. We were stopped constantly for photos and gave interviews like visiting dignitaries who’d forgotten to pack formalwear.
Next came our arrival in Santubong, Borneo, perfectly timed for the Rainforest World Music Festival, a three-day fusion of music, culture, food, and art held on the edge of the rainforest—with monkeys in attendance. About twenty yachts fanned out in a nearby river anchorage under the towering Mount Santubong, which looked amazingly like Machu Picchu. Some of us climbed the mountain—a near-vertical scramble involving ropes, ladders, and slightly reckless optimism. Others explored the jungle rivers by dinghy or wandered through cultural spots in the city. Most of us attended the Music Festival, which was incredibly well done.
We capped the visit with a trip to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, where semi-wild orangutans may or may not decide to grace you with their presence. We were lucky—several emerged from the forest like shaggy spirits, swinging down for a snack of morning fruit.
There is much more to share. Every day ushers in a unique experience, more suitable for a book than a blog. And now, as I write this, we’re sailing up Borneo’s east coast to Miri. The wind’s a perfect 13 knots on the beam, the screecher is flying, and we’re sliding along at 9 knots in quiet luxury aboard our Seawind 1370. It feels a bit unreal, like we’ve stumbled into someone else’s highlight reel. We know it won’t always be this easy, but for now, we’re happy to ride the magic.
Updates on the Rally to follow.
About the Owner
1. When did you take delivery of your catamaran?
We took delivery of our new Seawind 1370 in April 2024 at Ocean Marina, Thailand.
2. Why did you choose Seawind?
There were a lot of strong reasons why we chose Seawind. Primarily it came down to a balance of ease of sailing, comfort, and performance, backed by a long successful history of quality boat building.
3. Favorite feature on the boat?
Picking one favorite feature is difficult, but for us it has to be the helm position. Those unfamiliar with Seawind often comment with worries or misconceptions regarding Seawind’s unique helm position. It doesn’t take long on a Seawind to understand why the helm positons are superior in so many ways. I can’t ever see myself owning anything but a Seawind for this reason alone.
4. Best item you’ve added since owning the boat?
That would have to be a Sea.ai, real time object detection, alert and collision avoidance system. It’s like having a full time alert crew member on watch all the time and provides a lot of safety and peace of mind, especially at night.
5. Favorite cruising destination so far and why?
Right now Southeast Asia takes the top spot for us. This sailing is beautiful, safe, inexpensive, uncrowded, and fascinating. That along with the universally wonderful people is a hard combination to beat.