Expat from Hua Hin to attempt to cross Gulf of Thailand on a paddle board

[rooster59]

Expat from Hua Hin to attempt to cross Gulf of Thailand on a paddle board

 

 

A Russian man aims to cross the Gulf of Thailand from Pattaya to Hua Hin using only a stand up paddle board (SUP).

 

Vladimir Kruchinin, 37, will attempt 110km journey on Monday 17th December, after bad weather last week forced him to reschedule.

 

Vladimir told Thaivisa how he has lived in Hua Hin with his wife and son since 2012.

 

Having only first tried paddle boarding in 2016 he became hooked after renting a board from a resort at Sam Roi Yot beach.

 

Despite it taking him “at least twenty times to get up on the board” he eventually managed to get the hang of it.

 

“At that moment, I fell in love with SUP completely and within a week I had my own first board”, Vladimir told Thaivisa.

 

“Since that time, the sport plays a major role in my life. Thanks to SUP, I have improved my physique, have discovered many interesting places and have found new friends”.

 

“With the SUP, I like to explore new places and I enjoy paddling long distance. I can literally paddle all day.

 

“Usually in the daytime, I travel around 20 to 40 kms. When you are surrounded by such beautiful scenery in Thailand, a long way doesn’t seem so far. The first time I paddled over 70 km in one day, I realised that much greater lengths were possible. I

 

“I had a dream of crossing the Gulf of Thailand from Pattaya to Hua Hin. At first, I was scared at the thought, but now I am determined to do it. The path will take me across about 110 km. I’m yet to achieve such distances in a day but I believe I am capable”.

 

Other long distances paddled by Vladimir include more than 70 kms around Kaeng Kachan and 80kms in nearby Cha Am.

 

But he believes the 110km crossing to Pattaya is possible and says he is inspired by his favourite explorer Fyodor Konyukhov.

 

“My plan is to  cross the Gulf of Thailand on my NSP 14'x26" Puma Carbon Pro - and I am sure that with it I will succeed!”, Vladimir said.

 

Everyone at Thaivisa wishes Vladimir good luck with his attempt, which we will bring you more news about on Monday.

 

** UDPATE: Bad weather forced Vladimir to postpone the planned crossing on Monday, we'll share details of when he attempts the crossing again when we get them.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-12-16

[Hanuman2547]

I wish him the best of luck, favorable currents, tides, and winds.  I do hope that he has a support crew with him just in case things go bad he has the option to bail.

[NCC1701A]

yes anything to escape super boring Hua Hin. I live here and know just how be feels.

 

don't tell him there is a ferry to Pattaya.

 

good luck. he looks happy.

Edited December 16, 2018 by NCC1701A

[AhFarangJa]

Good luck to him, probably far safer than riding a pushbike on the roads here.!!

I wonder if he is being sponsored for any charity? No mention in the article.

[hhinhh]

I think if this would be an idea of a Thai person the community would loudly call him stupid...

[marko kok prong]

No doubt he will make it and just as he about to land at Pattaya beach he get's cut down by a jetski.

[MARK74]

He sounds like he's plugging NSP. He looks like he's plugging NSP.

I wonder if it's for charity or if he's just getting advertising money from NSP.

[Andrew65]

2 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

I wish him the best of luck, favorable currents, tides, and winds.  I do hope that he has a support crew with him just in case things go bad he has the option to bail.

Agreed, it seems a bit crazy without a support vessel, and would be a hell of an achievement.

 

Kudos to him for having a go & good luck.

[madmen]

Heck I would swim if no other option if I was stuck in that boring sleepy gods waiting room

[weegee]

Picked the wrong time of the year to be trying this...It's easier and quicker to jump off the ninth floor..

[Vlad77]

2 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

I wish him the best of luck, favorable currents, tides, and winds.  I do hope that he has a support crew with him just in case things go bad he has the option to bail.

Thank you! I will have an escort boat, so crossing the bay will be safe.

[Hanuman2547]

3 minutes ago, Vlad77 said:

Thank you! I will have an escort boat, so crossing the bay will be safe.

I'm assuming that you have some type of onboard navigation equipment as well as food and water or is that handled by the escort boat?

[Vlad77]

30 minutes ago, MARK74 said:

He sounds like he's plugging NSP. He looks like he's plugging NSP.

I wonder if it's for charity or if he's just getting advertising money from NSP.

Yes, I'm part of the NSP racing team. But crossing the Gulf is completely my idea and the NSP only helps me with the support boat for safety. I don’t get any money from it.

[Vlad77]

3 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

I'm assuming that you have some type of onboard navigation equipment as well as food and water or is that handled by the escort boat?

Thank you for your concern. Food, water, navigation devices will be with me. I use all my long distance paddling experiences to successfully cross the Gulf.

[BigT73]

You should aim for Jomtien beach, lots of fellow Russians holidaying here at the moment and easier to come in without all the speed boats going from Pattaya to the island.  Goodluck mate!

[owl sees all]

37 minutes ago, madmen said:

Heck I would swim if no other option if I was stuck in that boring sleepy gods waiting room

I was thinking I would swim across next year.

 

Find the most favourable time of year; tides, wind, predators etc.. And what would be easier; Pattaya to Hua Hin or the other way round. I would need a support craft of some sort and a couple of trustworthy people to pass drinks and remove any waste. Take plenty of neem gel to scare sharks away.

 

Would I need a cage? I'll look into it.

[fruitman]

He could at least bring a dog, this is thailand after all.

 

 

[Blackheart1916]

2 hours ago, Vlad77 said:

Thank you for your concern. Food, water, navigation devices will be with me. I use all my long distance paddling experiences to successfully cross the Gulf.

Good luck mate.

[tifino]

3 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

No doubt he will make it and just as he about to land at Pattaya beach he get's cut down by a jetski.

 yeah easy to equate with the image...

 

Just his luck instead that, - just as he's about to land at Pattaya - he gets take away by Immigration when they accuse him of paddling instead from Cambodia

[mauGR1]

Good luck, wish you friendly waves !

[Hummin]

Have a good one, should be 12 hours under the right conditions. ? 

[PerkinsCuthbert]

Turn right and head for Cambodia, you'll be corrupted in Pattaya.

[jaiyen88]

He is crazy to paddle in that direction. Should go Pattaya to HH. Wind is almost always from NE which means he will paddle upwind rather than downwind. This makes a huge difference.

[atyclb]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

year; tides, wind, predators etc.. 

 

count on getting eaten upon arrival to pattaya

[jaiyen88]

The Molokai hawaii race is the top open ocean sup race. 51 km usually downwind. Fastest pro time is 4 hours or 13 km/hr. so the best pro in the world would do Pattaya to HH in about 9 hours. A normal paddler would be half as fast or 18 hours to cross. But if you paddle into the wind it can more than double the transit time. Also December and June have the most extreme tides which will push you either north or south as the tid moves in the gulf. I would start at high tide in Pattaya and paddle directly downwind letting the wind determine the landing location on HH side. Probably would end up between cha am and Prachuap. 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

yes anything to escape super boring Hua Hin. I live here and know just how be feels.

 

don't tell him there is a ferry to Pattaya.

 

good luck. he looks happy.

Hope the captain sees him or.... well you know the outcome !

[Vlad77]

2 hours ago, jaiyen88 said:

He is crazy to paddle in that direction. Should go Pattaya to HH. Wind is almost always from NE which means he will paddle upwind rather than downwind. This makes a huge difference.

You are absolutely right! I will cross the Gulf from Pattaya to Hua Hin. There is an error in the title of the article.

[Vlad77]

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

Have a good one, should be 12 hours under the right conditions. ? 

I think it will take 18-22 hours. I don't expect perfect conditions all the way. The strength of the wind and its direction will change during the day.

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, Vlad77 said:

I think it will take 18-22 hours. I don't expect perfect conditions all the way. The strength of the wind and its direction will change during the day.

Keep us updated, and good luck. Love to paddle SUP myselves and freedive. Do you know any freedivers around Hua Hin?

[Vlad77]

2 hours ago, jaiyen88 said:

The Molokai hawaii race is the top open ocean sup race. 51 km usually downwind. Fastest pro time is 4 hours or 13 km/hr. so the best pro in the world would do Pattaya to HH in about 9 hours. A normal paddler would be half as fast or 18 hours to cross. But if you paddle into the wind it can more than double the transit time. Also December and June have the most extreme tides which will push you either north or south as the tid moves in the gulf. I would start at high tide in Pattaya and paddle directly downwind letting the wind determine the landing location on HH side. Probably would end up between cha am and Prachuap. 

You write absolutely true! I plan to start from Pattaya at 4am and reach the west coast of the bay at midnight. Here will be my geolocation on the way: https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/T3UGX More information and the exact start date on my page in FB: https://www.facebook.com/vladimir.kruchinin.7