Rowing club in Pattaya?

[MrHammer]

I live in Bangkok but go to Pattaya once in a while. I used to row back home and would like to do so here as well. As far as I know, there is no such club in Bangkok, but Pattaya almost must have some sort of rowing club or association with so many brits and others living there?

If not, what other kind of water sports clubs are there in Pattaya and Bangkok? Wind surfing? Sailing? I'm a beginner at both but I really would like to get an excuse to leave Bangkok regularly for some sun and water.

[mcyachty]

Not sure about rowing.

For sailing, you have a couple of choices being Royal Varuna Yacht Club or Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

Royal Varuna Yacht Club is an off the beach club. Mainly Hobies, Nacras, lasers and other dinghies.

Ocean Marina Yacht Club is a keel boat club and is actually the biggest marina in South East Asia. They have racing normally on the 2nd weekend of every month. Sailing Saturday and Sunday is a mix of races around islands and marks. There are always boats looking for crew so best thing is to be on the deck at about 9am. The briefing is 9.30am on the Saturday and then they head out sailing.

PM me with your email and I can send you the calendar for this year.

[steveromagnino]

if you want to row, and have a work permit, there is a rowing club out at a place off Srinakarin called Nong Bon WaterSports Club in Bangkok. Bit hard to get to, but I've attached a facebook page. You need to join (for a low fee <100b) and you will need to show some paperwork to join, can't remember offhand what that is.

https://www.facebook.com/nongbonwatersports

They have windsurfers, sailing dinghies, stand up paddle boards, and yes, rowing skiffs. However, I have not rowed one to know what the deal is with them, I can row a dinghy, not sure about a skiff! They have instructors also, not a bad spot to learn the basics of sailing or windsurfing.

For windsurfing, there are two great clubs in Jomtien, both nearish to Pinnacle/Ambassador. Club Loongchat and Amara Windsurfing.

http://www.clubloongchat.com/06/default.htm

http://watersportspattaya.com/

both good, Club Loongchat also has kiting, whereas Amara is focused on windsurfing. Kiting, BTW, I think it is bloody dangerous and a silly sport liable to cause you injury (and anyone around you) but it looks like a huge amount of fun too. If you like that sort of feeling, then try cable ski, there is one in Minburi and another at Taco Lake in Bangna, both good fun.

For sailing dinghies, Varuna are unlikely to let you hire a boat unless you are a club member, you are better to try around the area of Club LoongChat, they have rental beach cats and while they aren't quite as quick as a formula 18 or an a-class, still great fun to potter around in. Also, they can head out with you. There is also a place called Demon Days in the same area of Jomtien they also have winsurfing too, and a nice place to stay nearby.

http://www.windsurfthailand.com/

If keelboats are your scene, then Ocean Marina is worth a visit, the style of sailing on a keelboat is quite different, not sure if you are a beginner whether you should be sailing someone else's keeler alone for obvious reasons, whereas windsurfer or a beach cat (like a Hobie wave) sailing alone is something you could be doing within a short period. So you will be sailing on some one else's boat, there is a sailing school there blue wave or blue sea or something like that, you can find it when you visit the marina, just by asking around they will point you in the right direction. And of course, crewing for someone else either in racing (or probably better if you aren't so experienced) sailing at some other time.

All the best, great weather and places to go, make sure you pile on sunscreen.

[WitawatWatawit]

At the World Rowing Championships last year, Thailand was represented by a l/weight men's sculler and a l/weight men's four. I think only the 2nd time Thais have competed outside of Asia. The rowers are navy SEALS who train on Lake Mabpracharn, which you can reach by going up Soi Country Club. However, they don't have a clubhouse - their skiffs are parked out in the open under some trees. The skiffs look to me like Chinese made and of fibreglass. I don't get over that way often so have never made contact with the rowers - I'd like to help as I'm a huge rowing fan. Could probably help with some coaching, although the lake is Patts reservoir, so I doubt you could run an outboard boat on it. Be nice, though. As an aside, a Thai lady was prominent in SEA Games rowing in recent years and did quite well for herself. She trained in Chiang Mai - and was a hilltribe lassie. How cool is that?