THERE’s a whole lot of junk in Chalong Bay at the moment.

But there’s nothing trashy about Phuket’s newest tourist attraction, the purpose-built charter yacht, The Siam Junk.

The boat, which can sleep six couples, or cater for parties of up to 60 people, oozes luxury and style.

Last week, the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) approved the charter license for the 200-ton, wooden, junk rigged motor sailing yacht, The Siam Junk, and owner/builder, John Bethell, is keen to get his charter business underway.

This boat, or is it a ship, is a tribute to traditional Asian style and is more like a floating teak palace, than a charter boat.

Its unique design created quite a stir, even among the locals, when dozens of skilled Thai-Burmese shipwrights set about building it in Ranong.

“No one there had seen anything like her before,” said John.

“These guys were used to building cargo and fishing boats, and it took a while to get them to understand what we wanted.

“But by the time we’d finished, they were really proud of what they’d achieved, and a few of them even shed a tear when we sailed off to Phuket.

“The chief carpenter loved her so much, he is now building himself a model of the junk to keep as a memory of her.”

The Siam Junk is stunning.

It is more than 34 metres long and seven metres wide with a two storey superstructure, all hand-crafted from teak and ironwood to give it an authentic rustic Asian look.

“We tried converting a disused boat into a charter yacht, and bought a working cargo vessel that seemed to fit the bill,” said John.

“With a 24 metre hull, we thought the old boat would be big enough, but it soon became clear we wouldn’t have the space our grand scheme demanded.

“So we laid a new keel, salvaged the beams and planking from the original hull, and built a longer version to the same pattern.

“That way we got the best of both worlds, a sturdy, stable structure which had all the room we needed.”

With so much space, most boat builders would have tried to maximise capacity, but John wanted to create something different.

“There are plenty of luxury yachts in Phuket, but most of them are plastic tubs, the sort of thing you’d find in the Med,” he said.

“We wanted to give our clients something unique, something with a traditional style.
“Very few charter yachts combine a truly Asian feel with the standards we expect in the west.

“Most discerning travellers are looking for something special when they come to Thailand, even if they just want to lounge on deck as they drift past the spectacular islands of the Andaman.”

John came to Thailand from Britain and fell in love with the place.

“This is one of the most special place I’ve ever been to,” he said.

“I met Poan, my Thai fiancée, about four years ago and settled in for a new life here.

“Poan introduced me to another British expat who wanted to invest in a business.

“We were both interested in sailing, so we settled on building our own yacht, which would give us a lifestyle business as well as bring something new to Phuket.

“Even though the Phuket charter market was well established, there were very few day-boats capable of hosting large parties, so we designed the junk with that in mind.”

The junk is licensed to carry 60 guests on day trips and sunset cruises, and the galley can cater for everything from buffet-style meals to fine dining.

“With our onboard facilities, we are totally self-contained, allowing us to travel to deserted islands many standard tours can’t get to,” said John.

“Even with sixty people on board, there is still plenty of space.

“We can seat 60 people for a formal dinner, or we can convert the tables into sunbeds and lounge areas, to provide a more relaxed, laid back atmosphere.”

With six bedroom suites, the junk can sleep twelve people in luxury and style.

High ceilings, king-sized beds and roomy bathrooms complete with stunning spa-showers are featured in each of the five air-conditioned lower deck cabins.

The Sea Breeze Suite at the stern on the upper level, features a magnificent bed-side view of the world passing by.

The suite has its own sun deck which can comfortably seat twelve guests for dinner.

“Everything is designed to give clients a sense of space,” said John.

“We have tried to create the illusion of a boutique hotel or villa where the view changes every day, from the size of the bedroom suites to the dining salon and bar area.”

John’s role has changed from overseeing a complex boat building project, to being the onboard host, the burser and general manager, making sure his guests have a holiday they will never forget.

Whether they are on board for a leisurely cruise around the islands of Phangna Bay, or to simply a few hours watching a fiery tropical sunset, John will ensure their experience is one they will cherish forever.

“This is our business, we designed and built The Siam Junk, and I am personally committed to exceeding our clients’ expectations in every way,” he said.

The bottom line is that Phuket now has another winning tourist attraction to tempt the well-heeled traveller.

The Siam Junk is available for charter, and costs from 210,000 baht for a private party day tour, up to 1.400,000 baht for a week. For more information, call John Bethell on 082 275 3907.