There is an interesting local pattern of yacht movement between Langkawi, the most northern port in Malaysia, and Phuket (Thailand) immediately to the north.

The pattern is caused by Thailand's immigration rules and import duties, which by comparison with Langkawi could be described as draconian. Thailand grants cruisers a one-month visa that can only be extended at considerable expense and inconvenience, which is too short a stay for most people. But Langkawi is only 120 miles south of Phuket so after their month expires cruisers sail to Langkawi where it is simple to clear in and out and then return to Phuket for another month's cruising. Some boats have spent years doing just that, many more take a season out in the area for a bit of stability of location while they sort out boat problems, etc.

Langkawi is a duty free port so the trip is also used to stock up with duty free products, specifically alcohol, chocolate and fuel. Diesel is half the cost in Langkawi compared to Phuket. Yacht parts are also sent to Langkawi in preference to Phuket because a hefty import duty is charged despite being sent to a "Yacht in Transit"* (See notes below.)

You might expect Langkawi to have capitalised on its strengths as a haven for yachts, but we were surprised to find that there are few yacht services available. We arrived with a leaking oil cooler for the gearbox and hoped to be able to replace it but the best advice we got (and this was from the local Sunsail base so they should know) was to patch it up and head for Phuket for a repair or replacement. There is a very good haul out facility in Langkawi but you need to arrive with all the parts, paint, tools etc. that you might need, as there is no chandlery on site. Mind you with all that cheap alcohol who has time to effect repairs.

We are often asked how one deals with declaring alcohol on arrival in a country that has limits on the amount of alcohol that an individual can bring in, for example when they arrive by plane. Typically yachts stock up where alcohol is cheap so carry quite large quantities.

Generally, and of course it differs country by country, alcohol is simply listed under "ship's stores" and an estimate will suffice. If customs consider the amount excessive and are concerned that it may not be just for personal consumption, they will ask you to place it in a cupboard, which they will then seal. In all of our cruising this has never happened to us and we know first hand of only two yachts where it has happened. One was in Vanuatu and one in Papete (in the latter case the yacht was suspected of unauthorised chartering in French waters and in the former case the customs officer had simply never seen so much alcohol and could not believe it was a supply for merely two people).

Customs also sometimes ask for a list of the yachts equipment, specifically electronics, including serial numbers. It's hard to know where to start with such a request and if you ask "should I includeÉ?" the answer will always be "Yes". So we have a pre-printed list of our main pieces of equipment with make, model and serial number so we can just hand it over when asked to do so. It saves a lot of time and debate.

NOTES:

As boats inevitably break, cruisers spend a lot of time chasing replacement parts. In most countries if you get the shipper to mark the package "Yacht in Transit" you will be able to receive the item without paying import tax. This will only apply to bone fide yachts parts, though some customs are more flexible than others.

If you send an item away for repair it is vital that it is returned to "Yacht in Transit" and it may be worth getting customs to give you a clearance before you send the parcel to verify that the item already belongs to you. Obviously this only works if you send from and receive back in the same country. Before you decide where to have the item returned make sure that tax will not be due on items marked for "Yacht in Transit"