Sail Into History on The Schooner Seraph, Phuket, Thailand

Seraph – The Name.
Seraph is the shortened version of Seraphim – one of the Archangels who protected God in Biblical lore. A six-winged Angel, the Seraph sat at God's right hand. His upper pair of wings were to cover his eyes (he may not look at his Master), the middle pair were for aeronautic purposes with the lower pair to cover his 'private bits'. SY Seraph sails with a full complement of six sails/wings.

The 100 Year Old Schooner Seraph is available for Charter for Daytrips for up to 40 people and Liveaboard Cruises for 8 or more. She is, therefore, the ideal Charter Yacht for that Special Occasion, be it an Anniversary, Birthday Party, Wedding, Corporate Event or simply a Group of like-minded people who want to experience Sailing as it was meant to be.

Seraph – The Early Years.
Seraph was launched from a shipyard just outside Copenhagen in 1906 as a Ketch Rigged Fishing Boat destined to work for the next 70 years in the North Sea. Her initial role would have been as a 'buy boat', sailing out to meet the trawlers, transferring their catch to her large storage hold (which would have been partially flooded to keep the fish fresh) and returning to port to sell the catch at market. By the late 1970's she was bought by a Dutch couple who took her to Holland and converted her into a Liveaboard Schooner with a Marconi Rig. They took some considerable time cruising the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean before arriving in Thailand in the late 1980's.

Seraph – The Phuket Years.
Seraph suffered a temporary setback in 1991 when a squall drove her onto a reef in the Similan Islands, from where she was recovered, restored and re-rigged in her current configuration – Gaff Rigged Schooner. She spent the next 11 years carrying thousands of Liveaboard Diving customers the length and breadth of the Andaman Sea. She has subsequently retired from this type of work and her present owners have, after a major refit (2005), tasked her to entertain visitors on the waters surrounding Phuket and Phang Nga Bay – a role for which she is ideally suited as she passes her one hundredth year afloat.

Seraph - Today.
Seraph is a 'no compromise' Schooner whose sailing systems are based on those developed and perfected by the North Atlantic Fishing Schooners of the mid-nineteenth century. All sails are hoisted, trimmed and dropped manually by the crew and numbers of very willing volunteer guests who enjoy this unusual type of exercise known as 'sweating the lines' – for obvious reasons!

Her decks are large and uncluttered with an awning covering approximately 25% of the area of the deck, providing cover from the elements for 30 people or more. Should anyone wish to expose themselves to the tropical sun, huge forward areas for 'cooking' are available! The only compromise to modern times can be found below decks where a well equipped galley is able to provide excellent catering and two electric heads (toilets) have been installed. Plus air-conditioned cabins. Her Skipper and Crew are highly experienced local mariners who understand the geography, tides and winds of the region and are able to deliver the best possible experience to our guests (up to 40 maximum per trip) on Seraph – the most loved of Phuket Yachts.