A Day on the Water to Remember

Ocean Marina Jomtien and Ocean Marina Resort join forces with the boating community to give 40 children a very special day at sea

For those of us fortunate enough to work in the yachting industry, heading out to sea can easily become part of everyday life. But occasionally, a day on the water reminds us just how special boating can be — particularly when we have the opportunity to share it with others.

Recently, Ocean Marina Jomtien and Ocean Marina Resort joined forces to welcome 40 children and their carers from the Camillian Social Center Rayong for a day of boating, swimming, food and fun.

The Camillian Social Center provides a home, care, education and support for orphaned and vulnerable children, including children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. For many of the children, spending a day aboard yachts and experiencing life on the water was something completely outside their normal routine.

The idea was simple: bring together the Ocean Marina community and use the boats, facilities and resources available to us to create a memorable experience for the children.

And the marina community responded.

Ocean Marina's yacht Siamese Twin served as the mother ship for the day, while marina members generously volunteered both their time and their own boats to help take the children out.

A special thank you goes to Bob aboard Mia Noi, JJ aboard Dances With Waves, Phil and Tamsen aboard Tequila, Andrew and Nong aboard Star of Alderan, and Ocean Marina's own Harbour Master, Scott, aboard his Axopar, Vidar.

With the fleet assembled, the children and their carers headed out from Ocean Marina for their adventure.

For some, simply stepping aboard a yacht was an experience in itself. Once out on the water, any initial uncertainty quickly disappeared. There were smiles, laughter and plenty of excitement as the children experienced the boats, enjoyed the sea and jumped into the water for a swim.

It was wonderful to see yacht owners and marina members sharing something they love with a group of children who might otherwise never have had such an opportunity.

The day was very much a joint effort between Ocean Marina Jomtien and Ocean Marina Resort. Ocean Marina Resort prepared lunches for the children, carers and volunteers, while Khun Adisak kindly donated Blue Peach vitamin drinks to keep everyone refreshed throughout the day.

When the fleet returned to the marina, the experience wasn't over. Ocean Marina Resort welcomed everyone back with a BBQ and ice cream, giving the children, carers, boat owners and volunteers the chance to sit together and finish the day as one group.

For those involved, however, the day became about much more than boats.

Yachting gives us an extraordinary lifestyle. We spend our working lives around marinas, yachts and the sea, and it can be easy to forget that what is normal to us may be an unforgettable experience for someone else.

Seeing the excitement on the children's faces was a powerful reminder of that.

It was also an example of what a marina can be beyond simply a place to berth a boat. When yacht owners, marina staff, hospitality teams and members of the wider boating community come together, we have the ability to make a genuine difference — even if that difference is simply giving a child one fantastic day and a memory to take home.

For me personally, it was an emotional day. It brought a real sense of perspective and a feeling of giving something back to children who have not necessarily had the opportunities in life that many of us have been fortunate enough to enjoy.

None of it would have been possible without the generosity of everyone who volunteered their boats, their time and their support.

Our sincere thanks to all involved — and especially to the children and carers from Camillian Social Center Rayong for allowing us to share such a memorable day with them.

Sometimes the most rewarding days in yachting aren't about where we sail or the boats we are aboard.

They're about who we take with us.