Raja Laut

A yacht charter holiday starting from Malaysia can also take you to the island of Penang (only 100 miles south of Langkawi), which is a bustling & multicultural island with a rich history full of British colonial heritage. The capital, Georgetown, was established as the first British trading post in the Far East in 1776.

Certain sections of Penang present a quaint picture from the past where narrow side streets, trishaws, temples and traders plying their goods, seem to belong to a forgotten era: 16th century Portuguese traders from Goa, India sailing to the Far East in search of spices found a small island where they replenished their water supplies. They named it Pulo Pinaom. In the 17th century, Penang's location at the northern entry to the Straits of Malacca provided a sheltered harbor for Chinese, Indian, Arabian and European ships during the monsoon months.

Penang is full of history, so take your time when you're there. Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera), is one of the attractions. It lies about 5km west of the George Towns city centre and makes for a fun afternoon outing especially when combined with a trip to the nearby Kek Lok Si Temple. Running up the 821-metre hill is a funicular railway which was built by the British between 1906 and 1923.

Interested in a yacht charter in Penang? Please enquire.

Festivals in Penang

Some of the fascinating festivals that happen in Penang are the Dragon Boat Race, Hungry Ghost Festivals, Thaipusam and many more. The Dragon Boat Race is also known as "the race of the ancient" and began about 100 years ago. The settlers would push out to the sea on lengthy specially built boats for a passionate day of racing every year on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar. One of the largest gatherings in Penang is the Thaipusam Festivals.

Atop a small hill in Penang, a famous temple lush with waterfall suburbia is visited by thousands of Hindu devotees. During this time of the year, many tourists converge at the waterfall to celebrate or watch the annual procession of the Hindu Festivals.

The Penangites love having visitors or tourists to participate in the local festivals, so if you plan to join the festivals, do check for the actual date before coming as some of the event is determined by the lunar calendar.

Yacht Clubs / Marinas in Penang

Tanjung City Marina

• Tanjung City Marina is located at Church Street Pier in George Town. It has 102 berths. They range in size from 11 meters to 50 meters. Boats, yachts and catamarans can now rent space for berthing there.

• Facilities and services at the marina include Customs, Immigration and Port Clearance, 24-hour security, electrical and water supply, shower rooms, toilets, laundry services, refueling facilities and repairs as well as maintenance works. There are also two restaurants, a café and a convenience store at the marina.

Penang Yacht Club

• The Penang Yacht Club is located in George Town. All guests who moor there will have the access to all basic services, such as water electricity and gas station.

• The capacity of the Penang Yacht Club is moderate, and it offers a travelift for boats up to 100 tons.