It was a balmy morning in Phuket, on a yacht called Happy that was taking me to the 'James Bond' island. This was fitting since Happy is a luxurious three-bedroom beauty that befits Bond.
“This yacht is called the Bentley of the sea because it is luxurious and faster than any other luxury boat,” says 73-year-old Gulu Lalvani, its proud owner.
Lalvani, a British citizen of Indian origin, is also the man whose brainchild was Royal Phuket Marina in Phuket.
One of the most important journeys of his life was made on a boat. During Partition, Lalvani arrived in Mumbai from Karachi on a boat. He grew up in the sea-fringed neighbourhoods of Colaba and later in Breach Candy. In 1956, he moved to England, where he became involved the small but active boating community and bought his first boat before he turned 30.
A flourishing business allowed Lalvani to travel far and wide in search for the best places for sailing. A family trip to Phuket in 1991 left him bedazzled by what Thailand had to offer. In 2002, Lalvani met Thailand's then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and was given 15 minutes to argue his case. The meeting ended an hour later, with Shinawatra agreeing to Lalvani’s plan.
The Royal Phuket Marina is unabashedly for the affluent. Wealthy yacht owners are offered the option of docking their boats at the marina and vacationing at one of their many plush apartments and villas. “When I go cruising, I look for four Ss – sun, sand, sea and scenic conditions. What I saw in Phuket was mind-boggling,” recalled Lalvani. Now though, the ones who are amazed are those who come to Royal Phuket Marina.
