Sailing in Thailand

About ten years ago I was living in Krabi, a sea-side town in southern Thailand. I had a 12-metre long sailing boat that I had bought for a pittance from the widow of the previous owner and I used to go for day cruises almost every week-end. Although the boat could accommodate a maximum of six people I usually was on my own, or possibly with some visiting friends.

Apart from being pleasant these regular outings had the added advantage of allowing me to indulge in an activity I would otherwise not have been able to practice: nudism. I have always been a nudist but – Thai people being rather prudish in public – there are no nudist beaches in Thailand. At least there were none at the time. When on my boat I would always strip naked as soon as I was out of sight from the shore.

One day, a Thai friend of mine asked if he could some time join me for a fishing excursion. I playfully reminded him that Westerners are an odd lot and that he was welcome on my boat providing he was ready to be naked for the whole duration of the trip.

I then noticed that Somsak, the 14-year old son of a neighbour, who had been over my house to pick up a set of tools his father had lent me, had not yet left and was still sitting on the terrace in front of the house, sipping the Coke I had offered him. I was not sure whether he had over-heard anything but the intrigued look on his face made me think he had.

A few weeks later, as I was paying a visit to Somsak’s father I mentioned that a friend of mine who was to have gone fishing with me that week-end had cancelled his trip. I was rather disappointed.

“I’ll go with you, if you want” said Somsak.

“Good idea!” added his father quite hastily. “We have to attend a cremation in Surat Thani on Saturday. Your mother and I would rather know you’re gone fishing with David than alone in the house.”

It seemed I did not have much choice left. Besides, I did like Somsak who was a nice, gentle and well-behaved kid. Spending a day fishing with him would be much more pleasant than doing so alone. I agreed.

I was wondering, however, whether he had forgotten about that discussion he had over-heard a few weeks before. I was to find out he had not.

Saturday eventually arrived and off we went on the boat. I soon noticed that Somsak was a bit more nervous and lively than usual. Although it is common for Thai people to smile as a sign of composure when in an embarrassing situation he was flashing his own deadly cute smile far too often and in a rather tense way. He also showed other signs of agitation: restlessness, inappropriate bursts of laughter, a certain clumsiness, and the like.

I did not say anything and went on with the business of piloting the boat and getting the fishing gear ready.

After about an hour, Somsak, who had been surprisingly silent and absorbed in his thoughts for the last ten minutes, finally mustered his courage, took a deep breath and said: “I thought that, on your boat, everybody had to be naked…”

I had seen it coming and I had my answer ready: “Yes, but I thought I would make an exception for you today. As you are only 14 you might not be ready to comply with the rules.”

“What are they?”

“Well, you might not know much about nudism but people do it for pleasure because it is enjoyable – if a bit strange at first – to go about one’s business completely naked.