Things To Do At Seaby Tamara Jacobs 4/16/2012 Sailing: Those who love to sail can sail a boat big enough for many people to sleep on or a small Laser, either way sailing is usually relaxing and allows adventurers to travel as far as around the entire world relying on nothing more than the wind to take them there. Sails are also used for windsurfing and can act as sun shades or other types of canopies. Water skiing: Water skiing is exactly as it sounds - skiing on the water’s surface. To get up, skiers should float on their backs with their knees bent and hold the rope between their legs. The weight of the boat that’s pulling them will lift them out of the water, and the speed of the boat with keep them elevated on its surface. Advanced water skiers often do mono skiing which means they are balancing on one ski. Swimming: There are few things as refreshing as jumping in the sea on a hot summer’s day. The water is salty but delicious and in most parts very clear. ... |
Summer Is the Best Time for a Bahamas Yacht Charterby Laurie L Harley 4/16/2012 The temperatures in July and August are in the low 80s (82°F/28°C), the waters are calm, and there is a regular mild breeze. It can be better yachting weather during the summer months than in the winter. It’s not muggy, and the refreshing breezes make it perfect for relaxing on the deck, fishing, or taking a dip in the water. Most people are well aware of the numerous water activities in the area, but don’t forget to indulge in the many land-based pleasures. Be sure to take time from your water play to go underground into one of the many caves or experience one of the vertical caves, or blue holes, found in the Bahamas. Dean’s Blue Hole, which is located near Long Island, is the deepest blue hole in the world at 663 feet (202 meters) deep. Visit the Fountain of Youth, climb to the top of a lighthouse, or tour one of the wildlife preserves. Since it’s not the main tourist season, attractions will not be overcrowded and waits for major activities will not be long. In the summer months, there is also wide selection of boats available for Bahamas yacht charters. Options range from a single family smaller boat, such as a private motor yacht or a crewed catamaran charter, to a luxury mega yacht for a large group ... |
Barcelona Yacht Charterby Ken Jones 4/16/2012 Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular city destinations with several million tourists every year. Only Paris, London and Rome have more visitors. View; The Barri Gòtic or "Gothic Quarter" is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. Many of the buildings date from medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona; Works by Antoni Gaudí, including Sagrada Família, the international symbol of Barcelona, Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Casa Batlló, Crypt in Colonia Güell. All are part of a World Heritage Site; Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. A notable feature is La Rambla, a boulevard that runs from the city centre to the waterfront, thronged with crowds until late at night and lined by florists, craft sellers, cafeterias and restaurants. Barcelona contains seven beaches. Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches are the largest, oldest and the most frequented beaches. Most charter boats make thier home in Puerto Olimpico and from there it is possible to go either north and explore the Costa Brava and towns such as Tossa de Mar, Palamos, L’Estartit, Cadaques, Llafranc and San Feliu. Or south on the Costa ... |
Yacht Charter in Maltaby Ken Jones 4/16/2012 Most charter boats are based in Grand Harbour or Marsamxett Harbour where there are several marinas. Both harbours are located in Valletta. A typical one week charter might look something like this; Valletta - Mgarr on Gozo Island - Blue Lagoon on Comino Island - Marsaxlokk - Portomaso Marina - Valletta. On a two week charter in addition to visiting the Maltese Islands, it is also possible to sail to other places, including Tunisia (160NM), Sicily (58NM) or Lampedusa (95NM) As well as your time on the water Malta has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites you can visit, including the Megalithic Temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world. What You Need - Experience, Qualifications, Visa Requirements, etc. - For bareboat charters the skipper of the boat is required to have an ICC certificate or equivalent. Charter Season - The Maltese charter season generally runs from April to the end of October. Weather - The climate ... |
Sailing - Different Types of Sailboatsby John N. Jamieson 4/16/2012 When you learn to sail, you will hear different sailboat terms like monohull or multihull. But just what does this sailing terminology mean? Follow this easy sailing guide to look at the different types of sailboats to help you decide on the best to fit your brand of sailing! Monohull Sailboats - Pros and Cons Pros: Mono means "one" of something, so in sailing, a monohull means a sailboat that has just one hull. Most sailors on the water sail on boats with a single hull. They are easy to sail, cheaper to purchase, simpler to rig, and take up less room when docking or turning. Most new sailors learn to sail on small monos called dinghies. Once they learn how to sail aboard a dinghy, sailors might move up to the larger cruising monohulls. These cruising sailboats heel over less than their dinghy cousins, have more room to move around, and might have a head (toilet and/or shower), galley (small kitchen), and inboard or outboard engine. Cruising sailboats with single hulls have made successful voyages across every ocean in the world. Cons Small monohull sailboats like dinghies heel over a lot. If they heel too much, they can flip over. Larger monohulls heel over too, but most of these will not flip over because they carry extra weight in a "keel" below the waterline. The keel helps to counter-balance a lot of the heeling. In breezy conditions, you will begin to heel a lot and the boat will become ... |
Travel the Caribbean in Your Own Sailboatby Gary Pierce 4/16/2012 That is exactly what we did from 1994 to 2002... It was the time of our lives. Big deal you say... Well until 1990, we had never stepped foot on a sailboat... My only boating experience.... except for several cruises, which we enjoyed... was a fishing trip on a sport fishing boat out of Galveston, Texas. Since my friends and I that went on that trip got so seasick... It is a wonder that I ventured onto a sailboat in 1990. I am so glad that we did. Our sailing adventure started in Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands... The cruise ship we were aboard had a shore excursion where six people from the cruise ship would spend four hours on a 36-foot sailboat. From that humble beginning, I realized that a sailboat is nothing more than a floating RV. It is totally self-contained, you eat, you sleep, and you relax. When you are on a cruise, if you are like me, you daydream about living in the islands... The Caribbean is so laid-back and stress less. It never occurred to me that if you had your own sailboat you could readily visit any island you choose, both cheaply and safely. Now I am referring to the islands between the Virgin Islands and Trinidad known as the Windward’s and the Leeward’s... Containing St. Lucia Antigua Martinique St. Maarten Grenada... In addition, too about 50 other islands. If you look at a map of those islands, you will discover that none ... |
Sailing in the Corinthian Bayby Dragos Rusu 4/16/2012 A good tip for a scenic destination would have to be of a place that’s also quite cheap and yet not so popular, giving you the possibility to avoid the summer crowds. A good place to start, especially if you’re a beginner skipper, is the Mediterranean Sea. These old shores are very well chartered so sea charts are often very accurate thus giving good directions, while also offering a range of conditions (virtually no tides, predictable winds and good weather) that mean you won’t have too much trouble at the helm. A good example of one such "undiscovered treasure" is the Corinthian Gulf, generally considered by veteran pleasure skippers as a mere passage between the Aegean and the Ionian Seas, rather than a stop point for a sailing vacation. Most prefer to make the journey through it as fast as possible, and preferably at night. Day 1 We recommend starting from west to east, seeing as how that is the general direction of the prevailing winds. The entry point to the Bay is the Corinthian Bridge, or "Rion Andiron" as it’s locally known and that should be the starting ... |
How to Prevent Boat Theftby Louise Goldstein 4/3/2012 Your boat is one of your most expensive assets. Insured or not, it will cause you no great pleasure if it gets stolen. But boats, because of their value and, often, because of the negligence of their owners, can be such attractive things to steal. How, then, can you prevent your boat from getting stolen? Secure your boat. This is very basic. Never leave your boat unattended with the keys in the ignition - or worse, with the engine idling! Always lock your ignition switches. You can also install a remote power cut-off switch. If you’re leaving your boat in the water, chain it to the dock. If you need to leave your boat’s trailer in the driveway, park another vehicle in front of it if you can. It’s also a good idea to remove at least one trailer tire. Close all window curtains, do not leave valuables inside the boat, and lock all outboard motors and fuel tanks. Always use a hatch lock. Of course, it is best to store your boat in a locked garage. Even then, make sure your boat is attached with a high-security chain to a fixed object such as a large post. Install an alarm system. If anybody dares try to run away with your boat, a good ear-piercing alarm system just may scare them away. If it doesn’t, the system will still alert you and your neighbours that something is amiss. Alarm systems do not need to be expensive. You do need to ... |
First Time Sailing? Here’s What You Need to Knowby John N. Jamieson 4/3/2012 Want to learn to sail? Step aboard a sailboat and you will experience a whole new world of boating. But just how different will it be and what can you expect to experience? Here are seven ways to get yourself ready for one of life’s greatest pleasures. 1. Watch Where You Step! Sailboats have lots of lines and wires all around. And that means you need to be a bit more careful when you stand, walk, or sit. Wires are used to hold up the mast. Rope lines are used to control the sails much like a manual clutch in a sports car. When you step aboard, take care not to trip on these wires or lines. Just look where you plant your feet or sit. This will help keep you safe while sailing. 2. Expect a Sailboat to Heel Naval architects design sailboats to heel (lean over) a bit when sailing. This helps the boat sail better. The sailing skipper will have you sit on the opposite side of the boat to counteract the heeling. And, he or she will adjust the sails with the sailing ropes (in or out) to keep heeling to a minimum. 3. Dress for the Weather Expect a bit of spray on a windy day. Pack a small bag with a waterproof jacket and extra change of clothes. Bring at least two hats. If one blows off your head, you have a backup to protect your head, face, and neck from excessive sun. Sailors often wear sunscreen ... |
How to Maintain Your Sailboatby John N. Jamieson 4/3/2012 Learn to sail like a pro when you keep your sailboat shipshape and "squared away". Save tons of money on repairs, sailing gear replacement, and go sailing more. Use these seven top sailing tips to stay ahead of the sailboat maintenance game today! Remember this one single fact about sailboat maintenance--the more time and effort you take today, the less time and money you will spend tomorrow. That applies to hull maintenance, deck maintenance, and standing and running rigging maintenance. Follow these seven easy steps to get started: 1. Protect Your Docking and Anchor Line Attach a line to your boat and lead it to a cleat, piling, bollard, ring, rail, sail, and you can guarantee that line will rub and wear somewhere. Chafe kills lines, and will deplete your "go sailing" pocketbook faster than you can raise a mainsail! Stop chafe at the pass. Wrap rags, old fire or garden hose, or strips of canvas around a docking or anchor line wherever it touches the hull or passes through a fitting. This will protect your costly line and extend its service life. 2. Replace Worn Running Rigging What’s the most forgotten piece of rope rigging on a sailboat? And one that often gets chafed and worn more than any other. Failure of this could put you in hot sea-water! Furling line. Consider that this line passes over more parts than most any other rigging. It winds in and out of a drum, passes over and through multiple fairlead blocks ... |
Why Sailing?by Daniel Hardie 2/22/2011 Sailing out on the water is an incredibly fun way of spending a day out in the sun and can make for fun travel. Some people just love ships and being out on water, some for the fishing and others for islands hopping. Sailing is a traditional way of exploring and sightseeing and draws the attention of many travellers throughout the world. Boats have been around for centuries, from small boats in fishing villages to large ships that hauled merchandise, holiday makers and carrying battalions of troops. Sailing is a skill that has been around since mankind’s early civilisations and learning to sail is something that is exciting, challenging and rewarding. Many sailing clubs can be found around the world that can offer lessons on sailing so it is worth having a look into. Luxury cruising is a big market of travellers worldwide there are many people who only travel by sea anytime they go on a holiday. Cruising around the Greek Isles is probably the most popular island hopping cruise, but there are places all over the world like the Whitsundays in Australia, the islands of Hawaii and all throughout the South Pacific. One of the most upcoming sail cruise destinations has now become the islands of Croatia. Embarking from the beautiful city Split, sailing through the Aegean sea in and out of the islands. When you’re not jumping off the boat into pristine coloured waters your soaking up the sun and maybe having a drink watching the sun go down in ... |
Three Sailing Tips for Sailing Up to a Dockby John N. Jamieson 2/22/2011 If you are anything like me, you want to know the best sailing tips that put you in command of your small cruising or racing sailboat. Forget the iron genny. Turning on an engine won’t increase your sailing skills. Use the main propulsion your boat came with--the powerful mainsail--and become the true master and commander of your boat--under sail! Prepare before You Enter Sailing seamanship means being prepared to change your planned docking side in an instant. Better prepare now when you have time. That means fenders on both sides. Docking lines on both sides. Boat hook out on deck, extended all the way, and ready to use in an instant. And don’t forget to have a small, "throwable" anchor, attached to a light, small diameter line. Attach the anchor line to a stern cleat. This gives you an emergency anchor to use in an instant if you need to put the "brakes" on. There are some that say you can use a roller-furling headsail to make an easy docking. While that may be true, it also adds unnecessary complexity to this maneuver. More than one furling unit has failed just when you need it the most. And, the headsail gets in the way of the sailing crew on the bow. They need a safe, clear area without the clutter of sheets or flapping canvas to get the docking lines over right away. So, for this article, we will discuss how to use just the mainsail--your "main" propulsion unit. For best control, make your ... |
Sailboat Safety - Single Handingby Douglas Malat 2/22/2011 Some people like being alone, others like enjoy being around people, especially when it comes to boating with Powerboats or Sailboats. So it is much more difficult to decide going it alone, Single Handing Offshore when you really enjoy company. You are not only testing your physical ability, but your mental ability of being alone for a considerable amount of time. With boat electronics being so advanced to actually plot a course and pilot your vessel automatically, you do have to think of the danger of being left alone floating in the Sea as you look at your boat or yacht moving into the distance away from you. Your Powerboat or Sailboat with its’ instruments, electronics, radar has no feelings as it heads for the horizon on a course that you approved. Staying on board your is essential if you are going it alone. Safety is the priority, not how much food, equipment, charts you have....It is your personal safety that matters and what you are going to do about it. The other stuff is important, but not like your safety. Having all scenarios thought of, with safety equipment and plans in place, you are still vulnerable. It is the one thing you did not think of that can get you...yes, there is always a chance things go...go terribly wrong. Of all things, you must stay onboard! Everything else really does not matter when you go overboard and you were single handing. Sailing single handed Offshore for many days at a time definitely ... |
Sailing Magazines Consideredby Lance Winslow 2/22/2011 Most everyone who sails takes at least one sailing, yachting, or cruising magazine. And there are some fine publications out there. Some are absolutely wonderful, with magnificent pictures, charts, maps, and helpful hints for the sailboat and yacht owner. One of my favorite magazines for the serious sailors and serious yachtsmen is "Cruising World Magazine" (ISSN: 0098-3519). Just to give you a for instance of what is in each issue of this magazine, let’s take the Cruising World March 2011 issue as an example. There was a terrific article on the routine maintenance of aluminum and whether to paint over bare aluminum or to keep it polished to prevent further corrosion; the article was titled; "Bare is Better - Painted Aluminum Requires Vigilance Against Cracks that Can Lead to Damage From Corrosion" by Steve D’ Antonio (page 73). There were also several great book reviews, including one on "Ship Shape Sailboat: Predictive Sailboat Maintenance Program" (2010) and the accompanying DVD for about $60.00 - and another must read Sailing Adventure book titled; "Cape Horn to Starboard" by John Kretschmer (2010) about an adventure trip from New York to San Francisco around Cape Horn in a 32-foot boat (Gigi). This book is especially interesting to me after having read several of Hal Roth’s sailing adventure books, including "Two Against Cape Horn - A Tale of High-Adventure at Sea in One of the Least Known Parts of the World." These types of books are always so very hard to put down, once you start. So, I ... |
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