Travelling and Photography

August 20, 2010

Looking at the Many Different Sailing Yachts That you Can Buy

Filed under: Sailing — Tags: , , , , — arkan @ 4:28 pm

Sailing yachts come in many different forms and types. You will find that there are different brands of sailing yachts which you can think about buying. These vessels can be used to travel on the surface of land and water in just about any type of weather. Depending on the type of terrain and sailing that you are planning on doing, you should look at the many different yachts you can buy.

Also when you are looking at these sailing yachts you should have a clear idea about the type of sailing that you are going to do. This is important as sailing yachts can be used for speed sailing, land sailing or having a luxurious cruise down a quiet river.

You will need to see if you are looking at sailing yachts which are capable of sailing in deep or shallow waters. Once you have clarified this part of the sailing operation you will know which yacht is best for you. There is one aspect of buying a yacht that should be firmly kept in mind. This item is the price you will need to pay.

Now depending on the type of sailing that you are going to indulge in you will find that the price of the sailing yachts can go hand in hand with this need. This means that while there are people who love to sail on open waters, there are others who are highly enthusiastic about sailing their yachts across solid land.

These people can be seen zooming over the surface of the earth in their highly streamlined, sleek sailing yachts which have been designed to speed across the surface of different terrains.

Since sailing yachts like so many other products are made to last for a certain amount of time it is in your best interests if you look after your chosen yacht with care. Provided that you give your yacht the attention that it needs you will have a sailing vessel that will last for quite a long time.

In many ways you will find that sailing yachts are vessels that can take you anywhere that you want. The many different yachts that you will see in marinas are a testament to the love that people have for these graceful sea going vehicles. With a sailing yacht you are free to travel at your own pace anywhere in the world. These are a few of the attributes and reasons why people love to have fun in sailing yachts of different styles and types.

Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Yachts for Years. For More Information on Sailing Yachts, Visit His Site at SAILING YACHTS

July 19, 2010

Everything You Need To Know About Sail Shades

Filed under: Sailing — Tags: , , , , , — arkan @ 4:28 pm

The sail shade is a relatively new type of garden shade that has only recently become a part of a private garden. Typically this type of shade has been utilised by large organisations for places such as schools, park areas and more recently places that are set to house the Olympic Games. They are extremely striking forms of shade that are erected with the intention of being semi-permanent. This means that they are meant to be used or long periods of time unlike other shade structures like the gazebo which are often put up whilst the sun is out and taken down after the sun has gone in. Sail shades remain erected all year round.


Sail shades are made up of strong cloths which can withstand harsher treatment than the temporary versions of shade that are typically available. Sail shades are typically attached to permanent fixtures such as walls or permanent posts. As a result it is a longer lasting source of shade that should be dealt with as a key part of the design of the outdoor space. Garden designers can often use them to base the design of the outdoor space. Such is the striking nature of this type of shade that the whole theme of the outside space can be amended to work with the sail shade.


Sail shades were first utilised by ancient Roman and Greek sailors that hoisted sails up to protect them from the searing sun when they were on land. This innovative idea was exploited by many different people and the theory has developed into the modern day sail shade. It is said that the coliseum was covered with a sail so that the people that attended the sporting and theatrical events could be kept cool from the searing sun. This theory has been exploited to make the modern sail shade. The primary change has been that the type of cloth used to make the sail has changed. New technology has introduced new fibres that make the modern sail shade both sturdy and extremely effective at blocking out the harmful UV rays from the sun.


The sail shades come in a number of different shapes and sizes. Most sail shades that are used for large outdoor areas are designed by the sail shade manufacturers specifically for the place that they will be used in. The range of options if you decide to have your sail shade designed bespoke to your needs is infinite. There are also a number of sail shades that are sold off the shelf. These come in a number of different sizes and shapes. Each manufacturer and sales company produces different sizes and shapes bust most of these companies will provide something to suit your needs. Most sail shades are available in triangle and square shapes. These are generally called triangle shade sails and square shade sails and are a great way of providing a semi-permanent shade for your garden.


Other types of garden shade that you could utilise in your outdoor space are gazebos, umbrella shade and the larger marquees. Gazebos are another fantastic option as they are quite inexpensive and can be erected anywhere. They are small tent like structures that can be put up anywhere. Unlike tents they do not have walls and they are tall enough to stand under. Also they often provide rain cover as well as shade cover from the sun.

Shaun Parker is an expert on sail shades. To find out more see http://www.shadednation.com

June 17, 2010

Dinghy Sailing

Filed under: Sailing — Tags: , — arkan @ 4:30 pm

For an exhilarating sailing experience which is easy to begin and full of fun, there is no better way to enter the sport than with dinghy sailing.

Where to Start

You’ll find many dinghy sailing clubs around the lakes and rivers of the UK coast. Always keen to take on new members, especially families, you’ll find them welcoming and friendly.

Cost

Fees vary depending on the level of facilities, but a good club will cost around £150 per year for a family and may include a dinghy parking place. Individuals joining on their own will expect to pay around £50 per year. There are no fees to use the water but you will need insurance. This should cost a further £50.

Equipment

There are two vital pieces of equipment that you will need. A buoyancy aid or life jacket and a pair of non-slip shoes. Trainers are fine to begin with but they offer no protection from the water. You’ll also need to invest in a good waterproof jacket in the summer and a wetsuit for the winter months. Wearing layers of clothing is always advisable.

Buying a Dinghy

Some clubs will lend you a boat and a sailing centre will provide a boat as part of a course. It’s a good idea not to rush in and buy a dinghy straight away. It’s best to start with a used dinghy while you’re new to sailing. Beginners to the sport will normally start with an older boat and after a few months, when you’re sure you want to continue, you can upgrade to something to a newer boat.

Types of Dinghy

- Car portable such as Toppers. – Fixed keel dinghies. – Performance dinghies such as Catamarans. – One person dinghies like the One Man Lasers. – Two person such as Fireballs. – Family dinghies like Wayfarers.

Courses

Dinghy sailing is always taught by RYA qualified instructors starting with beginners courses. Courses are designed so that the skills you learn in one boat are transferable to the next. And you can complete courses in stages, so you can finish one section and continue with the next when you are ready – on holiday for instance.

Learning to Sail on Holiday

Learning to sail a dinghy on holiday is a great way to enter the world of sailing. With better weather and time on your side, you’ll feel more relaxed and possibly learn to sail much faster. With warmer waters you’ll almost certainly feel more confident when you capsize the dinghy.

Inshore Lakes or Costal Waters

Dinghy sailing on an inshore lake is generally considered safer. You’ll be sailing within easy distance of a rescue boat, making it popular with families. It’s also easier to lean this way. Without the distraction of the tide and avoiding other craft, you’ll feel more comfortable able to concentrate fully on your sailing. With stronger winds and greater challenges, coastal sailing is for the more experienced dinghy sailor.

Start Racing

It won’t be long before you feel ready to start racing and most clubs run novice courses. Boats designed for one or two people, and even high performance dinghies with a crew, can be raced without any official qualification. You will, however, need to learn to handle the dinghy and have a good grasp of the basics for your own safety.

Cruising

There is the option to cruise rather than race and there are clubs for people who simply wish to sail with others and discover new waters. Smaller boats for cruising are slightly different in that they are not designed for speed but for comfort. This means they handle easily in all weathers and are safer when away from shore with no rescue boat. Larger and heaver dinghies are known as day boats. You will also need to complete a course for cruising and have a good understanding of the basics.

Buying a Dinghy

Before you buy a dinghy you must bear in mind that your requirements will change as your sailing develops. You should also consider whether you want to sail alone or with a crew, if it needs to be portable and if you need a faster performance boat more or one more suitable for cruising. Newer, high performance boats will come at a higher price but there are bargains to be had with older boats.

Further information on dinghy sailing is available from TheYachtMarket.com. Their website also lists many new and used sailing dinghies for sale.

May 16, 2010

Learning to Sail…the Ultimate Hobby!

Filed under: Sailing — Tags: , , , — arkan @ 4:28 pm

If you’re looking to take up sailing, there are few sailing courses better than those on offer located on the shores of Lanzarote. The marina is just ten minutes away from the airport by taxi and costs very little to get there (approximately 15 Euros), leaving no reason not to try one of the several courses there. The luxury location means that teaching is often done in the sunshine in beautiful surroundings, offerings a different and unique sailing experience. Remove yourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax on board one of the sailing boats and improve your knowledge or improve upon valuable skills without it feeling like hard work.

The courses you can choose from to learn to sail vary so that you can tailor the instruction according to your ability. Some of the longer courses offer the chance to practice skills and continue learning by sailing around the island. Other courses include theory as well as VHF radio and a first aid course, which compliments the practical skills taught on board. For. You are also given the opportunity to swim in the clear waters during the lunch break as well as giving spectacular views of the stunning beaches that Lanzarote has to offer which surely is an opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

In the height of summer, Lanzarote can reach high temperatures offering the golden sun and sandy beaches that all holiday-goers are after. So in addition to your normal holiday trip, why not try your hand at sailing? There are plenty of different things to try which will enrich your holiday. Instead of the usual water sports it may be more beneficial to learn practical skills that are fun to learn at the same time. Sailing offers a much more tranquil and relaxed setting for those holiday-goers looking for a more peaceful experience whilst also letting you be active.

There really is something for everyone, with sailing courses that would suit the solo sailor, couples and families as well. Class sizes are kept to a small size – generally a maximum of 4 or 5 people per instructor – which means that the teaching is most effective and so that you get the most out of your learning to sail experience. In order for you to learn as quickly and effectively as possible, the instructors first demonstrate and then allow you to practise as many times as you feel is necessary allowing you to pick up as much knowledge about sailing as possible.

It is important when looking to find a sailing course to make sure that the company you choose has experienced sailors, which are RYA qualified and therefore have the ability to teach you to the correct standards. Rather than looking for a great holiday why not try to learn new skills and find another way to enjoy what Lanzarote has to offer by learning to sail. Who knows, it may become your new hobby. If you’re visiting Lanzarote for a short trip or a long break, fitting in a sailing course will make your holiday one to remember and may even be the start of your sailing holidays for years to come.

James Brook is an expereicned sailing instructor and has helped many people to learn to sail. For more information about sailing courses visit http://www.endeavoursailing.co.uk

Fair Wind Sailing School Sailing Lessons: Intermediate Sail Trim

Filed under: Sailing — Tags: , , , , , , , — arkan @ 4:28 pm

In this lesson I will present a detailed perspective on sail trim, introducing the use of tell-tales and more sail controls, while keeping the relative time spent on sail trim to a minimum.

Novices begin sail trim with the mainsail. More advanced sailors start sail trim from the most forward sail on the boat. For a typical Bermuda Sloop, the most common rig today, that means the jib or foresail. We will also introduce sailing by the tell-tales—the little pieces of green and red yarn, cloth or ribbon hanging in about the middle of the sail. To begin, we put our boat on a steady course and while on that course we sheet the sail to the “all the way in” position. At this point, the “inside” tell-tales, those closest to the centerline of the boat, should be pointing straight back in line with the motion of the boat and parallel to the water, while the outside tell-tales will be flopping about. To properly trim our headsail, we will ease the sail slowly out. Eventually, the tell-tale movement will change with the inside tell-tales flopping about and the outside tell-tales flowing back in a straight line parallel with the water. When you have reached this point, stop easing the sail and gently (and slowly) trim in until both sets of tell-tales are streaming aft. This is the ideal trim position. One final note on headsails, many will have several sets of tell-tales and it can be difficult to get all sets streaming aft simultaneously. For our purposes, we will trim to the bottom set of tell-tales when there are two sets and to the middle set when there are three sets of tell-tales.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the mainsail. We will still use just our mainsheet for trimming our mainsail at this point, continuing to avoid adjustment of the boom vang and traveler car. We will center our traveler car amid ship and leave it there. At this point, with the headsail already trimmed, you are likely to see a big “bubble” along the luff of our mainsail where the headsail has turned the wind into our mainsail if the mainsail is trimmed out. The goal of mainsail trim is to get the mainsail tell-tales, located on the leach of the sail, usually along the battens, to stream back parallel to the water. The procedure is similar to headsail trim above: start with the mainsail all the way in and gradually ease the sail out until the tell-tales are streaming aft. As with the headsail, they may all not stream aft simultaneously. Try moving in and out—slowly—if you still can’t get them all flowing, concentrate on the tell-tales from mid-sail to the top of the sail—that is where you will find the strongest wind.

Lastly, let me point out that there are conditions such as very light winds, wet sails, heading dead down wind, etc., when the tell-tale trim method may not work. When you are sailing in these conditions, my advice would be return to simpler rules of trim until you are ready for the advanced trim methods.

Captain Dave Bello is the President of Fair Wind Sailing School, offering sailing lessons and sailing charters in the BVI, US Virgin Islands, Florida and the Chesapeake Bay.

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress