World Wide Sailing

I doubt there is one, but if you’re the sort of yachtie who likes to use his engine to get out of the marina, immediately set his sails, and only use the engine to get into a harbour, then you’ll be disappointed. There’s a lot of motoring in the Med.
The wind tends to blow along the Spanish coast, either east or west along the Costa del Sol, and then just when you think you’ll get the wind on the beam as you turn the corner, you get it on the nose again. Actually, that’s not quite correct, because for 10-20 miles north of the south-east corner, the wind continues to blow east-west. Even when the wind blows, it doesn’t usually start before 12 noon, and sometimes not till later.
So the thing to do is hurry up across to the Balearics, because we found that the winds around the islands are good sailing winds. You often get good winds round Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, and there are plenty of good anchorages and marinas to stay in. It is a great cruising ground, particularly the north-east of Majorca, and most of Menorca.
Most people think of the Med as being either calm, or with just a breeze, but it can blow as strongly down there as around Devon and Cornwall. The difference is that the wind can come from nowhere and get up to a force 7-8 in half an hour. And neither the sky nor the barometer give you much clue.
Caught Out in an inland sea Read the rest of this entry »

There’s no better way to get the feel from a boat you’re not used to than to sail with only the mainsail. It minimizes the touch points you need to pay attention to and keeps your speed at a manageable level. Your mainsail is important in the dynamics of the boat’s forward drive and sailing with it alone will help you isolate nuances of its effect. Different boat designs have an impact on what part the mainsail plays in the handling of the boat. For instance, fractional rigs rely more heavily on the mainsail than the headsail and its sailing characteristics are considerably different.

It’s important to understand that without a headsail, the boat will not “point” or sail well into the wind. So keep this in mind when choosing your course and area of sail. Don’t get into trouble in shallow water or areas where you need to head higher into the wind because the boat probably won’t help you out of that jam. You will notice however that the boat sails downwind well. With the sheet eased well out the yacht will move considerably well. Again, reaching and closed hauled sailing will be slow and you may experience considerable weather helm. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most enjoyable things about owning a sailboat is taking guests out on it and sharing your love of sailing. The quiet power, the trimming of the sails, the bow slapping spray back to the cockpit – all things that keep you coming back.

But if you’re not used to the motion of a small boat, what may be an enjoyable day sail could be an uncomfortable and even sickening experience that could cause a first timer to never want to sail again. It’s your job as host and captain to make sure those aboard are comfortable and get the most out of the trip without becoming sick.

Rule number one, make sure they wear proper cloting. Hats and sunscreen are a must and there’s nothing worse than looking down at your skin after an hour on board and seeing a lobster red arm.

Rule two, hydrate. You should provide plenty of water to your guest. Inform them that they should drink plenty even though they don’t feel thirsty. Read the rest of this entry »

Cruise vacations are one of the most exciting and fun vacations you and your family will ever have. Planning your cruise vacation is the key to making the most of the cruise experience.

Cruise ships are floating hotels that sail through ocean while you enjoy all the hotel’s amenities provided. They have casinos, swimming pools, theaters, restaurants, shopping centers or boutiques, spas, gyms and more.

As great as taking a vacation on cruise ships may seem, you still need to know how to plan a cruise ship vacation properly so you have the perfect cruise experience. You need to know about the different types of packages the cruise lines offer.

When planning a cruise ship vacation you need to know how to choose one that will meet your expectation or tailor to your needs. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to plan your cruise travel and enjoy the perfect cruise experience:

Think of who you want to take with you on your cruise vacation. There are many different packages offered by cruise lines. There are packages for the whole family and there are packages for single travelers. Read the rest of this entry »

Sailing is among the oldest and most dangerous occupations in the world. As long as humans have lived near large bodies of water, from major rivers and lakes to the ocean itself, people have been sailors. And as long as people have been facing the dangers of sea, they’ve been inventing and perfecting to lessen those dangers as well as to make fishing, navigation, speed, fighting and defense easier.

The quality and innovation of a civilization’s marine equipment as historically made a huge difference in the dominating of one nation over another, as the ability to master the waters brings the advantage of travel, food, national defense, and trade. Read the rest of this entry »

Boating can be helpful in bringing with you closer with your family and friends if the occasion is used wisely. There are many boating activities which you can try to as- To Spend Time With Your Family: Have you ever felt like your family is being pulled away from you? Then what better solution to take them for boating.

Whether it’s fishing, tubing, skiing or just cruising along enjoying the scenery, there are few recreation opportunities that offer families the chance to reconnect like a day spent together on the water.Try Saltwater Fishing Whether it’s fishing in small bays, trolling the coastal flats or heading offshore for the thrills of big game fishing, saltwater fishing offers great sport for anglers of all levels and abilities. You won’t forget this experience.Go Sailing! Sailing is more than Just a sport, it’s a lifestyle that opens up a whole new world for you, your family and friends. In fact, whether you’re interested in day sailing, cruising or competitive racing, mastering the “art of sailing” is a lifelong challenge that inspires passion among enthusiasts and offers a lifetime of enjoyment on the water.
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America’s #1 Sailing School® is the leader in sailing instruction, sailing lessons and sailing adventure travel vacations.
Flagship of the Colgate Schools, Offshore provides sailing courses certified by US SAILING, from day sailing and coastal cruising to ocean sailing in live aboard blue water sailing and offshore passage making training.

Discover sailing with our exclusive Fast Track to Cruising® — on your own, with your family, kids or friends.

You want the best sailing lessons you can get in the most reasonable time frame. We are the only sailing school that gives you the confidence to skipper or crew sailboats from 26’ to 46’ in nine days or less.
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Sailing Turkey's Turquoise Coast

If you like sunshine, the smell of the sea air, water sports, Mediterranean cuisine, and a chance to visit important historical sites, then you should set your sites on Turkey. It is here where you can explore one of civilization’s great crossroads, choosing from a variety of sailing options.

You don’t have to be a sailor to enjoy a sea holiday in Turkey. One of the popular choices of tourists in Turkey is to hire a crewed yacht. On a crewed yacht, a professional crew takes care of the boating and you can turn your attention to snorkeling, soaking in the sun, visiting quaint villages, historical sites and enjoying the dishes prepared by the onboard chef.

If you fancy travelling on a vessel that is reminiscent of a romantic galleon or old pirate ship, then a cruise on a Gulet (or Gullet) is in order. Gulets are traditional wooden and handmade Turkish boats, usually equipped with a crew of three comprising of the captain, the cook, and a sailor. The boats have a motor as well as sails. The route can be fixed , or arranged to the preferences of the group, and the group shares the expenses. Read the rest of this entry »

Italy: Sicily, Naples, Sardinia, Calabria, Rome, Tuscany,

Italy is one of the most popular vacation countries in Europe. Italy is an international playground, with visitors from all continents mingling with vacationing Italians at the famous resorts. Five different sailing areas : Sardinia, Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sicily.

Croatia: Split, Dubrovnik, Biograd, Pula, Zadar,

The coastline of Croatia is perfect for sailing holidays. With so many islands and small ports, you can stop as many times as you like or sail for as long as you wish. Read the rest of this entry »