Travel and Leisure Articles

Don’t get burned Sailing gloves which is an extremely important part of Sailing.

Whether you are a sailor new to the water or experienced at that, you will need to know that any sailing venture is going to rough and choppy, if you do not equip yourselves properly. Talking about equipping, sailing gloves are possibly as important as the boats sails or the centerboard material.

The Sailing gloves give your hand a good protective covering when you set sail. There can be so many instances when the waters can get choppy enough that you may get your hand cut trying to control the boat’s sails. And in these circumstance of all, Sailing gloves come in handy keeping your hand away from dangers way, talking literally.

Though there are different brands and types of Sailing gloves available in the market now, it is more important to decide what kind of gloves do you want. Do you want to purchase a pair of sailing gloves which cause a dent in your wallet? Do you want to purchase a pair of Sailing gloves which are made of leather or the more popular but expensive neoprene? These are questions you must ask yourselves before you even decide on shelling out your money on buying a pair of Sailing Gloves. Most sailing gloves which are available in the market now are made using the “Amara” material. If you have never heard this before, “Amara” is characteristically very tough. When you set sail, your palm and is the most vulnerable part for you to get hurt. Amara padding based with some insulation prevents from that mishap. Just so to ensure that almost all of your hands are covered, the thumb and the index finger are covered pretty neatly with the double covering. This is extremely helpful if you are doing lot of rope work when sailing. Spandex, which is a flexible material, is used to cover the back of the hand. More than anything else, it provides a good comfort factor for the person putting on the Gloves.

Priced anywhere between $15 - $26, the Sailing gloves are almost the first buy for you when you think of Sailing. Just as a multi-purpose gadget, you can look at buying neoprene gloves. These gloves give you a warm feeling. So much so, that you can put them on to cover from cold!!!. The sailing gloves which I use when I sail (Though I must admit, I have not used them for a good one year now) is the Short Thumb and Index finger Sailing glove. If you are thinking, why is it my favorite, I have a short thumb and index finger, that’s why. May sound silly, but it is extremely important that you take a look of your hands architecture before you buy the gloves. You may not want to enter the seas with a gloves so misfit, that you are looking after your sailing gloves rather than focusing on controlling your boat.

Remember, sailing with a pair of misfit sailing gloves is as dangerous as sailing without any gloves….

Italy is perhaps the most beautiful of the Mediterranean countries and very few other places on earth can compare. The coastline is spectacular with stunning beaches and quiet little bays, most of which can be reached only by sea. The islands of Sicily in Sardinia are perfect for exploring - with an average of 300 days of sunshine and with warm winds off Africa this is a great sailing spot.

It is neither expensive or difficult to organize. I too was once under the impression that only the truly wealthy could afford this type of holiday. That is not true.

My first boating holiday was an eye opener. I had the holiday of my life, family vacations don’t get better than this. We’d moor off undiscovered coves perfect for kids. They could row the dingy ashore and swim and snorkel in safe calm water - spending hours playing on the beaches or trying to catch the fish in the warm turquoise sea.

Where to begin? Well Sardinia is the ideal place to charter a boat either alone or with a full crew, skippered or bareboat. Rates are very reasonable and the waters are not to difficult for the novice sailor.

Most Sardinian marinas offer full resort facilities, with everything a yachtie could wish for. The Smeralda and Porto Cervo Yacht Clubs also offer lots of millionaire, sports stars, supermodels and luxury yachts. If this is not to your liking you will find that the east and west coasts of the Island are much simpler and down to earth.

Sing the tune “The Oronoco Flow” in your head for a moment, you know the one; “Sail, away, sail away, sail away” goes the chorus, it’s indeed a most beautiful song, and so perhaps it catches our imagination and mind. Sailing is like that isn’t it; the wind and breeze, the challenge, using nature, not fighting it, “going with the flow” as it is.

Whether you are adventure sailing or just enjoying another beautiful day in the harbor and not far from the shoreline, I hope you’ll have an excellent time sailing in 2009. Many folks who do not sail, just do not understand the beauty or the sensation, but get them on a sailboat with an experienced sailor and watch their attitudes change before your eyes.

Happens every time, and it’s like a calming feeling comes over them, one they have never experienced before and then comes that great big smile, one they cannot hold back, you know the one. The more people we can introduce to sailing the better, and the more people who’ll tell friends and so on. It’s really up to us to help people experience it all.

One of the greatest things you can do is to take a teen, perhaps one at risk and take them sailing, and allow them to see a different side of life, away from the inner city or suburban gangs. All of a sudden you have a new friend, no longer a juvenile delinquent but someone who shows you their genuine self without the façade, and it makes them realize there is more to life than concrete cities built by man. Please consider this.

The archipelago of Maldives consists of more than a thousand islands and atolls. A small part of them are inhabited. It’s also sometimes referred to as the flattest country in the world. The ground level is only 7.5 feet, but due to geographical changes, the water just keeps on rising. Moreover, the islands have a lot of beautiful coral reefs and beaches that you can explore, especially when you go sailing in Maldives.

Maldives is rich with coral rays, which you can discover when you dive or snorkel. There are a lot of equipment available for you, just in case you don’t have them. Nevertheless, if you want to increase your adrenalin, you can try surfing. This activity is quite new, but it’s catching up with the stature achieved by other more-recognized diving sites. The best time to go surfing is during the O’Neil Deep Blue competition. There are lots of surfers who will join the contest, and you can be a good competitor or spectator. Or you can ride the Whale Submarine, which can take you 100 feet underneath the surface of the ocean. This is a good way to observe the teeming marine life without wearing any dive suit or snorkeling equipment.

Good examples of nice areas for some sailing in Maldives are Ihuru and Kurumba. The former is just a tiny island, but can give you the privacy that you need. If you don’t want to live aboard your yacht, normal accommodations are bungalows. The latter, meanwhile, is more civilized. Majority of its hotels are equipped with fine facilities, such as swimming pools, gyms, restaurants, and conference rooms. Making them more convenient is its nearness from Male. Baros is an oval-shaped atoll that is composed of too many corals, some of them as large as 20 feet. Besides swimming and snorkeling, you can also spend your time water skiing.

Male, the capital of Maldives, is the great place to go if you’re looking for a good alternative from sailing in Maldives. You can bring your yacht in the harbor and start touring the different shops that line up the streets. You can also explore the National Museum, which houses several palanquins and thrones of sultans, or the Hukuru, also named the Friday Mosque. This place has been established since seventeenth century. The Majeedhee Magu is a shopping center that can offer goods at very low prices. They can range from watches, electronics, handbags, and garments. The Local Market, which is located close to Male Fish Market, is composed of several small booths that sell different kinds of food items, such as pickles, bananas, yams, and sweetmeat packets.

Your vacation will never be complete without cruising in Maldives. You get to enjoy the sun, waters, beach resorts, and the flora and fauna that this country is blessed with.

Apart from an aerial view, the best vantage point for viewing the encircling reef of Bora Bora is from the top of the twin peaks. Her captain and WK set off up the long track next morning, whilst sibling crew, using the excuse that our two men need some male bonding, prefers to go shopping in the village. Trekking upward is hot work, even though the trail is bountifully shaded with palms and other trees, so that the sweat has begun oozing within a short distance up the climb.

Two thirds of the way up, the track opens out into a gorgeous shady glade with a Tahitian house set on the far side. Our two heroes momentarily think they have taken a wrong turning and are entering some private garden. Not a sign anywhere indicating this is private property, so they stride toward the shaded verandah in the hope that there may be a cool drink on offer from inside. Passing an open door of what looks to be some kind of a studio, they peer in and spy a lady wrapped in her pareu, working over a table spread with fine and brightly coloured cloths.

On becoming aware of someone in the doorway, she glances up, flashes a brilliant smile and invites them in most naturally, as if this is a commonplace occurrence and she has been expecting them. She straightens, turns toward them and walks with a natural grace over to a sideboard, and pours two large glasses of what looks like water with lime. Turning once more, she glides over the matting of the hard earthen floor, placing each foot, straight and directly in front of the other as she walks, like any well bred woman would. Smiling all the while, she arrives and hands the glasses to our adventurers with a ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome’. In their state of readiness, she appears as a vision would, surrounded by some kind of halo, her skin glowing with a honeylicious epidermal effulgence. Gratefully accepted, the drinks are gulped down, the lime cutting the water delightfully, immediately satiating their thirst.

Ever watching them, eyes sparkling with amusement, she politely waits till they have taken their fill and asks;

‘Was it a hot trek up the hill this morning?’ Hiding her irony beneath that engaging smile.

In the presence of such stately beauty, our two gallants mumble their thanks and begin to collect themselves. They ask if they are on the right path to the top and she satisfies their concern that indeed they are, and that her house happens to sit on the path. Appeased, and having noticed much framed Batik art hanging on the fronded walls, they set about asking her about her art.

‘I’ll show you’ she says.

Bending over the table, her tresses falling sensuously about her face and bare shoulders, hands fluttering delicately, she demonstrates how she paints the wax onto her fabrics. There are many pots of dyes strewn about, and having applied the wax, the fabric is dipped into the next color of dye she wants. Watching several stages of this complex waxing and dyeing process, she then moves to another table where she has a finished work ready for de waxing. Placing the absorbing paper on the fabric, she takes her hot iron over it and melts the waxes. As each layer melts into the paper, another color is exposed until, peeling off the last sheet, the final image is revealed. The finished image is complex and quite beautiful, and many such examples grace her studio. This particular piece is a brightly colored pareu which will hang on the rack along with all the others - all items are for sale.

Batik art is like painting in reverse in that the artist has to visualize the completed picture beforehand, and then go about applying the wax to the areas that are to remain the same color and not affected by the next dye color. So, there can be no mistakes with this art form, as there is no way back, once made, they cannot be corrected. Watching her at work for half an hour - no other visitors during this time - gives our two a greater understanding of this art form, and they are very impressed.

She comments with a wry grin that she receives most callers early morning and late afternoon when it is cooler. Expressing much admiration for her work and thanking her, they take their leave, promising to call in again on their way down to select a suitable piece. A languid wave from her doorway sees them off on the next stage.

Struggling up the long dusty street next morning, a windowless, wooden coach is spied in the distance. Clambering aboard and settling sweatily on the generously varnished wooden seats, it is already 27 degrees Celsius - thoughts of a long hot day shimmer before them! Counting numbers on a thirty seater should not take too long, but it is close to an hour before the engine is coaxed coughing, into life and they creak off, breathing in lungs full of diesel smoke back drafted through the glassless windows.

The pale blue motor launch bobbing quietly at the dock looks workmanlike and ready to put to sea. It has a rather ornate stern railing, varnished bright of course, which looks out of place on a work boat. She motors out in the glorious morning sunshine and a sparkling sea. By this time there is a gentle sea breeze, deliciously cooling our crew so that the spectacular views can be all the more appreciated. Rounding the promontory she heads for the landing place. No dock or sea wall is visible and it appears that disembarkation is on to nothing more than a large flat rock. There is a surge running, so this operation looks like it may require some modicum of seamanship skills to successfully get the thirty or so tourists ashore. The boat is backed up to the rock, a crew member jumps with a rope, which he lashes to a large and rusty iron bar embedded in the rocks. What he doesn’t see is that the shipboard crew member has the other end of the line bent on to a cleat with the running end passing through the intricately carved and varnished balusters. With the next surge, the woven rope tightens. With the stern swinging, water squirting from the taut and twanging line, the rat a tat tat of splintering woodwork is clearly heard above the surf as ten or more balusters snap like matchsticks - the rope knifing through them, splinters exploding in a thousand directions. Fortunately, no unsuspecting tourists legs are in the path of the line as they would snap just as easily. Our crew smother sniggers, coming out as coughs and snorts, but as fellow sailors they sympathise with the unfortunate fellow on board who is yet to receive the wrath of his skipper.

Turning their backs on the ensuing dressing down our crew, bounding ashore, actually step right over a large sea lion nestling at the foot of the rock. This sets the scene for the next few hours of a lifetime experience with the native and wild fauna of these islands. Following a narrow winding path through knee high scrub, they eventually come to the top of the rise, and spread out before them is a most fantastic sight. A multitude of wild life is staring right back at them. ‘Wild’ seems a little extreme, as all creatures just carry on with what they are doing and barely take notice of their visitors, aside from a cursory inspection as they first come into view. Gulls are nesting next to Boobys, both the blue and red footed variety, frigate birds in the bushes, a wide range of seabirds floating overhead along with the female frigate birds, iguanas and various lizards scuttling back and forth, altogether like one very, very large family.

Over the top and down toward the sea on the other side, this blend continues and as the waters’ edge nears, seals, sea lions and the marine iguanas are added into the mix - a natural sight almost beyond words to describe.

It is the mating season and some Boobys put on a wonderfully comic display of their mating dance. Slowly circling one another, flapping their rather large red or blue feet at one another as they go, moving ever closer, until they come together, rapturously rubbing their puffed chests. This is obviously highly erotic for them as they finish in a very cosy cuddle, necks entwined.

The frigate bird takes a different approach. The male builds the most untidy nest of sticks in an equally scruffy looking bush and then sits in it. Raising his long beaked head skyward, inflating his big red throat balloon(only the males have this), he stares eagerly into the blue hoping to attract one of the high circling females. Our crew, watching the process for quite some time without result, have their doubts as to the effectiveness of this pursuit and the two thirds male crew certainly find it difficult to understand why any male would go to such lengths. Who’s ever heard of building a house first and then standing on the front porch waving an appendage at every passing female! Sibling crew treats these coarse remarks with a disdainful toss of her head, muttering something about the male gene pool being closely related to pigs!

In a light offshore breeze, the crystal waves of this gently sloping sandy beach stand up very nicely. With the early afternoon sun just behind them now, the breakers are window clear and suddenly, there are eight or nine dolphins surfing along these rollers, gambolling out and into the face of the wave with absolute precision. The slightest movement of their flippers or tail, produces a marked change in direction or action, so they can hold their position perfectly in the barrel for as long as they wish, run out of water, or become bored with the game. This amusement appears to be for the spectators benefit with several of them almost running up onto the rock strewn beach, grinning, before bearing away in a long carving turn for another run - what a delight. A couple of seals join in the fun and whilst impressive, do not have quite the same maneuverability and finesse as their speedier cousins.

The human mind can only observe, absorb and appreciate so much at any one time, so, after a short swim and with our crew going into mental overload, the tour party heads back to the boat, coach, and dusty, but happy journey home. Tomorrow is another day when a visit to the famous and fabulous Galapagos tortoises is planned.

The popularity of cruising as a vacation has been rising steadily over the past 5 - 10 years as cruise companies spend more and more money on marketing the holidays and the cruise ships become more like floating entertainment palaces than floating accommodation. A cruise holiday today is a non stop amusement festival with hour after hour of organized entertainment for all of the family. But for those of you who prefer the quieter pace of life but still want a floating holiday what options are available to you?

Sailing holidays have been around for many years but have become more popular on the back of the cruise holiday. Because the cruise holiday used to be the reserve of the older generation they used to be more relaxing than entertaining but now that the cruise holiday has changed people are looking for a new way to enjoy a holiday on the water and a sailing holiday appears to be it.

All along the coast line of Turkey you can sail in a small boat called a gulet which is a wooden sailing boat with a double mast. These are a traditional Turkish sailing vessel that have been used for many hundreds of years as trade and transport boats. Gulets vary in length from 13 - 36 metres in length and although traditionally are sail powered more often than not are now powered by a quiet diesel motor. A gulet will usually consist of 6 - 8 cabins all fitted with twin or double beds as well as a bathroom and shower room. The beauty if a gulet sailing holiday is that you are amongst a small group of people which gives the vacation an intimate feel. The boat is crewed by 3 or 4 people including a captain, the crew will take care of everything to ensure that you have the perfect vacation.

If you are part of a large group of friends or if you have a large family it is possible to charter the gulet for yourselves alternatively if you are on your own or traveling as a couple it is possible to simply hire out a cabin on the boat for the trip. A sailing holiday in a gulet is a great way to relax and see the wonderful Mediterranean coast of Turkey and beyond. You can choose the duration of your cruise to suit but generally they vary from eight days to a fortnight stopping for beach trips as well refueling stops and provisions a few times within the voyage.

Taking a gulet vacation and sailing along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend your vacation, you have all of your meals prepared for you and there is very little else to do other than stop for a swimming break in the sea or simply sit back and listen to the sea lapping against the side of your gulet as you glide through the water. If you are on your own or sailing as a couple on a gulet it gives you a great opportunity to meet some wonderful new people who will all be enjoying the relaxation that a gulet holiday offers.

History in the British Virgin Island starts with the Carib Indians, who had killed off most of the Arawak earlier inhabitants and were in the Virgin Islands the day Europeans led by Columbus landed on its shores. Columbus chose not to stay long, however, and his decision to move on led to an international argument about who the Virgin Islands really belonged to, then chaos, and then a rich piracy, privateer, and smuggler history.

Exploring the history of the British Virgin Islands by yacht, you’re moving in the wake of pirates from the Golden Age on through the much-later pirates of the early 18th century. One of the best places to explore for piratical history is Norman Island, the probable inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal Treasure Island. On this island in the southern tip of the Virgin Island archipelago you’ll find all the piratical features you might imagine: Spyglass Hill, sea caves accessible by boat, welcoming open ports and coves, and for lunch Pirates Bight Bar and Restaurant, clearly marked not with an X but with the word “Pirates” laid out in white on the red roof.

Dead Chest Island in Deadman’s Bay, off Peter Island, is probably the inspiration for the “15 men on a dead man’s chest” song, also from Treasure Island. Legend has it that Blackbeard marooned fifteen crewmen on this dry and deserted shore with only a bottle of rum to sustain them; when the desperate men tried to swim the wide strait across to Peter Island, they were swept away by the current and drowned. Today, it’s still dry and barren, but it’s also surrounded by excellent diving spots for snorkelers and scuba divers.

All around Tortola you’ll find spots, mostly in ruins or with only the foundations left, where forts were raised by Dutch and British soldiers, and sometimes by the pirates themselves. The area passed from Spanish to Dutch to British hands over and over throughout the two centuries between about 1550 to 1750, finally winding up a British colony. Fort Recovery, for instance, was first built by Dutch explorer Joost van Dyk (after whom an island is named) to defend against possible Spanish incursions in the early 1600s. It was abandoned in 1672 when the British took the island, but then was rebuilt in the late 1700s, when the British were worried about the newly-formed United States and, later, Napoleon. Today, a two-story ruin is left, and Fort Recovery Beachfront Villas dominates the shoreline instead of a hardened fortress.

Later, the history of Tortola and the British Virgin Islands took a decidedly cruel turn, as slaves imported from Africa were made to farm sugarcane throughout the islands. They toiled in the hot fields through about the mid-19th century, when slavery was abolished in all British territories. You can see a little of this history if you visit Sugar Mill Hotel, which is built inside a 370-year-old sugar mill ruin, and much more in some of the small museums in Road Town, Tortola.

Piracy, war, slavery, and now a premier tourism spot for yachters and the preeminent financial market in the Caribbean - the British Virgin Islands have come a long way through history, and you’ll feel it as you sail between the exotic islands, where pirates once navigated and wars were waged.

The boat deck, a wide blue ocean, sunset, a bottle of fine wine, and the person you love - it doesn’t get more romantic than that. Tortola and the British Virgin Islands are an ideal place to seek out romance, and the privacy and beauty you’ll find in a bareboat yachting trip make your vacation the most romantic you’ll ever have in your life.

There are many, many places of romantic beauty on and around Tortola. These are some of the best.

Smuggler’s Cove is quite possibly the most private beach on Tortola, outside of the several uninhabited sandy islands with no amenities at all. You’ll find one beach bar here, no restaurant, and very few people. Though you may be tempted to strip naked and dive into the water, just don’t do it! The people of the Virgin Islands frown on public nudity. Save that for another time. To get here, anchor your yacht nearby and swim or dinghy over; though the yachting companies may tell you not to stop here, many locals do anyway, and it’s not a big deal as long as you don’t dump waste anywhere nearby.

The Peter Island Resort is a perfect place to base your yachting from. Located on a privately-owned island that is undeveloped outside the resort, Peter Island offers moorings for your yacht, perfect honeymoon accommodations with every resort perk, and nothing to do at night but enjoy one another, the beach, the ripe scent of jasmine, and the brilliant stars overhead. Need a perfect beach on Peter Island? Deadman’s Bay, though it has a decidedly unromantic name, is rated one of the top ten romantic beaches of the Caribbean; take a stroll here under the palms and seagrape trees and watch the light of the sunset fade, leaving just the two of you alone here.

Another romantic choice: explore the pirates. The British Virgin Islands, and especially Tortola, were a pirate haven. You can go together to set foot on Dead Chest Island, the original source for the pirate phrase “fifteen men on a dead man’s chest.” Or sail over to Norman Island, locally known as Treasure Island, where you can explore the places associated with Robert Louis Stevenson’s book and have lunch at Pirate Bight Beach Bar and Restaurant. Hike up Spy Glass Hill, and at the top you’ll be rewarded with an uninterrupted view of Sir Francis Drake Channel on all sides; this historic spot was used by pirates and privateers to watch for passing treasure ships, and you’ll quickly see why. An added bonus: nearby Pelican Island is right next to The Indians and Rainbow Canyon, one of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world.

Or you can sail from the west end of Tortola along its south coast, passing island after island on the way to Virgin Gorda. The British Virgin Islands were named after St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins because there are so many little islands that dot the area; most are uninhabited. This means that you can stop at any of them for a romantic moonlight dinner, and private dancing on the beach afterward. All your most romantic fantasies can be lived out here on sun-warmed beaches next to deep blue waters.

Sailing is a great sport and there is no reason anyone could dislike it unless they are incredibly seasick (which is very unusual on a small dinghy).

Most people get the myth into their minds that it requires alot of training and is very expensive. This is not true at all. In fact the opposite is true, usually sailing is very cheap especially at volunteer clubs where you pay a membership fee per quarter or month and get to use the club boats. Sailing does not require a lot of training, in fact by having just 1 hour on the water you can learn all the basics from tacking to gybing and from the 5 essentials to points of sail.

Sailboat racing is the most adrenaline rushing, heart pumping and fiercely competitive sport I know of. In high winds sailing can become close to terrifying, which all adds to the rush you get when you start. Most clubs have a series in which you are ranked by finishing position and the best set of finishing positionings wins a trophy. This trophy is fiercely contested and you really need to work hard on your sailing and appearance to be able to even attempt to win the series.

Sailing is an extremely physical and mental sport. It really works your ab and core muscles, arm muscles, leg muscles and shoulder muscles, because of the constant need to hike out, move around and pulling in the sail sheets (the rope that controls the sail setting). This in a one hour race can be an incredibly good workout compared to the gym membership that you pay for, but never go to. Instead of getting a new Gym membership as your new year’s resolution consider starting sailing.

Contrary to common belief, there are sailing centres and clubs practically everywhere in the world, you just need to know where to find them in your area. In London there are at least 6 different sailing clubs, which one can go to to learn or enjoy sailing.

It is also a great way to get your kids or teens out of the house (and their Wii games) and doing something that will improve their fitness (many teenagers are now overweight, because they watch television all day) and their mental concentration (it helps me relax and get me through the week). Many clubs have kids or teens sailing as well.

You can also get sailing lessons free! If you go to a volunteer club, then you can usually get lessons free or included within your membership if you need them. this is great for beginners or improver’s, because the centre usually caters for all levels of sailing from absolute newbie to racing expert.

Many clubs will have to check you out first (usually means completing RYA level 2 course or doing a in-house test), so that they know you are trustworthy before letting you take out club boats on the water. This is to make sure you understand the basics of sailing whilst also being safe at all times. Once you are checked out you can cruise, race or even take out a romantic evening with your partner.

Sailing is an ultimate experience with all-in-one factor within it. It has everything you could hope for in a sport and more. it caters for all people, all ages, all races, all sizes and you will always be welcome to do sailing whoever you are and whatever you do. Sailing does not discriminate and is very flexible.

So what is stopping you? Start Sailing today!