Travel and Leisure Articles

Does your sailing crew know the location of each small portable fire extinguisher aboard? Have you trained them in the simple technique called “P.A.S.S.”? Make these five easy preparation steps today to fight any deadly marine fire that crosses your path in the future.

Mount portable fire extinguishers so that you can get to one within five seconds–no matter where you are on the boat. That’s not a lot of time. But then again, neither is 30 to 45 seconds. And that’s the amount of time that marine firefighters estimate you have to extinguish a fire before it’s out of control!

Do you know the exact location of each marine extinguisher on your boat? Does your crew? You have to know where they are in order to fight a fire. If one fails to work then what? You will need to grab another. But where are they? Follow these five simple steps:

1. Mount each extinguisher

Mount portable fire extinguishers in brackets. That’s not to say you can’t shove some in a sail locker. But these tend to get buried under marine rope, spare anchors, and other sailing gear. Loose extinguishers are not counted as required Federal equipment if you are boarded for a safety inspection.

Take care not to mount an extinguisher where it would be inaccessible in a fire. For example, you wouldn’t want to mount one behind a stove top. Flames could block your access. Mount boat galley extinguishers on the bulkhead opposite that of the cooking stove.

2. Sketch and post their locations

Grab a clipboard with a sheet of paper and pencil. Make a profile of your boat hull. Start at the bow and work your way aft. Put a circle onto the clipboard that shows the approximate extinguisher location. Neaten up your drawing. Post it in the cabin so that everyone can see it.

3. Check the charge

Look at the charge-gauge on the top of each extinguisher. If it’s not in the green (full) sector, do not trust that extinguisher. Call your local fire department to see if they recharge extinguishers. If not, they will be able to recommend someone who does. Trust only full, charged extinguishers to handle a fire emergency.

4. Give a Tour

Give a tour to anyone that sails with you. Point out the location of each extinguisher, show them your drawing, and point out how to read a charge-gauge. This will give your crew a lot of confidence to handle a fire if it occurs.

5. Demonstrate P.A.S.S.

Explain to your crew how to use the acronym “P.A.S.S.” This works with any type of common portable extinguisher.

P = Pull the pin.

The trigger has a keeper-pin (like a cotter pin) to prevent accidental discharge. Pull this out.

A = Aim at the base.

Concentrate on the materials that cause the fire. Aim at the base; not the flames.

S = Squeeze the trigger.

Use short, one second bursts. Most small extinguishers last only 20 seconds.

S = Sweep from side to side.

Make sure you extinguish any hot embers that might have fallen or blown to the side of the main fire.

As a sailing skipper, you want to do whatever necessary to protect your sailing crew and small cruising boat from the deadly effects of a marine fire. Make these preparations today to handle any fire emergency in the future in a calm, controlled, efficient manner.

Renting a boat along the windward side of Oahu is not difficult to do, but matching the ride of this vessel is. The Honolulu Screamer is not your everyday boat ride when you take a ride on it. This Hawaii Boat doesn’t just glance along the water it dominates it.

The Honolulu Screamer seats just under 50 people who are taken on a 45 minute tour of the windward coast area. Passengers aboard this Hawaii Boat are taken along the coast from Waikiki toward Diamond Head then heads back. But what kind of trip aboard an Hawaii Boat would be exciting with just that as its hook.

The Honolulu Screamer jumps, weaves, and spins at speeds of up to 40 mph. This is one ride you are guaranteed to get psyched up for. With theme music and a mean screaming paint design, this Hawaii Boat will leave you wanting to go again.

Here are some thoughts from recent visitors:

• It was amazing we all got soaked and I was smiling for hours afterwards. Its like a 45 min rollercoaster.
• It was our fourth year in Honolulu for vacation and the rides on your boat were one of the best things we have done.
• To think that this was a last minute thing, we sure would have missed out a lot if we didn’t.

The boat is docked in Waikiki, the hotel capital of Oahu, and is located next to the 4 story open air mall Ala Moana Shopping Center and Park. Also in the surrounding area are the Punchbowl, Diamond Head, and the Pali Lookout.

The boat departs three times daily Monday thru Saturday, and twice on Sunday. Meet up times are posted as 9:00am, 11:00am, and 1:30pm. Sunday is the first two times given.

For those that like to support Christian ventures, owner/operator Greg Longnecker believes the boat and companies ideas are god’s gift to him so he can bring happiness to those he serves, and he treats it as such.

Here is more info on this Hawaii Boat:

• Costs 13 yrs and Older $36.00 plus tax, Children under 13 yrs $28.00 plus tax
• All riders must be over 40 inches tall
• This Hawaii Boat is U.S. Coast Guard Certified
• Not recommended for people with back injuries pregnant mothers and those with heart conditions

So if you are ready to add some spice to your Hawaiian Vacation then this is one of the many ideas that will literally knock your socks off.

Why Nautical Charts are Essential.

Navigation & Chart Plotting.

Many new boating people who are out in the sea do not feel it’s important to carry nautical charts on board. I must say that it is a risky habit. A nautical chart gives you the relevant information required to make a safe passage plan using the charted fixed marks such as buoys and landmarks, so that you can take bearings and maintain a correct course.

Pilotage Information: With the help of the nautical chart, you can gain pilotage information regarding the position and nature that is favourable to the navigator. The nautical chart holds crucial information such as seabed information, landmarks, and seamarks. There are symbols that describe the seabed, such as the depth of the ocean, possible hazards, and tidal information. The charts also have symbols for lights, lighthouses, buoys and land structures and features, which is very essential for position fixing.

Many charts also use colors to distinguish between manmade features. One has to be clear with the charts to understand the indication in the nautical charts. The chart may indicate a seabed that lies permanently below the water level or the seabed that becomes dry at low tide. There are various symbols to indicate water levels, but contour lines are shown to identify changing depths.

To understand the depth of the water: Numbers marked in the chart indicates mostly depths that have been measured. Most charts use meters to indicate the depths. However, the charts that are published by the US Government use feet. Depth curve lines indicate about the relief underwater. The differing colour portions in the sea mean that there is obstruction underwater or indicates shallow water. Such points are only understood when one is aware about importance of nautical charts and are familiar with the symbols and signs.

To understand about tidal information: Nautical charts provide information on tidal movement. The strong water currents and tidal races have special chart symbols. The nautical chart will carry tidal diamonds, which indicate the bearing and the speed of the tidal flow, every hour of the tidal cycle.

Important points to keep in mind when you are reading a nautical chart:

o Make a thorough reading of the chart.

o Carefully monitor your position, which you will follow and pursue the course you will take.

o The notes and other indication such as obstructions, water depths indicate something so you need to be clear with them.

o Make a note of whatever you observe on the nautical chart.

o A careful monitoring of the chart will show you visual objects and you must be able to identify with your position.

The chart has a superimposed compass rose on it that indicates true North and the magnetic correction required to your course to steer.

To make a fix on the chart i.e. mark where your boats actual position is on the chart, this can be carried out as follows;

With the aid of a hand bearing compass, from the boats deck, take three bearings of fixed objects on the land or in the sea, as far apart within the 360 degree compass circle as possible. At the same time make a note of the boats ‘log’ (distance travelled through the water) the boats speed, the depth of water under the boat and the time.

Now on the chart table, identify the three fixed objects you have used to take your bearings from on the chart. Now draw a line in pencil on the chart of the actual hand bearing compass readings from each fixed object. The three lines you have drawn will converge forming a small triangle, your boats position is within that triangle. Mark next to that triangle the boats log reading taken and the time for reference, you can then check the depth of water from the chart is the same as the depth taken when making the fix, this helps to confirm your position. If the depth or your three lines do not converge errors have been made and you need to repeat the process again.

Your new course can now be plotted from that new datum fix on the chart.

Now days the use of GPS (Global Positioning Systems) undertake the above process for you, but I am a great believer of knowing what to do if the lights go out!

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.