Like a Chicken to Water… Your First Steps on a Boat
September 11, 2007
Some people step onto a boat and are straight at home. For them the challenge, the mechanics, the simple joy of sailing all combine to make the sport less of a pastime and more of a necessity. These people ? let’s call them fanatics ? come alive on board a boat, forgetting the pressures of work and home in the sheer exhilaration of surfing down a wave on a tight reach, or coaxing the yacht upwind in a gusty force five. I am married to one of these fanatics. He is trying to teach me to sail. It is a difficult task, I admit, as I have absolutely no desire to set foot on the boat unless the wind (force 1 ? 2), the weather (sunny) and the sea (calm) are just right. But, being a man of considerable determination and luck, he finally succeeded in giving me my first few lessons last month. I learned a lot. Sailing is, when you come down to it, incredibly simple ? a matter of pointing the boat where you want to go, feeling for the wind, and adjusting the sails accordingly. Yet it is also incredibly complicated. I used to race dinghies, sitting in the pointy end, pulling in the sails, but even so I learned a fair bit about lifts and headers, cunninghams and kickers. It all came flooding back to me as I helmed the yacht last month, dodging the ferries between Largs and Cumbrae. For the first time I really began to understand the relationship between boat, sail and wind. I could feel the yacht responding to the helm; feel it spin in the water; surge down the waves, slow in the chop. I could see what was happening as the gusts hit and the sails either flapped in the header or the boat tipped over in the lift. And that was my problem. The boat tipped over. I guess that I will get used to it eventually, but I just cannot be comfortable sitting at a 25 ° angle, staring down into black waves that look perilously close to my feet. Dinghies don’t tip over, or at least if they do they are not too hard to bring back upright again. Yachts are different. They are supposed to tip over, and you are not supposed to swear blindly and gibber at the helm when they do. And the noise! I thought sailing was supposed to be quiet! What with the wind on the sails and the boat slooshing through the water and the depth gauge beeping every two minutes, it was hardly peaceful at all. So I learned a lot: I learned that there was a lot I didn’t know. And my husband learned a few things too - most particularly, that there some things you just do not say to reluctant sailors who have consented to come on board:
- ‘Right! Well, why don’t you try reversing us out from the berth and then take us out of the marina!’
Mexico: Going Native
September 10, 2007
If you want to expatriate to Mexico to find an affordable cost of living then there is one thing you must do–Go Native!
Now, this is not as scary as you might think. I am not talking about living in the jungles of Puerto Vallarta and hoping the locals will show you how to beat your clothes clean on the rocks "down to the river", (I’ve seen some Mexicans still doing this).
What I am saying is that you must adopt, as much as you are able, the spending habits of a middle class Mexican family. A middle class family of four lives on about $400.00 USD a month. I don’t mean that you should be living on so little also. You can live cheaply here if you assimilate some of the habits of the locals.
One area where you can save money is in your food bill. Shopping at the local supermarket will cost you much more than if you follow your neighbor to the local markets to buy your food. Many of the local farmers sell their produce in stands at far cheaper prices than the supermarket, which has a huge overhead.
Luxury Cruise Line Vacations for Your Romantic Getaways!
September 9, 2007
Every cruise vacation offers passengers a luxurious cruising experience. Some of the cruise lines raise the bar so high that they are referred to as Luxury Cruise Lines by going “above and beyond” what one might expect in a great cruise experience. Taking cruise getaways aboard their ships is really considered a Luxury Cruise Line Vacation!
This type of luxury cruise line includes such companies as Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Silversea Cruises. Vacations with these cruise lines are truly an unforgettable romantic and luxurious experience.
For the most part, these cruise lines operate smaller ships on which they can better look after their passengers. They provide excellent service of “six-star” quality. Many of the cruise lines offer more exotic itineraries enhancing their Luxury Cruise experience. These lines also have a more genuine all-inclusive cruise nature.
You might think that the staff on the luxury cruise lines’ ships are telepathic. The crews are trained to anticipate your needs and desires and react with courteous service. Expect friendly service from a staff that will know you by name and remember your favorite drinks, remember your breakfast preferences and all the “little”, but very important items that you may wish.
Beautiful Tropical Beaches!
September 8, 2007
The world is blessed with wonderful beautiful sandy tropical beaches. These golden sun drenched beaches are just waiting for us to come and enjoy. A great way to experience a number of these beautiful tropical beaches while on one vacation is by cruising. Travel in relaxing and luxurious comfort across the sparkling turquoise water from one destination to another by magnificent cruise ships and then enjoy yet another tropical paradise and the marvelous beaches waiting there! You’ll want to check out some of the beaches listed below!
Best Sand Beach! Pink Sands, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Harbour Island is only half a mile wide and three miles long yet has some of the nicest sand beaches with an unbelievable laid back atmosphere. The island has less than 2,000 locals and only a few tourists making it a special choice for a relaxing getaway. This tiny island was once the home of the capital city of the Bahamas, Dunmore Town. Enjoy the Georgian Architecture, stroll through the tiny shops on quaint streets. And of course, lap up the sun on the beautiful pink sand beaches!
Most Romantic Beach! Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti
Renting out Cruise Ships for Hurricane Victims, a Brilliant Idea Indeed
September 7, 2007
Who says FEMA is not doing their job. They just rented out Three Carnival Cruise Line ships to shelter 7,000 Hurricane Victims from the Katrina Disaster. Brilliant idea and if and when we get another Hurricane they can sail out of its way, without causing further hardship. They have showers, food, giant institutional style galleys and no one can complain, they are on a cruise ship. I mean think of it these people will be taken on Carnival Cruise Ships with names like; The Ecstasy, the Sensation and the Holiday. Hey I want to be a Hurricane Victim? What a brilliant idea to rent out these ships, perfect solution. Take a look:
http://www.cruiseweb.com/CARNIVAL-ECSTASY.HTM
http://wahama_choir.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/ship.jpg
http://www.bookcruise.com/ccl/cclholiday.htm
The Cruise Ship Ecstasy and Cruise Ship Sensation hold 2,606 people and the Cruise Ship Holiday takes over 1,800. This does not include the 1580 person crew to help the Hurricane Victims enjoy a slice of paradise during their previous hellish ordeal.
Inflatable Boats and Inflatable Kayaks Are Naturally Safe and Stable
September 7, 2007
Inflatable boats such as inflatable kayaks, inflatable catamarans, and inflatable sport boats have several advantages over their traditional watercraft counterparts. They typically cost less, are easy to transport, and can operate in more shallow waters than a deep hull boat. But many people don’t realize that inflatable boats are just as safe, or even more secure, than traditional boats. Because of their safety reputation, inflatable boats are now essentially the standard for use by the military, coast guard and other rescue agencies worldwide.
Buoyancy
Buoyancy is one of the main concerns with any watercraft. How high a boat sits in the water and how well it stays afloat are important contributors to overall safety. Buoyancy also helps determine the amount and weight of cargo that a boat can transport.
Inflatable boats and inflatable kayaks tend to be more buoyant than traditional watercraft, mainly because of the inflatable collar or tubes. The inflatable sections help spread the buoyancy out over the entire area of the boat, making it more resistant to sinking. In addition, the collars or tubes on an inflatable boat are usually designed with separate chambers so that if one chamber becomes deflated, the overall buoyancy will not be noticeably affected.
Atlantic Ocean at Great Depths
September 6, 2007
The Atlantic Ocean is Earth’s second-largest ocean. It covers approximately a fifth of the earth’s surface. The name Atlantic Ocean came from Greek mythology; it means the “Sea of Atlas”.
The Atlantic Ocean is second only to the Pacific in size. With its neighboring seas it occupies an area of about 41,100,000 square miles. The land that drains to the Atlantic is approxcimately four times that of either the Pacific or Indian oceans. The Atlantic Ocean has a volume of approximately 354,700,000 km³. 3,332m is the average depth of the Atlantic coean. The greatest depth in the Puerto Rico Trench is 8,605 m.
Due to it’s large area the Climate of the Atlantic Ocean varies greatly from one part to the next. The climate of adjacent land areas is directly influenced by the temperatures of the surface waters and water currents as well as the winds blowing across the Ocean. Because the Ocean can retain heat so well, maritime climates are always moderate and free of extreme season variations. Climatic zones vary with the latitude; the warmest climatic zones span across the Atlantic above the equator. The coldest zones are in the highest latitudes, with the coldest regions corresponding to the areas covered by sea ice. Ocean currents contribute to climatic control by moving warm and cold waters to other regions. Adjacent land areas are affected by the winds that are cooled or warmed when blowing over these currents.
The Reluctant Sailor - Tips for the Sailing Beginner
September 5, 2007
Stroll around any marina and you will soon spot the classic sailing characters: the old enthusiast, patiently restoring a wooden shell to its sleek former self; the dedicated racer, tweaking his stripped out, cutting edge craft; or even tanned BMW man, who turns up on sunny weekends to take his latest woman out for a spin in his souped-up power boat. Move to the bar, and you’ll find them easily. The old hand, scruffed down, ready for that all important anti-fouling job. The smart executive, shades in hand, leading an enthusiastic team-building session. Or the sun-bleached student, fresh from his gap year spent taking boats down to the Med. But what about the rest? What about the unsung sailors? What about those resigned individuals who, worn down after years of hints, huffs and sweet-talking, finally utter the fateful words: ‘Oh, for God’s sake, alright then!’ In less time than it takes to hoist a mainsail, these women (for they are usually women) find themselves huddled nervously on the deck of a boat, trying to come to terms with the fact that yachts are supposed to tip over, and that this is good thing. There are a surprising number of these reluctant sailors. Most, like me, would prefer never to set foot on a boat but, driven by the need to see their sailing-mad partners on at least one weekend out of twenty, occasionally venture out onto the water. In my case, my ‘Reluctant Sailor’ status comes largely down to a fear of venturing into an alien environment, where I am not in control. I do not like not being in control. When a yacht tips over, I want to know that it ? that I! ? can do something to correct it. When we are picking our way through a narrow channel, I want to know how to avoid hitting unseen rocks or other boats, and when my children are sitting on deck, I want to know how to rescue them if they fall into the water. Education is the key and unfortunately this means that I, as the terrified new owner of a yacht, now face the prospect of learning to sail, so that I am not frightened of sailing. But my reluctance stems not only from fear. There are many other reasons why I have no interest in sailing. It is cold. It is wet. It is usually raining, and always uncomfortable. Be honest now. How many good nights’ sleep have you ever had on a yacht? And yes, while there are around three days out of every year when weather, location and company combine to make sailing a blissful experience, does that really make up for the other 362 days when it is not? My husband thinks it does. And so, nine years after we exchanged our dinghy for a baby and a pair of patio doors, I have finally relented. We have bought a yacht. He is happy. The kids are happy. And I?. I have come up with some ground rules to keep me happy?
Celebrity Alaska Cruises!
September 4, 2007
Alaska cruises can be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance that magnificent experience with Celebrity Alaska cruises.
Celebrity takes cruising to the next level and their Alaska cruises are no different. Consistently being rated at the top in service by such experts as Conde’ Nast Traveler should give the most discerning cruise passenger a comfortable feeling about cruising with Celebrity.
Add to that a fantastic itinerary like Alaska, and you have a winning combination. The beauty of the land matched with the beauty on board. Celebrity has impeccable service having one staff member for every two cruise passengers. Fine wines being sipped on your Celebrity stateroom deck while watching an Alaskan glacier calving is an experience you will not soon forget!
In 2005, Celebrity will be running three ships during the Alaska cruise season. These magnificent ships offer exceptional amenities.
The Celebrity Cruise Lines’ Mercury is the newest of their Century-class of ships. Visually appealing with world class amenities and service make Alaskan cruising aboard this Celebrity a special treat!
Celebrity’s Infinity will be sailing Alaska cruises this year as well. Experience a world-class meal or a theatrical production of Broadway proportions. Celebrity Cruise Lines has done a marvelous job of décor on Infinity. Experience Alaskan cruising surrounded by warm woods, polished marble and etched glass.
Affordable Weekend Getaways? Romantic Cruises!
September 3, 2007
If you are looking for affordable weekend getaways, romantic cruises may just be the answer. Unless you are living in the middle of a desert, there will undoubtedly be cruises of some nature within driving distance of your home.
Cruising has long been associated with romance. There’s nothing quite like being on the water, watching as the world passes you by in tranquility. It does not matter whether that water is from a river, a lake, or a sea ? romance and cruising go hand in hand.
An evening sunset cruise can cost less than ? and be more memorable than ? an evening "on the town". Make that a dinner sunset cruise, and you have the makings of an unforgettable and very affordable romantic getaway. And these types of cruises are available all over North America!
Extend your cruising pleasure with a river cruise for a day or two perhaps along the St. Lawrence River or down the Mississippi. Small boat charters are also available for those who choose to cruise by themselves. A houseboat rental cruising a lake or river near you can be an adventure filled romantic experience that you will not soon forget!
