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A sailing ship is a wind-powered ship. Historically, sailing ships were the primary means of transportation across long distances of water (e.g. rivers, lakes, oceans) before the invention of the first workable steam engines. They were used for carrying cargo, passengers, mail, supplies etc. In modern times sailing ships are less common but are still used in some parts of the world, such as the Indian Ocean, as commercial vessels. ...
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AruAruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta 2008
With winter now seriously here in most of the USA, I thought you might enjoy seeing how our Caribbean neighbors are doing.
On the second day of the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta 2008, the fleet of 41 teams had to deal with tricky sailing conditions on the Caribbean Sea. From time to time, big clouds brought rain showers and gusts. That resulted in a shifty and variable breeze, which made it an interesting competition. Dutchmen Booth and Nieuwenhuis are still in the lead by one point, with Xander Pols and Frank de Waard (NED) in second position. Last year’s winners Eduard Zanen and Mischa Heemskerk (NED) climbed to a third place. Henk-Johan Hankart and the Grijpma brothers are first overall in the fleet of slower catamarans.
Today’s weather required a lot more trimming and smart racing. The winning strategy was about getting the shifts and pressure right. Sunburned legs and arms had a rest, as it was mostly clouded. The morning breeze was about 8 knots strong, but in the afternoon it picked up to 16 knots and more. During lunchtime on the Aruba beach, the competitors could share their experiences and reconsider their tactics. Or simply enjoy the Aruba hospitality. Late afternoon, they decided to have their happy hour in sea, as the rain was pouring down in a tropical shower.
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Buying a Large Sailboat for Cruising or Racing
By John Hartley
When you buy a large sailboat, you need to make sure that it is in good condition and is seaworthy. How do you do this? These are the steps: 1.Read sailboat magazines and speak to Read more...
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Choosing The Right Boat For You By John Rodgers
If you’re a first time boat buyer the choice of boats available for purchase can be bewildering. How do you make sense of all the choices? Well, the first time boat buyer needs to avoid buying on impulse and take a close hard look at how they intend to use the boat. If not, your romance with boating will be short-lived as you quickly realize you have made the wrong choice for you and your family. The wrong choice could be dangerous, financially costly and at the least uncomfortable.
The first time buyer needs to assess how they are going to use the boat. Will the boat be used by just yourself to aid recreational fishing or sailing or is your boating going to be a family leisure experience? How often do you intend to use the boat? A once in a blue moon trip in the summer months would require a different boat to an avid sailing enthusiast.
A recreational fisherman who likes to fish in different waters will probably only need a small transportable boat. A family looking for a recreational boating experience will probably want a small cruiser with some home comforts such as comfortable seats and a small galley. A boating enthusiast with some prior experience looking for a regular excursion may look for something a little larger that can be moored for safe keeping rather than towed away at the end of each trip.
Planning on overnight trips? You will need something a little larger to sleep on. Larger boats that require mooring will also incur more operating costs so if you choose to go for something larger always check the hidden overheads to ensure your budget will fit the total cost.
Once you have assessed your likely boat use you can then decide on the type of boat you are likely to need. There
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A gift from IonaIona Flavell, aged 12, raised 175 sterling for the victims of the Asian Tsunami. Today (7th April 2005) she presented a cheque for that amount to Lt. Col Ian Joiner of the Aldershot Rotary Club which will be put towards the cost of the replacement fishing boats. The first boat will be named IONA in recognition of such a big effort from a young girl.The School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME) donate 6,000 sterling to Ex. Shrivenham SpiritSEME are the training school for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) of the British Army. Earlier this year SEME undertook a rowing marathon to raise money for the victims of the Asian Tsunami.MALABAR YACHT CLUB - new club facilitythe club house for the MYC is now complete. The building has 4 good sized guest rooms each with a/c and on-suite bathroom. Pictures are in the gallery. Guests are now welcome - contact us for latest rates.
are a multitude of sizes, shapes and classes of boats but generally they fall into one of the several common groups of boat: Fishing boat, sail boat/yacht, motor boat and self-propelled boat.
Fishing boats are generally for inshore use and will have few mod cons for comfort but will have equipment suitable for the boats use. You may choose a boat with storage tanks for your catch or with holders for your rods. A fishing craft will generally have a platform area or deck to carry out your fishing activity from.
Sail boats/yachts come in all sizes dependant on your use or experience. They differ from fishing boats in that decks are smaller and they are designed with the sailing activity of the user. Some may have a cabin with a berth, galley and table whilst a basic inshore day trip sail boat may be as small as a row boat with no comfort extras.
Motor boats come in all shapes and sizes and can be used for leisurely cruising or water skiing excursions. Large boats will often have a cabin with facilities for sleeping or cooking but a day tripper can find a small craft with a small deck, towable for use with skis.
Self propelled boats (rowing boats or pedelos) are ideal for day trip activities where you may not be looking to stray to far off the beaten track. Ideal for gentle rivers, quite lakes or inshore trips. Can be hitched behind a car and towed and stored relatively easily.
Once you have decided on how you will use the boat and assessed the correct type of craft for your use be sure to check for the safety equipment you will require, then talk to a dealer, find out about the various brand name boats and costs, then rent the boat of your choice to make sure you are choosing wisely.
John Rodgers writes for http://www.boat-builder-dealer-online.com.
Bermudian rig sailboats
By John Hartley
Popular, and the best for racing, but not the best for cruisingSince it displaced the gaff rig, the Bermudian or Bermudan rig has become the most popular for sailboats. It Read more...
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Mini-Cruiser Sailboats
Do you love sailing, and want to cruise – but on a small budget. If so, a mini-cruiser sailboat could be for you. These boats are inexpensive, easy to handle, can be kept at home and trailed Read more...
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Balboa Sailboats
Balboa sailboats are great little cruisers – mini-cruisers. There was a range of models from 20 to 28 feet, and all were designed for use with outboards, from 4 to 20 hp, depending the size of Read more...
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Boating Safety Equipment You Must Have
By Kadence Buchanan
Whether you're piloting a 40-foot sailboat or a canoe, the United States Coast Guard requires that every boat carry certain safety equipment. The equipment is not expensive or hard to find Read more...
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AruAruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta 2008
With winter now seriously here in most of the USA, I thought you might enjoy seeing how our Caribbean neighbors are doing.
On the second day of the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta 2008, the fleet of 41 teams had to deal with tricky sailing conditions on the Caribbean Sea. From time to time, big clouds brought rain showers and gusts. That resulted in a shifty and variable breeze, which made it an interesting competition. Dutchmen Booth and Nieuwenhuis are still in the lead by one point, with Xander Pols and Frank de Waard (NED) in second position. Last year’s winners Eduard Zanen and Mischa Heemskerk (NED) climbed to a third place. Henk-Johan Hankart and the Grijpma brothers are first overall in the fleet of slower catamarans.
Today’s weather required a lot more trimming and smart racing. The winning strategy was about getting the shifts and pressure right. Sunburned legs and arms had a rest, as it was mostly clouded. The morning breeze was about 8 knots strong, but in the afternoon it picked up to 16 knots and more. During lunchtime on the Aruba beach, the competitors could share their experiences and reconsider their tactics. Or simply enjoy the Aruba hospitality. Late afternoon, they decided to have their happy hour in sea, as the rain was pouring down in a tropical shower.
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