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Archive for the ‘Sailing’ Category

Taking online sailing lessons is the best option others take in order to learn more about the mechanics of sailing. For them, it is a good support to their basic knowledge of sailing. In contrast, a great number of individuals still resort to the traditional way to learn, that is, going to a particular classroom and learn the craft of sailing. For these individuals, real understanding of the lesson can be experienced in actual classroom setting.

Choosing online sailing lessons over the traditional approach of learning is a great idea since it also has advantages. The idea of Online sailing lessons is a more practical alternative for an individual who does not have much time at his hand since he is awfully busy. The flexible time in online school gives one the opportunity to study and learn at his own pace and at his own vacant time.

Apart from that, the prospect of being admitted to an affordable learning scheme is a plus in itself since one can save a decent amount of money. One does not have to spend on gasoline and on reading materials when enrolled in online sailing schools. The materials are just sent to you via email so you can access them anytime and anywhere.

Another benefit of taking online sailing lessons is having that extra time to practice the theories one have learned. This means that since one can either speed up or dilly dally his online learning duration depending on his schedule and goals to meet. If he chooses to double his time in learning the theories, getting these theories in practice in the real water can be accomplished in the quickest possible time, comparing to that of the standard duration set forth by the traditional classroom instruction.

And finally, enrolling in online sailing schools gives one a bigger return on investment, that is, the shorter the period you devote to a particular field in a more thorough manner, the more productive you become since for every period saved, you can learn something new in place of it, to which, in the long run, does not let you save time, but also money.

To gain the maximum potential of the online sailing lessons that you may want to enroll in, choosing the best online sailing school is also primarily important. Choose an online institution that has the trusted name in the industry. A good repute institution is an investment itself for if you want to seek for an employment once you have completed your sailing lessons, companies would hire you instead of reject you for reason that they do not trust the quality of the education of that particular sailing school.

Considering the number of affiliations of the online school is also equally essential. When you would want to put into practice the theories that you have learned, you can either enroll in that same online school, or they can refer you to any of their affiliate schools nearest your place to help you with your practical lessons.

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Contemplating on the sun and the sea for a vacation or leisure cruise? You definitely need boat hire services.

But where and how will you start? Even those who have already experienced hiring a sailboat may be surprised to find there are several musts that should never be neglected. And hiring a different craft for the same purpose may be different than your previous experience. Some boat charter agencies do not offer services you enjoyed the last time you did rent a boat. A speed boat hire is likely unalike to your sailboat hire. However different they are, some prerequisites have to be considered, including any or all of the following:

· Do you have the budget to finance the boat cruise?

· What type of boat hire are you setting your eyes on?

· Is it appropriate for the kind of sea adventure you have in mind?

· Are you or your comrades who are going to take the getaway sea-prepared?

· Do you have the necessary provisions for the length of time and kind of cruise you are planning?

· Is there a boat rental agency near you that serves your particular locale of voyage?

· What available packages of services are offered by the boat chartering agencies around your area?

· What does the insurance package cover? And how much does cost? Is it incorporated or separate from the package being offered?

· What are the amenities offered in the particular boat you are hiring?

These and a host of other questions should be asked before embarking on a leisure trip such as the one you are planning. Remember: you are planning a leisure trip, not a disaster or stress build-up trip, God forbid. If you did not ask these questions before you embarked on your last one, you are just lucky it was a success. Otherwise, you will not be planning this next one.

Among the boat rental agencies spread all over your area, also take time to get an idea of their track records, terms of service and how they conduct business, to wit:

· The fees they charge to particular types of boat charter package.

· Coast Guard restrictions and instructional advice that should be in the bulletin boards or travel kits provided by the boat hire agency.

· Weather bulletins and updates which are also very important and crucial information for everyone who sets out to sea.

· Assistants or employees who may be offered to guide the renters on the proper conduct of the adventure such as scuba diving, etc. Boarding the craft by these attendants may also be necessary.

· Emergency precautions and communications facilities insured to be working and with enough power or supply.

Boat rental discussion boards often tend to expose “bad” or unscrupulous operators. It pays to consult such fora in order to be assured of a safe and pleasant adventure.

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Sun, fun, turquoise water, good food and short daytrips to go to the next bay. This sums up what you will experience in Croatia during a sailing trip. Croatia is an absolutely fantastic cruising ground if you want your family or friends to have a really relaxing sailing experience. Over the last couple of years I had the chance to sail the whole stretch from up north (Pula) all the way down to the south where you will find the city of Dubrovnik. The diversity of possibilities will blow your mind. Whether you are after a real sailing adventure, a family vacation, “sailing” with your buddies or a romantic week with your partner. Croatia offers it all. What you really need to know is how you tie off your boat in Croatia. You probably heard about Med Mooring or Anchoring off Stern to with a Landline. Well, you will find all that in Croatia and even more weird ways of berthing your boat. But don’t be afraid. It isn’t all that complicated to do.

1. In Marinas. In Croatian Marinas you are berthing stern-to. You bring out two sternlines and the “Marinero” will hand you one or two Moorings (or slimelines as some like to call them). Slimelines run all the way from the dock to a underwater concrete block round about 20 meters from the dock. The slimelines have small feeder lines attached to lift the actual line out of the water. You will now run this line from your stern to the bow and tie it off the bow cleat. Now the skipper puts some slack on the sternlines to move the boat more towards the concrete block. Tie of the line and make sure there is absolutely no slack in it. Now the skipper can reverse the boat towards the dock to take the slack out of the stern lines and you are ready to go off to enjoy a nice dinner in town. When leaving the Marina make sure to tie off the slimeline first and watch it until its back on the ground, otherwise you will get around your prop, which will end up in a mess and most often means the end of your vacation.

2. Mooring Balls. You are approaching a romantic bay and you want to anchor off? Well you can try, but most of the times somebody appears out of the blue and forces you to take one of the mooring balls that they put out there everywhere. Similar to some places in the Caribbean. What happened here is that the State of Croatia is licensing out the bays to local families and allows them to put out a number of moorings. Mostly these moorings fields have family-run restaurants at the beach and if you eat at their place they don’t charge you for taking a mooring ball. At other places they charge you whether or not you are eating at their place. Well, that also depends on the season. In July and August everybody goes crazy anyways. Taking up a mooring is pretty simple. You can even do it under sail. Basically you approach the mooring ball close to the wind and you want to make sure that you pick up the ball on the side where the wind hits the boat. The very last moment you point the boat into the wind and that usually lets it stop. Pick up the mooring and tie it off with a line that you have prepared on one of the bow cleats. Feed the line up again and tie it off on the other bow cleat. The end result looks like a “V”, whereas the bottom of the “V” points towards the ball. Depending on the weather conditions you might also like to loop the line twice through the eye of the ball or even attach it underneath the ball and directly to the Mooring line.

3. Stern-To With A Landline. I personally like this option best. There are hundreds of inlets, islands and bays where you can go stern-to to the land. Make sure you have plenty of depth and a solid tree, rock or anything else on land. Prepare two long lines to bring out to land. You can do that by swimming or with your dinghy. Totally up to you. Swimming is by far the most adventurous way to do it. Start with reversing in on your picked spot. Throw the anchor at some point. That is your decision but I always go with a min of 6 times the depth as for the length of the chain I am letting out. I usually get some more chain out to steer the boat even closer to land to make it easier for the person who brings out the lines on land. Usually your boat will hang in the anchor and won’t move at all as long as you keep her in reverse. You can even helm her to move to port or starboard. During your anchor maneuver one can jump in the water and tie off one line to shore. Don’t forget to tie it off the boat as well. Once the anchor settled you can take out the slack ON the boat. Now your boat is save. Bring out the second line and adjust your boat accordingly. That’s it.

4. One Line Land Mooring. I don’t even know if this is the correct phrase for this type of mooring, but occasionally you see it in Croatia. Mostly in very remote and narrow spots. What they do is to have a mooring line attached on land or very close to land, which runs all the way out to a concrete block under water. There is a feeder line swimming above the concrete block, which you pick up when approaching. I usually go in there “bows-to”. Ideally you need two people on the bow. Pick up the feeder line and mooring at the bow and hand one to the one person and walk the other other part to the stern as the boat comes in. Once you have reached your perfect position tie the line off the stern first. This will work as a spring line to not let the boat go forward anymore. Now the other person on the bow is tying of the very same line on the bow cleat. Pretty cool, isn’t it. Your boat is hanging on one line, which you have attached on the bow and the stern at the same time. Be careful though. Depending on your location you don’t want to be there in high winds. Well, at least I wouldn’t.

5. Anchoring Off. This is pretty much the same as everywhere else in the world. I don’t want to tell you how to anchor off as I am assuming you know what you are doing. BUT. The challenge is not you but the others. Croatia has a big charter boat industry. In the summer month you virtually have thousands of charter boats pottering around in Croatia. Some with experienced crew, most of them not. In most cases you don’t have enough room to swing around and boats that approach the anchorages later in the day just throw their anchor anywhere near you without knowing what they are doing. Be careful if you see boats coming in that would only let out about 1,5 the amount of the actual depth. Please don’t laugh, but this happens more than once. So. The tricky part with anchoring off is not what you are doing (if you do it right) but to watch the other to do you and your boat no harm.