• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

SailFun

providing information for sailors

  • Home
  • Sailing Clubs
  • Sailing Businesses
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Blog
    • Article and Press Releases
  • News
  • Advertise here

messing around in boats

Finding the right destination to suit your level of sailing

August 8, 2012 by guestblogger Leave a Comment

There’s never been a better time to get into sailing and if you get the chance to go on your sailing vacations with friends or rent a yacht charter for your family then jump at the opportunity because, before you know it, you’ll be hooked.

Like anything, practice makes perfect and sailing presents many challenges for both crew and skipper. Obviously, one of the first challenges is knowing where to start and with this in mind I’ve highlighted a few locations that I feel will take you from landlubber to skipper in the space of a few hundred nautical miles.

So, set your captain’s hat at a jaunty angle, pump your bilges and find out what it takes to become a Level 3 sailor and what you’ll have to do to achieve success.

Level: Novice

To reach the heady heights of novice you’ll be a newbie to sailing or only undertaken a couple of voyages where you basically hung on for dear life or sunned yourself whilst the rest of the crew worked their barnacles off.

Ideal location: Greece

A great location for novices to learn to sail is the southern Ionian Sea around Greece where conditions are ideal for families and flotillas. Beach clubs such as Vounaki offer excellent facilities and with the summer breeze ranging from 0 – 15 knots, getting to grips with line-of-sight navigation, a basic knowledge of charts and understanding more about where to anchor are all achievable for the uninitiated on their sailing vacations.

Level: One

So, you’ve been on at least one or two flotilla training courses and you’ve skippered a yacht for over 100 nautical miles. You’re now classed as a Level 1 sailor, congratulations. No doubt you’ll be chomping at the main sails and ready to develop your strengths and learn new disciplines.

Ideal location: Croatia

As one of Europe’s ‘must sail’ regions, Croatia is regarded as the perfect place to practice coastal cruising and easy island hopping. The Dalmatian coast is as good as it gets and with crystal clear waters and a warm breeze, reaching up to 20 knots, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to really take control. Thanks to a rich and varied heritage, Croatia is an excellent option for lazy days at sea interspersed with cultural sightseeing on land.

Level: Two

As a Level 2 sailor you’ll be well-versed with naval experiences and will have at least 10 days at sea under your belt and a couple of qualifications, namely the RYA day skipper and the ICC qualification. You’re almost at the top of your game but there’s always more to learn where yacht charters are concerned.

Ideal location: Caribbean

St Vincent’s, Grenada, St Lucia, these spice islands slide off the tongue quicker than honey off melon and if you’re a Level 2 sailor then you’re bound to view the tidal variations and strong currents as a challenge far too great to ignore. These sumptuous warm waters are ideal for understanding tidal flow, learning the significance of protected anchorages and navigating open waters in some simply stunning locations.

Level: Three

There’s no need to explain to you the jargon and the nuances of sailing as you’ll have over 400 nautical miles experience as well as qualifications such as the higher level RYA day skipper, the RYA coastal skipper and the higher level ICC qualification in your arsenal. Where’s left to sail that you haven’t already experienced?

Ideal location: UK

Good old Blighty with its ever changing weather, strong currents and large tidal variations. Regions such as the Solent, in the south coast of England, provide some exceptional challenges for Level 3 sailors as well as historic ports of call where maritime history buffs will be in their absolute element. With wind speeds reaching upwards of 25 knots and plenty of poor anchor holding grounds to test your grit, making a passage plan and taking part in racing around the Isle of Wight will be what you dream of.

Biog: Chris is the father of two teenage boys and through a combination of common sense and sheer bloody mindedness he’s managed to make sailors of the pair of them.

 

The photo was used under the Creative Commons license curtsey of Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuttinbutlove/5892333256/

Filed Under: Blog, Learning to Sail, Sailing Holidays Tagged With: holiday, learning to sail, messing around in boats, sailing, sailing holiday

Summer Time Fun on the Water

April 10, 2012 by superuser Leave a Comment

When it’s hot in the summer many people like to participate in activities that take place on the water. Most of them do these activities at the beach or on a lake. The following are some of these fun water activities.

Jet Skis:

A jet ski is a water vehicle that runs via jet-propeller. It is ridden similar to the way a motorcycle is ridden and it skims across the surface of the water. They typically hold two people and are a great deal of fun.

Some companies that make motorcycles also make jet skis. Some of the popular brands are Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Honda. The price will vary in price based on the brand, the year it was made and the condition. The average price for a new jet ski is about $10,000 to $13,000 however, the price can go up to about $15,000.

Don’t worry though, with today’s economy many people cannot afford to buy a jet ski due to their high end prices. Thankfully, there are often times Jet Ski rental stores near most main beaches. When you rent you only have to pay an hourly fee so it will be much more affordable.

Water Skiing:

Water skiing is a water sport that is enjoyed by many individuals and families. This water sport involves the participant being pulled by a boat on a cable ski installation. The skis then skim across the surface of the water while the person holds onto the handle of the cable connected to the back of the boat while standing on the skis.

The average speed of water skiers is anywhere from 20 to 40 miles per hour, depending on how experienced you are at the sport.

Power Boats:           

Power boats are great for skiing, wake surfing, fishing, and just cruising. They come in all sizes, styles, and price ranges depending on your personal need. They can have cabins with sleeping quarters (cruisers) or open air without a cabin. Prices vary depending on new, used, size, and styles. Before you buy a boat be sure to take the proper boating courses and equip your craft with safety equipment.

Yachts:

A yacht is a boat that is very luxurious. This type of boat usually has an indoor cabin for the passengers to enjoy. There are some very useful amenities that are inside the cabin. The amenities have changed quite a bit over the years due to the advance in technology and luxury.

Some of the amenities that you may see today are televisions which sometimes come with satellite, DVD and Blu-ray players, or gaming devices. They may also include a kitchen that is suitable for you during your travels, a bed or bedroom, and some of the very luxurious yachts will even include a fitness center with the main fitness equipment.

Many people, including families, enjoy taking their vacation on their yacht which is partially the reason for all of these amenities. However, the amount and quality of these luxuries will often depend on the size of the cabin. Prices of these boats vary based on brand, amenities, and how luxurious. Just like jet skis, most of the popular coastal regions will have yacht rental companies so that you can experience this luxury without the high price tag.

These are just a few of the water activities that are extremely fun, especially in the summer time. All of these activities are great for families to experience during vacation or on a hot day. Some other activities are fishing, speed boats, surfing, and so on. So when summer time comes along and you want to enjoy some fun on the water, you can then use the above activities as suggestions for you and your family.

Author Sandy Landsford is an accountant and blogs for carinsurance.org.uk, where you can get a quote for cheap car insurance!

Filed Under: Blog, Other useful stuff Tagged With: messing around in boats

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Sample on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in