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Archive for the 'Sailing & Cruising' Category

Sat
May
31

Tips For A Sailing Holiday In Mexico



A large part of North America is occupied by the United Mexican States, or Mexico. It is composed of more than 30 states as well as a federal district. Geographically, it’s enclosed with numerous bodies of water such as the North Pacific Ocean in the west, the Caribbean Sea in the southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico in the east. There are also several huge valleys and coastal plains in the area, perfect for some good sailing in Mexico.

During your holiday, make sure that you can pass through the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). It’s located very close to several islands, such as Granitos and Mejia. From these islands, you can proceed to Sail Rock and Window Rock, which is found in Angel Island. Contrary to what you could be thinking, there are several species of plants and animals that thrive very well under the heat of the sun. One of the giant cacti in the world, the Cardon cacti, grows all over Midriff Islands.

On board a yacht for some sailing in Mexico, you can continue to La Paz. This is the capital of Baja, California Sur. It’s a small town that’s blessed with a vast amount of natural resources. The beaches are unspoiled and ideal for kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. You may also enjoy some whale or dolphin watching at Espiritu Santo Island, which is very close. When you’re done with the waters, you can then proceed to land-based adventures, like hiking, cave painting tours, golfing, and even mountain biking.

Besides sailing in Mexico, you can also explore the archaeological wonders that you can find in Yucatan Peninsula. You should not also miss El Castillo del Serpiente Emplumado, the central pyramid. For more sculptures and interesting artworks, you can walk to Paseo de Montejo or at Pasaje de la Revolucion. The art collections are more reflective of ecological art.

Find more information on sailing in Mexico and yacht charter Greece here. In this website you can find information on sailing charter from other parts of the world.

Thu
May
22

Dreaming Of A Yacht Charter? Try Portugal



You will find that the best sailing area is on the south coast where Algarve has a perfect 150 Miles of great sailing coast. The west of Faro consists of small bays and coves broken up by striking rocky outcrops and fascinating grottoes. East of Faro the coast has sandy offshore islets, which have created protected anchorages and the most wonderful quiet beaches that stretch for miles.

Portugal is a European country located close to the Atlantic Ocean and the Iberian Peninsula. The land is divided by the Tagus River, while the northern portion of the country is characterized as mountainous. The climate, meanwhile, is Mediterranean. Moreover, the nice climate is perfect for a little sailing, swimming, kayaking, or canoeing in any of the region’s beautiful beaches. There are also many historical and religious sites in Algarve. Today it’s a popular place for art and cultural exhibitions. Near the Praia da Rocha is a yacht marina.

Whenever you’re sailing in Portugal, make sure you can stop by the quaint town of Faro. Besides finding a good temporary home in its villas and holiday resorts, you can also visit a variety of artifacts and historical sites. For example, the Milreu ruins depict third-century homes of the Romans. There’s also a parish church that was built hundreds of years ago, Palacio de Estoi or manor house and the Bronze Age fort found in Santa Barbara de Nexe. West of Faro is more developed areas for example Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago.

Disembarking from a sailing, you can visit Monchique, a rustic and unexplored town in Portugal. Bordered by the hills of Picota and Foia, Monchique is proud of its cobblestone streets and dark doorways, which eventually lead to small artist shops. Apart from sailing in Portugal, don’t miss out the Bucaco Forest and their old grottoes and chapels built by monks.

Find more information on sailing in Portugal and yacht charter Greece here. In this website you can find information on sailing charter from other parts of the world.

Sat
May
17

Lake Minnetonka - Minnesota’s Hot Spot Tourist Spot



“Where on earth is Lake Minnetonka? Never heard of it!”

Now that’s surprising, considering that it is one of the most visited tourist resorts these days! Anyway, to tell you more about it, it is in the Hennepin County of Minnesota, and this modernized version of its name has been derived from the old phrase used by the American Indians while referring to it—“minn-ni-tanka”, meaning “big water”! As to why they thought it was “big”, well, the lake covers a huge acreage (14,000 acres) and goes down to a maximum depth of 113 feet!

The story behind Lake Minnetonka is an interesting one. You would be surprised to know that the lake itself is almost 11,000 years old! Even more astounding is the fact that this huge lake was formed entirely from large blocks of melting ice! It was officially named Lake Minnetonka in 1852 by the then governor of Minnesota, Alexander Ramsay.

Since the Indians gave it its name, it is obvious that they werethe first settlers around the lake. The groups were varied—Iowa, Dakota Sioux Indians, Cheyenne, and Ojibwa. The woodlands around the lake were considered sacred by these people. They were also used as their burial grounds.

The first Europeans to discover this area were Will Snelling and Joseph Brown, in 1822. Once outsiders forayed into the place, it was only a matter of time before civilization caught up with these remote shores. So the Minnetonka Hotel was established near the lake in 1853. Then the first steamboat was launched by the then Governor, Ramsay, in 1861. Tourists flocked to this Lake once the civil war came to an end, leading to the birth of the Minnetonka Yacht Club in 1889.

More changes took place in the lake during the 1950s. Around 41 million fish (most of them walleye fry) got deposited into the waters of the lake. It was but natural that someone would be interested in further research and study of the lake. Hence, the Gray Freshwater Biological Institute was established. The Institute was later taken over by the University of Minnesota.

The latest addition to this tourist destination is a Museum. The Lake Minnetonka Museum centers on local businesses, the lake itself, Excelsior Amusement Park and Excelsior High School. The Museum is kept open from the month of May till September.

Lake Minnetonka attracts a number of people (local and tourists) because of its natural beauty, its fishing prospects and all the activities going on around the lake! There are plenty of fishing tournaments held year after year, what with the large variety of fish that are available in the lake—walleye, muskellunge, sunfish, yellow perch and northern pike, among others.

Other entertainments provided are boat cruises. There are many of them up and down the lake, ever ready to ferry passengers. The rates are very reasonable. The staff on the boats very well trained and ensure that the passengers get excellent bar and catering services. All amenities are available on most of these boats. While some boats take up to groups of ten, others can even charter groups numbering 80! All in all, a boat cruise with one’s entire family at an affordable cost sounds really tempting!

Has this created an urge in you to go to Lake Minnetonka this very minute and enjoy all the pleasures that are offered there? Well, just make plans to go there on your next holiday trip! You will have no cause to regret going. The breathtaking beauty of the landscape, plus fishing and boating trips, cannot but enthrall you! Best of all is the reward of serenity that can be found in the surroundings of this old “big water”.

Go book your Lake Minnetonka Charter Boat today!

Sun
May
11

Treated Like A Queen On My Hawaii Yacht Charters Holiday



Ahhh…. There is nothing like being pampered as if you are a king, queen or princess whilst navigating the beautiful turquoise seas of Hawaii. The gentle sway of the sea and the smell of the warm ocean breezes will put a person in total relaxation mode. Can you feel it? Do you want it? Crewed Charter Yachts and Hawaii yacht charters may be more affordable than you think and not require the whole kingdom’s treasure.

* Know the feeling of owning your own yacht without the maintenance and upkeep costs of ownership.

* Be pampered like a yacht owner by the professionally trained crew. They will be at your beck and call with just a snap of a finger.

* Avoid crowded hotels and large luxury liners.

* Customize your holiday whatever way you like on crewed charter yachts. On large, luxury cruise liners with hundreds of other guests to serve and cater to, that is not possible, there is a pre-planned itinerary.

* Cordon Bleu trained chefs will prepare world class gourmet meals at your request.

* Abundant recreational water activities on Hawaii Yacht Charters; snorkeling, water skiing, diving,fishing, etc.

Before booking with one of the many crewed charter yachts available with Hawaii yacht charters compare prices, check the captain’s resume as well as the crew’s online. Even the yacht’s specs will be there for you to look over. The floor plans will be available to see where you will be sleeping, where the crew is quartered, etc.

It is recommended that you check with a friend or colleague who may have recently sailed on one of the Hawaii yacht charters listed online. Personal testimonies are always the best source of information.

After booking the yacht’s captain will usually call ahead for special requests. At that time you can make known any particular meals that you would like prepared or places you may want to visit. He will often times meet you at the airport and personally transport you to the yacht’s location.

The professionally trained crew and captain again treat you like royalty in they way that they are so discreet that you hardly notice them while they are sailing your vessel, preparing your meals, and cleaning your cabin.

So, all you kings and queens out there, relax and enjoy your massages on the lido deck while sipping cocktails (shaking, not stirred) aboard privately crewed charter yachts.

Sat
May
3

Chartering A Boat In Mallorca



When a holiday mood strikes your mind, never go for a second thought if you have Mallorca in your priority list. The fascinating beauty can never stop you from finalizing your decision to go on a trip to Mallorca. The largest island in Spain is charming as a queen hailing its beauty for the tourist lovers.

Once you reach Mallorca, none can pull you back when you decide to charter a boat. In fact Yacht Charter Majorca is the best place to charter a boat. You can plan to charter a yacht or a cruiser and the choice is exclusively left to you. And you can see that making two different selections can give you the feeling and thrill of two different holidays itself. You can sail as if in a dream throughout the Mediterranean to the French Riviera or you can go for a day trip through Mallorca. Decision is at your disposal.

Chartering a crewed sail boat to have a holiday enjoying the unending bays of Mallorca can be another brilliant decision. You can enjoy the beauty sailing to Menorca or can stay back to enjoy the Mallorca coastal beauty to its last drop. There are several marinas in Mallorca where you can tie your chartered boat to. You can get down at a coastal restaurant, from where you can have fun and food.

If you are a tourist who wants to do something special to make your vacation, chartering a boat in Mallorca is a wonderful idea. There are providers from where you can get a boat through chartering. The privately owned charter sail boat and cruiser boat are available for families to have a tour through Mediterranean. You can go for the cost effective boat through online booking as well. You can find experienced companies offering boats to make your seasons special by all means.

You can get boats to make your weekend special and if you are a tourist so fond of boats, you can also go for chartering boats for one month or more. The selection of the boat can be entirely at your disposal and you can select a 6 metres or 26 metres boat for sail. There are four wins, sportis and several other categories of boats exclusively for tour lovers. Mallorca has different services to help tourists through charter boats. They even provide you with technical advices when you are chartering a boat fro m them. The navigational instructions will be surely guidance to you when you are a novice user.

Sailing through the water bodies of Mallorca is a different experience. In fact this is the best method to enjoy the beauty of the island in all means. You can feel the island so beautiful like a princess and make your time with your loved ones exclusive and special. This text was translated by übersetzung deutsch englisch

Fri
May
2

Lake Minnetonka : That Ol’ Big Water



11,000 years ago, large blocks of ice melted and formed what is popularly known today as Lake Minnetonka. Minnetonka comes from an American Indian word minn-ni-tanka, that means “big water.” The first known inhabitants were Cheyenne, Iowa, Ojibwa and Dakota Sioux Indians. They held the woodlands areas in high regard as a great spiritual place and burial grounds. The first Europeans to settle in Lake Minnetonka who came in 1822 were Joseph Brown and Will Snelling. In 1853, the Minnetonka Hotel was built not far from the lake, and The Minnetonka Yacht Club was formed in 1889. Until today Lake Minnetoka remains to be an extremely popular tourist destination

Experience the beauty and wonder of the big lake, try the Lake Minnetonka Cruises on your next holiday.

Mon
Apr
7

The French Riviera - Great For A Sailing Charter



France is a highly diverse country. A combination of stormy summers, lesser rain, and colder winters prevails inland. Meanwhile, people who are living in the southeast region will experience a French climate great for some sailing in Mediterranean.

Great facilities are at Antibes, in the St Tropez-Cogolin area and in Toulon. Also, there are plenty of charter yachts available in this area but finding crew could be tricky.

Near the French Riviera is Cannes, a little city and commune situated in the southern part of France. Besides having one of the prestigious film festivals in the world, the Cannes Film Festival, several tourists flock Cannes to enjoy its yacht marina. Taking a walk means feeding your eyes with the loveliest docked sailing yachts and motorboats owned by some of the richest Europeans. It has a total area of 83,000 square meters and docks a total of 50 fishing boats and 450 yachts. When you’re sailing in Mediterranean, don’t miss passing through its much older and smaller port called Porto Vecchio. Sailing through the famous Côte d’Azur means choosing either of the two fantastic Mooring locations: Nice or Hyères. Cours Saleya, a very colorful Nice market, is full of vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Stop by -François Square for experience the lively fish market.

Hyeres, on the other hand, is a French coast lined with culture and fine cuisine. It has unspoilt preserves of nature such as the Ile de Port-Cros and Ile de Porquerolles.

In most cases winds are northerly and South Westerly, South Westerly (occasionally very strong to gale force) due to endless stream of low pressure cyclones coming from the Atlantic Ocean. Winds along the Mediterranean coast and Corsica are more variable, but generally less severe.

Indeed, there’s fun, learning, and endless activity when you’re sailing in Mediterranean. When you are blessed with a beautiful view of the sea, mountains, and French people, what could ask for more?

Find more information on sailing in Mediterranean and sailing Greece here. In this website you can find information on sailing holidays from other parts of the world.

Wed
Mar
12

United Kingdom - Great For A Yacht Charter



Sailing in the UK should be the least of your concerns. England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland offer an almost endless variety of sailing possibilities, as well as something for every level of skill and pocketbook. One thing to remember about sailing in UK waters is that tide is much more important, far more so than current. The country itself is enveloped with the English Channel, Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and the North Sea. The most well known cruising areas are the Solent and Isle of Wight, the South West counties of Devon and Cornwall, East Anglia and the West coast of Scotland. Most yacht charters are available at the South coast. For the experienced sailor the Channel Islands are within cruising distance and Cherbourg in France is only 66 miles away from the Isle of Wight.

You can also start your sailing in Ireland, around the Magic Isle. A leisurely sail in the yacht or cruise ship can take you along the fantastic cities of Dublin and Donegal. Both are widely famous for their restaurants filled with delicious seafood. Port calls are excellent in Guinness and Cork. It is also a proverbial place for shopping, exploring the botanical gardens, and, of course, sailing in the white sandy beaches lined with good restaurants. Boating through its coastal towns can allow you to delight in the magnificent and breathtaking views of landscapes and seascapes of Forth and Tay. Sailing in the West Wales, on the other hand, means enjoying the sunniest portions of Great Britain. You will find that the marinas at Abersoch, Porthmadog and Pwllheli offer easy access to some of the best sailing in UK waters amidst the a boat before you can have fun and solitude cruising through the protected waters. Meanwhile, let the sand of Gower Peninsula tickle your toes. The coastlines of Norfolk and Suffolk stretch to 402 kilometers or 250 miles. Located in the eastern part of England, they offer one of the most fascinating and best locations for sailing across UK. Sailing in the United Kingdom, along its untamed and commercial rivers, is to experience once-in-a-lifetime sailing adventure. Do not forget, the country isn’t just about shopping and Buckingham Palace.

Find more information on sailing in the Brittish Islands and also sailing Greece here. In this website you can find information on sailing holidays from other parts of the world.

Sat
Mar
8

Tips For A Sailing Holiday In Caribbean - Windward Islands



Getting tired of cruising the Virgins? Sailing in Windward Islands for that quiet and relaxing moment is something I would recommend for every sailor. Aside from experiencing diverse and different cultures at a single trip; you can also enjoy some of the world’s most dazzling beaches and coral reefs - one of them is located in the Commonwealth of Dominica or simply known as Dominica. The capital of this island-nation is Roseau. The Windward Islands are composed of the governing territories of Martinique, the Grenadines, Grenada, Saint Vincent, and Saint Lucia. At the greatness of the British Colonial era in the Caribbean, the Windward Islands total land area was larger as compared of today. It used to have on its official territory the islands of

- Tobago,
- Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago at that time was not united),
- Dominica (at present, Dominica now belongs to the Leeward Islands) and
- Barbados (Barbados was separated from the group because its government separated from the union in 1885).

From 1871 to 1960, Windward Islands’ capital was Grenada’s Saint George. Although at that time the island-group runs their own system of government, they had, however, a [spin]common|universal [spin] head - the union’s Governor in Chief.

Sailing here is best done between November to April. The average air temperature range from 22º to 30º C (72º to 86º F) and the water temperatures is between 20º and 23º C (68º and 74º F). The northeast trade wind blow steadily at a constant 15 to 25 knots.

Most yacht charters start in St. Vincent or St. Lucia and sail to the south. When cruising in the Windward Islands, you should not miss Bequia. You can dock your yacht in Friendship port. From there, you can experience its famous half moon beach. You can also explore around the islands several reefs. Aside from the beautiful beaches, Bequia also is known for its whaling boats that were carefully and diligently made by the locals. From this island, you can then navigate towards Petite Nevis for that night swimming you always wanted.

Find more information on sailing in Windward Islands and also sailing Greece here. In this website you can find information on sailing holidays from other parts of the world.

Mon
Mar
3

Bahamas - Great For A Yacht Charter



Sailing in Bahamas is a pure fun because it is an island country with a lot of beaches and friendly people. The Bahamas, which is officially known as the “Commonwealth of the Bahamas”, is located in the Atlantic Ocean along the eastern side of Cuba and Florida. It has approximately 700 islands (from which 697 are considered small islets and 14 are considered as major islands). The country was once ruled by Great Britain until it gained independence on July 10, 1973. Bahamas is rather a small country with an area of only 5,382 square mi. If compared, this land area is smaller than Connecticut. On the other hand, its population is also undersized with an estimated population of only 323,000 inhabitants (2005 census estimate). Most of the people in the island are Africans. The island’s several casinos, resorts, restaurants, and hotels employ almost 60 percent of the country’s labor force. Moreover, 60 percent of Bahamas’ gross domestic product comes from their tourism sector. The rest are divided between banking and finance, fishing, wine, and agriculture industries.

The island also has thick vegetation and stunning wildlife. However, the country has no rivers.

The beaches of Bahamas are warm, clear, and relaxing. However, if you want places in the country that has less noise, skip crowded areas like Nassau (the island’s capital and largest city), Freeport, and West End. Sailing in Bahamas is a great experience especially when you go to Conception Island - considered as the one of most famous islands in the Caribbean. Many kinds of marine wildlife and birds exists in the island.

Barrier reefs can also be found along the country’s coastal areas. As a matter of fact, Bahamas has the 3rd longest barrier reef in the world. Not only this, Bahamas also has approximately 15 percent of the world’s corals.

Truly, yachting in Bahamas is worth remembering.

Find more information on Caribbean sailing here. In this website you can find information on sailing charter from other parts of the world.

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