If
you're looking for an
adventurous and safe way to
enjoy yourself, consider
sailing vacations. With a
variety of locations and
packages, sailing vacations
call to the explorer in
everyone.
Sailing vacations are
offered in such diverse spots
as the Great Lakes, Maine, the
Caribbean and India. No matter
your inclinations, you should
be able to find a location
that will call to your soul.
Sailing vacations can be as
luxurious or as spartan as you
wish. With no sailing
experience, you would need a
crewed boat. Even with
experience, you may want the
freedom to just enjoy the
breeze as you glide over the
water, without having to worry
about making the boat do that
gliding.
If you're experienced and
enjoy the challenge of
sailing, then a barebones
charter may be the thing for
you. Barebones is a boat that
is fully supplied with
everything you need except a
crew. Sailing vacations using
a barebones package will be a
bit more work and less pricey.
What if you want the
barebones experience but have
never set foot on a sailboat?
Many sailing vacations are
offered with lessons, so that
you can become certified or at
least experienced enough to
take out your own boat. If you
enjoy sailing, this may be the
type of gift to yourself that
just keeps on giving.
Other options include
sailing vacations that provide
the crew but invite guests to
work alongside them, handling
the sails and riggings.
So, what can you expect
with sailing vacations? What
should you take? What costs
will there be? These questions
vary from company to company.
Be sure to look for
information about food. How is
food handled? Who provides it?
If this is a crewed ship, does
the crew cook? Do you have a
responsibility for feeding
them? Sailing vacations will
be much more fun with a full
stomach, especially if you
know in advance who is
expected to do the cooking.
Make sure you find out
before your trip what clothing
is appropriate. While sailing
vacations in the Caribbean
will likely be much warmer
than some other locales, being
on open water may be
significantly cooler than
you'd expect.
Other questions to ask of
the outfitter or sailing
company include how many
people will comfortably fit on
the boat? What are the
sleeping accommodations? This
is important to know. If you
aren't getting enough sleep,
it may ruin your sailing
vacations.
What facilities are there?
How do you take care of waste?
While these are very basic
questions and not something
most people want to think
about, knowing ahead of time
will help ensure all your
sailing vacations are fun, not
drudgery.
What emergency procedures
are in place in case of a
problem? While the likelihood
is nil of a company letting
you sail out with the threat
of a hurricane, Mother Nature
likes to shake things up once
in a while and sailing
vacations aren't immune. Is
there more than one radio? How
many batteries? Life
preservers? Flotation devices?
Emergency rations? No, this
isn't the most enjoyable topic
when considering a vacation,
but it's one that is vital to
your continued good health.
Finally, be sure to compare
companies at http://www.logonsailing.com/sailing/sailing_vacations.html
or a similar site when looking
at sailing vacations. Look at
professional and former client
reviews, find out each
company's safety ratings.
While you may not want to pay
top dollar for your adventure,
neither do you want a bottom
of the barrel company if it's
not one with a good proven
record.
No matter what option you
choose, sailing vacations can
provide the adventure of a
lifetime.
If you enjoyed this article
see more sailing information
at http://salingfever.com/
and http://salingdaily.com/
