‘Sailing’ Category
» posted on Sunday, September 20th, 2009 at 2:36 am by Deb Corbeil
Belize the Beautiful
If you ever do research on Belize City, you will find that a lot of people call it the most dangerous city in Central America. Tourists tend to avoid it like the plague and if they must stop in there they quickly book at trip out to the Cayes.
It is worth it however to spend a day or two exploring this bustling town. So before you judge Belize City, ignore what the guide books have to say and check it out for yourself. The largest city in the country, it is filled with friendly people great food and a fun atmoshpere.
Belize is steadily growing as a popular stop for Cruise liners. The terminal is one of the nicest buildings in the city filled with shops and eateries. Passengers rarely leave here unless they are running off on a tour to see the sites. It is too bad for Cruisers, they never really see the real Caribbean cities that they visit. Each Terminal looks and feels like the last and yet to walk around the downtown area, you will find a unique energy and vibe.
Settled by the English in the late 16th century, Belize City is a mix Colonial buildings and Creole Culture. Eat international cuisine, or enjoy the local fare at Jembel’s Jerk Pit or Big Daddy’s Diner. Music pumps from inside shops as smiling people great you speaking perfect English, only to turn to their companion and talk in rhythmic Creole. The official language of Belize is English, but you will often hear a mix of Spanish, Creole, Mayan and German throughout the land.
Now that you have actually explored Belize City and realized that it isn’t the big bad city that you thought it was, you can catch a water taxi with peace of mind. You aren’t running away from anything, you are simply moving on to see the rest of beautiful Belize. From downtown, you can catch a water taxi for $10 to take you out to the Cayes on the Caribbean Sea.
The relaxed Caye Caulker is a popular place for the backpacker crowd. Far less touristy and quieter than Ambergris Caye, it feels as if you are relaxing in Jamaica. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island keeping noise and pollution to a minimum. You will see the odd golf cart or you can rent a bike to check things out. Rooms are cheaper and you won’t find any enormous resorts desecrating the land.
Located just 1 mile from the Belize Barrier Reef, it offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. Hire a boat to take you out to Shark Ray Alley and you will swim with the sharks as manta rays brush up against you. A marine preserve for the past 12 years, the coral and marine life is second to none in the world. Dolphin sightings are commonplace and you will be sure to spot barracuda’s, octopus, stingrays, eels and lobsters.
The blue hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world and it is located in the waters of Belize. A perfectly formed giant blue hole in the middle of the sea attracts established divers. At 400 feet deep, it is not for new divers. If you have your deep diving certificate, you will be able to bounce down to 150 feet here where you will witness giant stalactites in still deep blue water. Most operations chum the water to attract sharks that circle above as you complete your dive.
You don’t just have to go out to the Cayes to dive and snorkel. Sail boat trips are popular as well. There are several places to go to and why not explore some of the other surrounding islands. Walk down the main dirt road of Caye Caulker and you will find companies offering up excursions and ideas.
Dining is high on everyone’s list when traveling and Caye Caulker has its fair share of restaurants. There is jerk chicken, fresh seafood and western flare. After dinner stop in at a beach bar and enjoy a cocktail as you look out over the Caribbean Sea. You won’t find crazy nightclubs, but you will find a great bar to listen to music while you relax in the islands.
To name everything that there is to do in Belize would take a book. Explore its jungles by foot, enjoy an inland kayaking trip and explore Central America’s largest Cave system. If you are a history buff visit one of the many Mayan ruins and for animal lovers, you can stop by the jaguar sanctuary. Beach life can even be found on the mainland and Placencia boasts the best beaches in the country.
It won’t take long until development catches hold in Belize and it turns into another Cancun. Unfortunately, that is the way of the world. So don’t wait, visit Belize today and get to know the people of this laid back country filled with beautiful scenery and breathtaking views.
Deb Corbeil and Dave Bouskill are an adventure travel couple from Canada. Together they have trekked, hiked, biked and climbed to over 30 countries all over the world. Check out their website theworldd.com for more tips, advice and recommendations on travel and adventure destinations. To view their photography gallery from their world adventures click on picturetheworld.com
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post a comment | filed under Sailing | tags: belize, belize city, blue hole, caribbean, Caye Caulker, Central America, diving, Languages, Sailing, scuba dive, shark ray ally
» posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 1:21 am by David Phillips
Traeth Bychan Beach, Quiet, Sheltered East Anglesey Beach
Down a narrow, winding lane off the A5025 north of Benllech is Traeth Bychan beach, a small, cosy, sheltered beach facing eastwards. From here you can enjoy panoramic views of the Great Orme and Liverpool Bay, Puffin Island, and behind the heights of Llanddona and on the mainland, the Carneddau peaks.
Traeth Bychan beach is compact with rocky features on each side and a changing mix of sand and pebbles as you move up the beach towards the dinghy park at the back. Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club is situated at the top of the beach on a stone and concrete base, and it is from here that you will see various dinghy classes, small day fishing craft and the odd jet ski being launched.
At the dinghy park on this beach there are Lasers, Toppers, Mirrors, GP14′s and other classes. The beach faces the east and so is ideal for launching boats, when the prevailing wind on Anglesey is from the south west. When we arrived here the sun was out and some keen, though tired, sailors were helping guide a vehicle with launch trailer into the water.
Around the back of the beach are some interesting rock formations and above these thick grassy steep slopes and from here emerges the Anglesey Coastal Path route running from Benllech in the south to Moelfre in the north. The coastal path is well signposted and there is a gate on the left as you approach the beach down the hill, next to a small cottage which is built just above the rocks and the high water mark.
If you want a cup of coffee, tea or an ice cream, don’t worry, as Traeth Bychan beach cafe is literally only about 25 metres up on the right from this small sandy cove. Next to the cafe is a public car park with space for about 25 cars. Opposite the cafe and also on the hill behind are static caravans, which could be a good vacation base for your island explorations.
A good time to come to this quiet, sheltered beach is autumn and winter, when you can really appreciate the fine sea views and coastal walks, with little if any boating activity taking place. Traeth Bychan has a historic angle which many are not aware of, relating to a maritime incident in Liverpool bay.
The “T” class submarine HMS Thetis was built in Cammell Laird shipyard in 1938. On 1 June 1939 she slipped her mooring in the Mersey with 103 crew aboard and made out for Liverpool Bay to carry out some manoeuvres. While on these trials some unusual extreme event took place which proved catastrophic and all crewmen except four were lost. Some months later, after HMS Thetis was recovered from the sea bed she was beached on the Anglesey coast at Traeth Bychan beach.
Whether you come here on a fine, clear winter’s day for a walk across the beach, or in the heat of a summer’s day are launching your dinghy for coastal exploration, the memory of Thetis and her lost crew will remain.
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post a comment | filed under Sailing | tags: Beach, fishing, History, outdoors, Sailing, sea view, Travel, Walking, watersports
» posted on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 1:06 am by Rico Kidd
Cruise Vacations and Sailing Cruises
Sailing on your next cruise vacation is probably the best way to relax and feel rejuvenated from the stresses of your ordinarily stressful and hard life. Sailing cruises were designed so that there is little to no worries on board the ship and the only thing that is strictly schedule is dinner time.
One of the reasons why sailing is stressed free is because there really isn’t a set schedule. How can there be a schedule when the only way you can get to port is by wind? People who like to be flexible and not worry about the next stop on their itinerary should do these kinds of trips. Most of the people on sail cruises have the flexible and open-minded attitude and realize that they might not be able to make it to a port due to the lack of timing (and wind).
Most people who cruise on sail boats want to take it easy and are not worried about being entertained. Also, the environment is very quiet and you will be able to have a more intimate setting with your partner or other passengers. The ratio is about 50/50 with half being experienced crew members and half being passengers. The majority of the passengers know that there isn’t going to be as much activity as a standard cruise and relish in the quiet and calm atmosphere.
Many people are worried that they will be stuck in the middle of the ocean if they do decide to go on a cruise. Don’t be silly, each sailing cruise has a motor in the event that there is no wind. Note that you won’t be able to sail with wind all of the time and the majority of the sailing is done at night when there is more wind. Other places such as the Caribbean as great sailing winds and can be utilized at all parts of the day.
Lastly, many people worry that they will be stuck on their cruise if there is not wind. Don’t worry, each cruise ship has an engine and can be used if there is no wind to power the boat. However, many sailing boats such as the Caribbean tours have nice trade winds that push the boat and keep it on-course. New higher-tech sail boats have automatic sails that come up when the wind is just right and go down when there’s no wind. However, if you want the real deal, stay away from these boats as you won’t be sailing as much because you will be on regular engine power the majority of the time.
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post a comment | filed under Sailing | tags: boat, boating, cruise, cruise ships, Cruise Vacations, cruises, cruising, european cruise, Hobbies, leisure, Sailing, sea, Travel, Water
