Archive for February, 2010

http://www.TheBoaters.TV EP 63 – First up: As part of its historical centenary year celebrations, the International Sailing Federation has launched the ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame.

A spectacular gala dinner was held November 5th in Estoril, Portugal, where the six inaugural inductees were presented with the ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame trophy by His Majesty King Constantine and ISAF President Göran Petersson.

On hand to receive their trophies were:
-Paul Elvstrom of Denmark
-Sir Robin Knox-Johnston of Great Britain
-Dame Ellen MacArthur of Great Britain
-Olin Stephens of the USA
-Eric Tabarly of France
-Barbara Kendall of New Zealand

Nominations for inductees were submitted by ISAF members, with the final decision confirmed by the ISAF Executive Committee.

In the future, inductees will be entered every four years.

For more information about the ISAF and its Hall of Fame inductees, visit http://www.Sailing.org

Next up: Roy Grabenauer built his first single-passenger kayak, the Royak, in 1968.

The Royak’s claim to fame is that it set the precedent for all sit-on-top kayak designs.

His design of a lightweight, comfortable boat that would not sink, that he could get in and out of easily in rough water, and that had enough storage for his scuba gear quickly gained popularity in the Northern California scuba diving scene.

With 300 orders in his first year of business, Roy was clearly on his way. By 1978, 2,000 Royaks were sold worldwide. Today, the Royak Company boasts a complete line of Royak models, accessories, and gear.

For more information about the Royak experience, including details about their unique Blenderboat, please visit http://www.Royak.com

Finally today, it’s the BoatTEST Reports Feature of the Week: The Marquis 40 SC

For more on the Marquis 40 SC, visit http://www.BoatTEST.com

TheBoaters.TV, hosted by Julie Perry, airs 5-7 minute episodes every M, W, & F at http://www.TheBoaters.TV – also available on iTunes.

Duration : 0:8:7

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This idyllic spot has long been enjoyed as a get away from it all destination, with its long sandy beaches and hidden waterfalls.
Although today its better known for its beautiful clear blue waters, a magnet for scuba divers through out the world congregate here to sample the underwater magic it provides, with reefs, wrecks and drop offs one can easily see why visitors return year after year.

A unique way of life can be experienced here as many a traveler can tell you of their friendly adventures in and around the archipelago of Puerto Galera and Sabang.
The simple lives of the natives who still carry on their lives much as they have done for many centuries can still be found near by, Mindoro`s treasures are here in abundance for all to see, a truly wonderful tropical experience.

Duration : 0:8:50

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Florida – A Fantasic Vacation Destination

Florida is one of the most popular states for people to visit year round. With its gorgeous warm weather, people can enjoy the white sandy beaches, theme parks and so much more. In this article we will highlight a few of the top areas to visit.

Orlando is one of the top cities for Florida vacationers because it has something for everyone. It has many large theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. There is a large assortment of hotels here catering the thrifty vacationers to those who want to indulge and getaway from it all. You will also find many retail and outlet stores, dinner shows and entertainment as well as the Orlando Magic Basketball team. Another popular attraction is the Cirque de Soleil show. Located at Downtown Disney, this theatrical show will thrill and mesmerize audiences.

Tampa, FL has also become a popular destination due to its growing city and attractions. Busch Gardens and Adventure Island are two large Anheiser Busch theme parks that thrill visitors of all ages. The Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium both have a focus on animals, but also offer fun family activities so you can play while you are learning about your natural surroundings. Tampa is also surrounded by great water such as the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. Both are great for watersports, sight seeing
adventures and fishing. Charter a boat and collect snook, grouper and many other great fish in these waters. Or you can just relax on one of the beautiful beaches. There are many hotels to choose from with two of the most historic being The Vinoy Resort and Don Cesar on St. Petersburg Beach. Both are world renown and have tantalizing restaurants and all inclusive spa services.

Miami Beach has taken an extremely popular turn in the last few years. This city has grown in popularity with updated renovations that make it more attractive. Celebrities vacation here and enjoy sunning on the white sandy beaches and partying the night away at some of the hottest clubs in South Beach Florida. Salsa music is popular here and you will definitely feel the island vibe while relaxing near this shore.

When some people think of Florida their first thoughts are of the Florida Keys. The water is crystal blue and the fish and lobster are abundant here. Fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving are some of the most popular past times. You can charter a boat or hop on a sight seeing adventure and see some of the most gorgeous fish and coral in all of Florida. For land lovers, the shops, restaurants and night life are enough to keep anyone busy. Each has an island feel and offers great seafood choices that are both fresh and tasty.

There are so many great locations to visit in Florida. As well as enjoying the attractions, beaches and gorgeous weather, many people come here to hunt, fish or just enjoy the great outdoors. No matter which city you choose, you’re sure to find wonderful ways to enjoy the gorgeous Florida sunshine!

Robert Lipply
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/florida-a-fantasic-vacation-destination-120190.html

The Fun of Hurghada Vacations

Everyone needs a vacation, and the town of Hurghada along the eastern seaboard of Egypt is quickly becoming a popular destination for Egyptians and international visitors alike. Hurghada vacations are usually initiated by an interest in scuba diving, because this area of the world famous “Red Sea Riviera” provides enthusiasts and novices alike with some of the world’s finest diving conditions and scenery.

Over the past twenty years however, Hurghada vacations have also become popular due to the wide range of hotels and resorts being built in the area. Of course, a surge in visitation has also created a wide variety of fascinating shops, restaurants and activities in addition to the excellent scuba and snorkeling in the waters around Hurghada.

Outdoor enthusiasts can take Hurghada vacations to enjoy riding a “quad” or ATV in the desert areas surrounding the town; they also can partake of the excellent swimming, boating and diving in the safe and sparkling waters as well.

The region is also home to the remaining Bedouin tribes, and many people make a point of visiting these friendly people and purchasing some of their beautifully made goods, or of enjoying a cup of locally brewed “chai” tea with them.

For those interested in taking desert journeys during their Hurghada vacations, the town is not far from some of the oldest monasteries in the world; most of which are open for visitation.

Hurghada vacations can also serve as a wonderful introduction to scuba diving or snorkeling, with many companies certifying novice divers or teaching them how to snorkel in the shallow waters of the many small beaches and bays. For those who have no interest in swimming with the native fish, there are popular glass-bottomed boats which allow guests to view the remarkable coral and sea life from the dry deck above.

Most Hurghada vacations will require local accommodation, and as stated earlier the town is amply supplied with an excellent variety for guests to choose from. The modern part of the town, called Sekalla, is where most of the newer structures are located, and many are built in an interconnected fashion that will allow a visitor to travel from one hotel or resort to another simply by passing through a lovely garden or along a well-made path.

Hurghada vacations are becoming increasingly popular with visitors from around the world; they provide a view of Egypt which is not typical of the common perception of the ancient land. This modernized town allows easy access to such places as Cairo and Luxor, but also provides opportunities unavailable elsewhere in the country.

Amar Mahallati
http://www.articlesbase.com/exotic-locations-articles/the-fun-of-hurghada-vacations-703999.html

Scuba Diving In The Great Barrier Reef – Australia

One of the world’s most famous scuba diving dive sites is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Australia is the only living organic collective on earth visible from outer space. The other is a man made structure, The Great Wall of China.

This reef is regarded as one of the wonders of the world and was declared as a World Heritage in 1981. It is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Being so huge, magnificent dive spots and beautiful marine life and sceneries abound.

The Great Barrier is more than 300,000 sq km in size and consists of more than 3000 reefs. Deciding where to dive in this huge diving destination can be a gigantic headache. Then again, that is a happy problem because of the many wonderful choices you have.

One of the greatest dangers to the reef, especially to the corals is the Crown of Thorns starfish. This starfish eat corals and have ravenous appetites. Vast stretches of underwater life had on many occasions been destroyed by the Crown of Thorns starfish. Do not try to save the reef by cutting up the starfish. It will not die that way, instead it multiplies just like viruses splitting themselves up to multiply their numbers.

Wreck diving is a favorite scuba diving activity. Amongst the many wrecks are Captain James Cook’s ship “Endeavour”. Another famous wreck is that of the HMS Pandora, which met its fate in 1791. There are about 30 shipwreck sites, most of them are opened to wreck divers.

More than 2 million people visit the reef every year spending about a billion US dollars collectively making tourism as the main pillar of the eastern Australia economy. Since tourism dollar is very important, it is vital for the Australian economy to protect the reef from destruction hence it is protected in many ways. As a form of protection, fishing is restricted in some areas and animals such as dolphins, whales, dugong (a seal look alike animal sometimes mistaken for mermaids) are protected.

For the more adventurous divers, there are dives to view shark feedings, especially the ferocious man eater, The Great White Shark. Divers are put into the water in steel cages to view these man eating sharks closed up. For non divers, there are island hopping cruises as well as whale watching cruises to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef.

Chris Chew
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/scuba-diving-in-the-great-barrier-reef-australia-69395.html

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