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Yacht Economical Sailboat for Blue water Sailing

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:04:41 +0000

Whether used for ocean cruising or family vacations, the Yacht is a sturdy, easy to sail pocket cruiser.
The low topsides, narrow beam and 27-foot length of the Yacht, Vega certainly do not fit the image of a typical ocean-going yacht. Nevertheless several Vegas have successfully circumnavigated the globe. Dozens, perhaps hundreds more have crossed at least one ocean, and one Vega, The Berzerk, sailed through 40-foot seas to Antarctica. Designed after Swedish FolkBoats
Designed in Sweden by Per Brohall in 1964, the fiberglass-hulled Albin Vega is modeled after the narrow-beamed Nordic folkboat. Like the folkboat, the Vega was built to be a sturdy, simple, economical, and easy-to-sail family boat.

Design Features
• Solid Fiberglass hull, with cored fiberglass decks and coach roof for lightness.
• Relatively shallow draft at just under four feet.
• Keel about half the length of the water line for stability, and reduced drag.
• Hull and deck caulked and bolted every 5 inches for a strong, water-tight seal.
• Though topsides are lower than most modern cruisers, the cockpit remains dry and comfortable even in high seas.
Below Deck
Though compact, the Vega has nearly six feet to headroom in the main cabin. There is a small galley with an icebox, sink, and cooktop. A removable table fits between the main cabin settees for dining or charting, and the two settees also serve as 6 foot bunks. The V-berth sleeps two comfortably. With only eight feet of beam, the boat would feel cramped with four adults aboard for any extended period of time, but is well-suited to a small family,

The Sailing Rig
This Yacht is sloop rigged, and can be easily single-handed. The sail area is somewhat conservative for inland waters, but excellent for off-shore. Though the boat doesn’t point exceptionally high, it handles beautifully off the wind, is well balanced, and heels at a comfortable angle even in heavy winds.

Despite it’s popularity, the Vega does have a few issues:
• Random Reversing: The prop is located aft of the rudder, making backing up a bit of a challenge. Many owners have found creative ways to compensate for this quirky flaw.
• Deck Compression below the mast: The Vega’s mast is stepped on the cabin roof, and supported by a beam below deck. Some Vegas have experience sagging of the support beam. Several owners have beefed up the bulkhead and support beam over the years, eliminating the problem, but potential buyers should check the support carefully.
• Weakness of the Rudder Post:The rudder is attached to the aft end of the keel rather than a skeg–normally this is a very solid way to support a rudder, but some Vegas have had problems with the rudder post. Again, this problem has often been corrected by previous owners. To test the rudder, hold the tiller still, and try to move the rudder. If it flexes, it probably needs to be rebuilt.

The Biggest Boat

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:01:57 +0000

Have you ever seen the big boat in the world? Passenger Boat or Cruise ship?
New boats are constantly being built, and boat makers are constantly pushing the envelope of size. For the time being, though, the largest seafaring vessel by size ever built is the MV Mont (formerly the Knock Nevis). At a massive 458.45 meters (that’s 1504.10 feet), the boat is over a quarter mile long; it is 68.8 meters (225.72 feet) wide. The MV Mont’s gross tonnage is 260,941 tons, and its capacity is 564,763 deadweight tonnage. This is the highest deadweight tonnage of any boat in history. The boat was built in Japan in 1979 by Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
It was so large, with a 24.6 meter (80.7 feet) draught, that it couldn’t pass through many of the world’s major shipping passages: the Nevis could not sail through the Suez Canal, the English Channel, or the Panama canal. The ship was capable of a sixteen knot speed, powered by steam propulsion. The ship has been renamed the MV Mont by its current owners, who have deliberately beached the ship and intend to junk it.
Though the Knock Nevis is the largest ship by size, it is not the largest ever by gross tonnage. That honor belonged to members of the Batillus class, four of which were built (Batillus, Bellamya, Pierre Guillamat, and Prairial). Prairial, the last remaining ship in the class, was scrapped in 2003. Ships in this class had around 275,000 tons in gross tonnage.
With the Knock Nevis scheduled for decommissioning, the largest active ship is now the Emma Maersk. The Emma Maersk, a Danish ship, is a container ship with a length of 397 meters (1,302 feet). Its deadweight tonnage is 156,907 tons, and is sailed by a crew of just 13 (though it has a capacity of 30). It is capable of travelling at a speedy 25.5 knots.
The largest cruise ship is the Oasis of the Seas, a cruise ship in the Oasis class. The Oasis of the Seas was finished in 2008; it is 360 meters (1,181 feet) long, 60.5 meters (198 feet) wide at its widest point, and has sixteen passenger decks. The Oasis of the Seas has a capacity of 5400 passengers, with a total capacity of 6296 people.
Another ship in the Oasis class, the Allure of the Seas, is currently under construction. The ships are built by STX Europe, the makers of the previous largest cruise ship (Independence of the Seas), in Finland. The Oasis of the Seas holds another record: most expensive commercial ship, at 1.24 billion dollars. The boat features Central Park, a tropical garden; a rising bar, and seven different neighborhoods.

Sailing Lessons

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:59:43 +0000

Sailing lessons designed for beginners can break down the information into lessons that can turn a land lubber into a sailor within a week or less. While most beginning sailing lesson programs will cover similar topics, here’s what a beginner will learn at a sailing school accredited by the American Sailing Association (ASA).
The ASA’s “Basic Keelboat” standard (ASA101) anchors the organization’s sailing curriculum. Most sailing schools cover the lessons within a week, and some offer classes that start Friday evening with classroom work and follow up with two days of on-the-water lessons, with certification by the close of the weekend.
Those taking “Basic Keelboat” can expect to learn:
• sailboat terminology, including parts of the sailboat, sails and rigging
• navigational terminology, such as the meanings of “port,” “starboard,” “fore” and “aft”
• the points of sail, and
• basic navigational rules.
On the water, students will learn to control a small sailboat (the ASA recommends a 20-foot boat) under all points of sail and to retrieve a person who has fallen overboard. In addition, students will learn to tie several knots important to sailboats.
Next Up: Basic Coastal Cruising Sailing Lessons
Those new sailors who want to learn how to captain a coastal cruising sailboat might want to continue with the ASA’s “Basic Coastal Cruising” standard (ASA103). In fact, some sailing schools combine ASA101 with ASA103 into a compressed week-long “learn to sail and cruise” lesson plan.
Those taking “Basic Coastal Cruising” can expect to learn:
• additional sailboat terminology, such as parts of a sailboat that are common on larger boats
• how to use safety gear that’s critical to larger cruising sailboats
• where to get weather information and what to do with it
• how to anchor and
• what to do in an emergency.
Once out on the water, students will learn how to handle a larger sailboat (up to about 30 feet in length) under auxiliary (motor) power. They’ll also learn how to dock the boat under power.
In addition, students will practice sailing to a compass course, picking up a person who has fallen overboard, and learn additional knots.
Basic Sailing Lessons Available in Most Coastal Locations
Most people who live in the United States on the coast or even on a larger lake will have access to an American Sailing Association-certified sailing school. Classes are available on the Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, and in the Great Lakes region.
Those looking for a sunny vacation might consider sailing lessons at schools located in the Bahamas or Caribbean.
Even though beginning sailors will learn a tremendous amount in a very short time in sailing lessons, the programs can be huge fun for both adults and children. And those who master beginning sailing and want more instruction can move up to bareboat chartering and coastal navigation.

Marine DSC Radio

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:56:06 +0000

Search and Rescue (SAR) professionals know that many mariners incorrectly identify themselves or provide an accurate position for their vessel during distress situations. Many vessels now carry marine radio that have Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability or they are required to use Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) equipment. This progressive gear has the ability to identify you and your craft to rescuers using a nine digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Number.
MMSI Numbers – The Coast Guard has serious concerns with boaters failing to register for a MMSI number or properly entering the number in devices capable of using the information. A MMSI number provides SAR controllers with a vessel description, owner name, and contact information. This is all very useful information for those people trying to assist you in an emergency. Boaters can obtain a MMSI number from BoatU.S. or Sea Tow for free. Once registered, it is important to keep your contact information current.
Safety Recommendations – Many new marine radios come equipped with Distress Alerting Capability (DAC) that broadcasts your MMSI information by pushing a single button. If your vessel is equipped with a GPS receiver and it is correctly connected to a DAC capable radio, it will also provide rescuers with your actual position automatically. Safety officials encourage boaters to transition to the newer DSC capable radios and carry a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for trips beyond twenty miles from shore.
AIS Equipment – Automatic Identification Equipment (AIS) is carried by select commercial vessels as a requirement to operate in Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas operated by the Coast Guard. AIS is backward compatible with DSC radio equipment and provides a weath of navigational data to a ship operator. Using a radar display with an electronic chart overlay, AIS shows every similarly equipped vessel on the screen. Clicking a vessel displayed shows its name, length, route of travel, speed and more. Safety information like closest point of support and time to closest point of approach are shown graphically. Information previously only available to Coast Guard vessel traffic controllers is provided by AID shipboard.