Don’t miss the spectacular Dalmatian Coast
Sail into Croatia’s classic marinas, historic harbors or deserted coves.

Ask any group of sailors to name their favorite destination in the Mediterranean and it’s likely that sailing in Croatia will top the list fairly convincingly. Reasons for this pole position not only include the incredible blue vistas, crystal clear waters and scenic coastline of more than a thousand islands that create a spectacular visual seascape, but it’s also down to cost. Croatia offers great value for money and has a largely uncrowded, uncluttered and unspoiled coastline compared with the development witnessed by many other European destinations. ‘Quaint’, ‘charming’, ‘safe’ and ‘stunning’ are all words used frequently to describe Croatia’s coastline.

Once a backwater, it now offers more than 50 classic marinas, the majority of which have been constructed within the past 20 -30 years and then fully updated in the last decade. Many of Croatia’s marinas carry Blue Flag status due to their determination to protect their key attraction – a pristine environment. And whilst you can head to a fully-serviced marina with all mod cons, you can just as easily moor in one of more than 500 harbors, offering age-old ambience. Some of the most popular historic harbors with the sailing community include Cavtat, Korcula Town, Hvar and Stari Grad, Trogir, Sibenik, Sali, Istra and Vrsar, to name just a few!And for those wanting to get away from it all and embark on an original adventure, you can find any number of safe secluded coves and bays to anchor in, where tranquility is guaranteed. You’ll easily find a section of the coastline and a stretch of beach to call your own.

Croatia is well known for having favorable sailing winds and safe waters, making sailing here a practical option for many. Experienced sailors often head out from Pula, in Croatia’s north, to explore the picturesque islands and Roman remains of Kvarner Bay, Cres, Losinj, Rab and Krk. Another popular route circumnavigates the stunningly beautiful Kornati archipelago, now protected as a National Park of more than 100 islands.

Boat charter is plentiful along the Adriatic coast, with key centers at the accessible, picturesque and well-serviced ports of Biograd, Split & Rogoznica, Baska Voda (Split), Dubrovnik and Kotor. Sailing boats, motor yachts and catamarans can all be chartered with a skipper and crew, or independently with proof of qualifications.

And if you’re not keen to charter a yacht of your own, you’ll find plenty of cruising options in some spectacular vessels including island-hopping by schooner, around the islands of Brac, Hvar, Vis, Bisevo, Korcula and Mljet, or scenic cruising the unusually clear green waters around Kotor, visiting Medieval towns, the Boka Kotorska fjord and venturing to the Montenegro coast. Croatia’s network of islands are also well connected by ferries if you prefer to step from land-to-land and not test out those sea legs.

The only thing on a newly wedded couple’s mind is their honeymoon… A quixotic honeymoon! With a galore of options like the mountains, beaches the couple find it real hard to decide where to go. The list of most of the newly weds includes places like Italy, Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii, Ireland, or Thailand…

The Bahamas and Hawaii are perfect destinations for people who love to spend romantic moments together on the beach. Picturesque views at Hawaii and water sports, scuba diving the beautiful, attractive corals at the Bahamas are irresistible. These two destinations will definitely add more romance to your newly started married live.

Mexico and Italy are truly romantic destinations, with Italy having a more classy touch. Ireland is also considered to be the perfect and romantic honeymoon destination, with extremely beautiful places to visit.

However, a personal touch is important to turn the honeymoon into a truly romantic affair. Most of the places the couple visits are not secluded, and the couple needs to make some special efforts, like planning for picnics at private spots, etc. so as to spend some intimate time together. Planning for a candle light dinner, going out for walk in the moonlight, sharing intimate moments… these make the honeymoon highly romantic, subtle affair.

Ideas like gifting your partner for every little thing he/she does, bringing in flowers every morning, the much sought after massage, using fragrances for the room, etc. not only make the honeymoon extremely romantic, but also an affair to remember.

When starting to sail, you should always be aware of the Five Essentials. We show show you how.

Boat balance – If a yacht is allowed to heel away from the wind, it will tend to turn into the wind or luff up. If the boat is allowed to heel towards the wind, it will tend to turn downwind or bear away. In either ease some rudder movement will be needed to keep it on course, which will slow the boat down. Turn the boat using the wheel to the desired course to steer. This may be a definite bearing or towards a landmark, or at a desired angle to the apparent wind direction.

Trim fore and aft – The distribution of crew weight fore and aft is just as important as balancing the boat. The best way to learn the techniques is to practice them, but the idea of shifting your weight towards the wind will help. In other words, that means moving forward in the boat when sailing to windward and moving aft when sailing downwind. The aim is to adjust the position of the crew forwards or backwards to achieve an ‘even keel’. In a small boat and on an upwind course, the crew will normally sit forward, when ‘running’ it is more best for the crew to sit to the rear of the boat. The position of the crew matters less as the size (and weight) of the boat increases

Sail setting – A sail should be pulled in until it fills with wind, but no further than the point where the front edge of the sail (the luff) is exactly in line with the wind. As a guide, you will find that any sail, whether jib, mainsail or spinnaker, will set best by letting out until it starts to flap gently along the leading edge, then pulled in just enough to stop that flapping.

Centreboard – As well as driving a yacht forward, the action of the wind on the sails will push it sideways across the water – this is known as making leeway. To prevent this, the yacht needs more grip on the water, which is provided by a centreboard daggerboard or keel. The difference is simple. A centreboard will pivot around the bolt in its case; a daggerboard is moved vertically up and down In some older yachts you might find a metal board, referred to as a centreplate, all three do the same job. If a movable centreboard is fitted, then it should be lowered when sailing “close to the wind” but can be raised up on downwind courses to reduce drag. The centreboard prevents lateral motion and allows the boat to sail upwind. A boat with no centreboard will instead have a permanent keel, some other form of underwater foil, or even the hull itself which serves the same purpose.

Course made good – This is exactly what it sounds like – the shortest, or quickest, distance between two points. The course made good will be a straight line from start to finish. You need to decide the best way way of getting from one point to another in all other conditions.

Together, these points are known as ‘The Five Essentials’.

Seeking adventure is not everybody’s cup of tea. One thing that is common among all those that have their adrenalin pumping every time they get an opportunity to test their skills and mettle against nature or other people or even other species they just cannot let it go. Something similar can be said about the sport of windsurfing. It is a sport that has gradually evolved over time as well as has taken the modern technical advancements in its stride. The waves splashing all over your body, while you are trying to balance yourself on the board that is trying its level best to slip right from under your feet. You are trying to get a hold on the handle of the sail while the wind is trying its level best to snatch it away from you. It is important that under such circumstances you maintain your cool and keep that interest in the sport alive and kicking. One thing that can help you in getting your interest as well as your skill levels sharp and evolving is the right kind of windsurfing lessons.

No matter in which part of the globe you find yourself in. One thing that you will always find true to your taste are the windsurfing locations. Just make sure that the conditions are well suited to you. It is important that the windsurfing school that you have chosen has the right and the experienced instructors. It is important that no matter how many falls you make in the water, and how many times you find yourself sailing smoothly over the mighty waves. Your trainer would make sure that you just hang in there and keep on improving and mastering the skills till you become the monarch of all that you survey. The mighty waves, the unruly and irreverent ocean would no more be a challenge but rather something to be embraced.

The right windsurfing locations as well as the right windsurfing lessons would give you an insight and the right feeling of a sport that has all the ingredients to give your adrenalin that right outlet.

There’s A LOT more to Indonesia holidays than beautiful beaches, water sports and cheap colourful markets — but there doesn’t have to be. If Indonesia holiday-makers look past these tropical treats they’ll find a lush jungle wilderness in Sumatra, the gateway to a rich ancient culture at Borobudur, and communities with thriving traditional lifestyles. And that’s all without having to leave the main island, Java.

Each of Indonesia’s 17,000 smaller island has its own treasures beyond the surf and sand, and most Indonesia holidays allow for some time ‘off shore’, staying on perennial favourite Bali, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Lombok, or one of the Gilis or other small resort islands.

Most international flights land in Jakarta, so most Indonesia holidays begin on Java, an island of still smoking volcanoes rising out of fertile jungles and and ancient culture. Or course the coastline has many likely looking beach resorts if that’s what your Indonesia holiday is about, but Java’s highlights are more for culture vultures than beach bums.

If you’re on a tight schedule, hop a plane straight to Yogyakarta, which has temples peeking out from between its more modern Dutch forts and older Muslim architecture. This is the best place to stay when visiting the beautifully preserved, ancient Buddhist temple of Borobudur, and nearby Prambanan, a huge Hindu complex. These two religious monuments deserve at least a day of your Indonesia holiday each, Prambanan, in its prime, was almost a city of smaller temples and religious buildings, and though many of them remain only as ruins there’s still a lot to see. The Telaga Warna Colour Lake and Sikidang Crater are a drive out of town towards Dieng Plateau if you’d be interested in seeing another Hindu temple complex, and one of the best surfing spots in Indonesia, G-Land is also reached by jungle trek out of Yogyakarta.

If you have more time for your Indonesia holiday, travel overland from Jakarta to Yogyakarta via Bandung for the Bogor Botanical Gardens, tea plantations, the Lembang Fruit market and the Tangkuban Perahu Volcano and Ciater Hotspring. From Yogyakarta heading further inland leads into the heavy teak forests and moist rice paddies, and eventually to Mount Penanjakan, which is said to have one of the most beautiful sunrise displays in the world. If you make it up for the sunrise you should continue on, over an unusually placed sand sea, to Bromo Volcano. From there Surabaya Airport is a few hours drive and from there you can catch a flight to Denpasar, Bali.

Indonesia holiday Extras

Indonesia’s Wildlife

If your Indonesia holiday is about seeing the jungles and meeting some of the unique wildlife, and not just the colourful marine life, then Camp Leakey, a rehabilitation facility for orphaned orangutans, built into the Tanjung Puting National Park, or the Komodo Dragon island may be worth factoring into your Indonesia holiday itinerary.

Indonesia’s Traditional Cultures

If stories of the old cultures and lifestyles still thriving in Indonesia’s highlands have beguiled you in National Geographic, then visit the long houses around Lake Toba, or spend some time in one of the communities in the Baliem Valley – also a prime hiking destination, the Mentawai Islands or the Jayawijaya Mountains, during your Indonesia holiday. Some of these communities you can visit for a day by walking in to their villages, but some you can arrange to stay in: a pretty unique experience when compared with the city lifestyle of Jakata’s population.

All these highlights cam be blended with hours or days on the beach for the perfect, individualised Indonesian holiday cocktail — one of those exotic, colourful ones you drink out of a whole piece of fruit like they serve in the beach bars here.

Ever watched some poor person trying for hours to get the sail up out of the water only to fall backwards off the board at every attempt?

Watching someone else who knows what to do can make it look very easy. But they usually have learnt through a progression of steps. Trying to copy someone else without knowing all those steps will often end in frustration for you.

The first basic step to master is maintaining your balance on the board. A wave board can not be used for this exercise. You will need to use a free style, slalom, or beginners board for this. Ensure the board will float under your weight. The capacity of boards are measured in liters and there are many charts which show what capacity a weight range requires for flotation.

You also need access to a flat water area like a lake, with shallow areas for ease of practice. If your board is fitted with an air pressure release valve then ensure it is tightened before placing your board in the water. Also, retract or remove your fin as it can easily get damaged in the shallow waters.

Leave the rig off the board. The rig is the assembled components of the mast, sail, boom and mast base. We will not be using them at this stage. Take the board out into the water until you reach a depth just above knee height. Try to enter the water where any breeze is blowing towards the shore for safety. Locate the position where the rig connects to the board and imagine a center line passing through this point from the front to the back of your board.

Grasping the sides of the board opposite where the rig connects, kneel on your board with your knees close together and with the imaginary center line passing between them. Once you feel comfortable and confident with your balance, place your hands either side of the mast connection point, close to the center line, and slowly raise yourself with knees bent.

At all times keep your feet either side and close to the center line. Now move one foot slowly forward a small amount then the other, noticing the effect on your board. Try moving towards the rear of the board noticing any changes in the feel of the board. Once you get to the advanced planning stages you will be moving all around the board as you control it’s performance. But for now you are just getting used to the balance and feel of it.

Experiment by moving forwards and backwards on the board. Notice that you can get very close to the rear and front of the board before it starts to become unstable. Once you are able to confidently get up onto the board and move around in a balanced manner then you are ready for the next step. This will ensure you enjoy the sport without having to give up frustrated.

The sport of kitesurfing was started in the 1980′s, but did not become popular until the 21st century. Before the year 2000 there were probably only around one thousand kite surfers in the world. By 2005 the number had risen to nearly 100,000. Kitesurfing is also commonly known as kiteboarding, and in some European countries as flysurfing. The idea of kitesurfing is simple… use a large, powerful kite for thrust and stand on a surfboard in order to reach high speeds. At these high speeds, anyone can perform amazing and exhilarating stunts!

Many people compare kitesurfing to skateboarding or snowboarding on water. For years people had to be pulled by a boat in order to experience high speeds and that sport is known as wakeboarding. Now, instead of having to be pulled behind a boat, you have the power to control every move! It’s also way more cost effective since a boat and gas will cost you thousands of dollars. Since there are so many terms for the sport kitesurfing, we stick to the most common terms. Kiteboarding is really flat water surfing and kitesurfing is when you are riding the waves.

So to go into more details and really give you a good visual, imagine that you are holding a bar in your hands and there is a large kite attached that you are guiding in specific patterns. Then you jump and when we say jump, we mean it because there are professional kiteboarders who can not only jump up to 60 feet but also stay in the air for hundreds of feet across the water.

In order to get started, you will need kitesurfing equipment. Luckily there are not too many pieces. You will need a kite, a control bar with lines, a board, and a harness. Most kitesurfing kites are sold with the control bars so you can buy them at the same time. If you are a beginner, you should consider a helmet for safety purposes and if you will be kitesurfing in colder waters, a wetsuit is recommended. The one piece that you should really invest in is a good kitesurfing kite. We have tested many of them, such as the Liquid Force Havoc and kites from Waroo and Nemesis. We feel that Liquid Force is at the top of their game and they are developing the best kites at this time. If you are wondering what this will all cost, here’s a quick summary. Brand new kitesurfing kites will cost anywhere from $500 to $1700, depending on the size and brand. New boards can cost from $500 to $800. Luckily if you do some research online you will be able to find some really good bargains. The good news is that since kitesurfing is still a newer sport, there is constantly new technology that is always improving. That being said, don’t buy a kite that is older than one or two years because it might not be as safe as the newest kites.

Now that you have a sense of the amazing sport that is kitesurfing, call one of your local instructors and sign up for lessons. After just one or two classes, you’ll be flying above the water.

If Halloween has started the holiday season for you then you could consider the option of going on a fishing trip. Both bayside and deep waters are very promising this season. So do not miss out on the latest offers in fishing events and the boat rental services available in the market. There are many firms who have prompt solutions to such requirements.

The popularity of boat rentals is at its peak today with more and more tourists planning fishing holidays. Many places have proved as ideal destinations for fishing and diving adventures. Examples of such destinations are the Grand Lake Marina, Colorado; Florida Keys, Oakland, Alameda, Richmond and San Francisco Bay, The Virgin islands, and many more destinations.

The small firms that have taken up boat rentals have seen a boom in business especially during the holiday seasons. Hence they have come up with more and more lucrative offers like lower prices on rental fares and free packages. So if you are wondering where to go with your family this holiday season, then this could be a viable option.

Most of these companies deal in boat rentals. What about those who have their own boats? A set of professionals are trained to aid you in maintaining your boat, and in any incident of damage during your fishing expeditions, they undertake thorough repair to restore the boat to its original condition. Repairs could be of any type from minor body work to fiberglass repairs to securing the storage locations. They try and maintain the durability and safety of your boat throughout the year.

Along the US shoreline, there are many firms that have come up with top of the line boat rentals. You could make your choice from a range of Mako or Seacraft models, ranging from 18′ to 32′. The boats are run by an experienced fleet of professional and staff provided by these firms. For instance let us take the interesting destination of Florida Keys which has a chain-like cluster of islands and coral reefs that provide interesting tourist spots for sightseeing and deep water fishing. Famous for its scenic beauty, the place is a favorite of fishing anglers and diving enthusiasts.

The most dependable option if you want to go for fishing on these shores is to take boat rentals from Marathon, FL which has many solutions to boat rental services.

Get the most extreme experience with the wave and the wind is the main purpose of why we want to boarding. It is such a sport where we can push the adrenalin and test our toughness. When we are planning about windsurfing, the first thing we consider is about the weather.

We know that the basic thing about windsurf is controlling the board we used to stand and managing the wind by sail. If you want to get the most challenging experience, you also need to concern about the equipment. The device safety control systems will ensure your safety that can took on foot bindings and support you to huge press on your sail.

When you choose the size of your kite you must attention about the wind you are going to challenge. If you are able to battle with the strong wind then you can use smaller kite because it will support you to get the extreme challenge. When you want to enjoy the gentle winds, you can use the bigger because it is more controllable kites.

Next, you need to prepare any fail might be happen before you get to surf. The gist of this sport is actually lies in our hand to control so it will keep the balance between the board and the kite. If you are preserving to create those balances then you will able to excel the sport.

After the size, the kite is also available in several types. The types for this water sport generally use foil kites and inflatable kites. While the latter is prefer to be used in launching and landing because the specific is suitable.

The most wanted from when about windsurfing is the wind that absolutely unpredicted. But if you are in the beach, you have to prepare about unexpected changes of the wind speeds. Enough knowledge will give protection and how to react when it comes to you. The windsurfing sails must be controlled so you can save yourself.

This sport is typically expensive but will give you the most challenging experience. Besides the equipment, you need to prepare the budget for the equipment. A good kite and board will give you thrilling sport.

A Buck’s night is a pre-wedding party held in honor of the groom. This party celebrates the groom’s last days and nights of freedom. Traditionally, buck’s night or bachelor’s party are not complete with the customary female strippers and lots of beer. In movies, we get to see how such naughty activities end up in disasters, why is probably why it have led to the concept of a ‘clean’ bachelor’s party or Buck’s night. The Buck’s night is usually the organised by the best man, whose job is to make the groom enjoy his last few days of being free, here are some ideas for enjoying the buck’s event without the need of just hiring strippers and drinking all night.

Guys are generally outdoor lovers. They enjoy going out to the field for some adventure and sport. This is a great idea on how to spend the buck’s night or day. Nowadays there are many companies that offer packages specifically designed for a group of mates to enjoy a bucks event. Camping is a good example, where the bucks can have a trip out of town to a camping destination where they can bond with each other and with nature. While camping the men can do some hunting in the forest or in an open field where they are allowed to shoot some birds. A road trip is a good adventure too. Just driving up somewhere for a few days, staying at some hotels, eating out and trying out different foods.

If the bucks prefer a more action-packed activity for a clean bucks party, they can also engage themselves in sport activities like skydiving. However, if the groom or any of his friends have a fear of heights, then jumping off at 120mph from a plane that is flying two miles above the ground may not be a good idea. Plus, the groom might think of something more safe to do to stay safe for the wedding. Other blood pumping and adrenaline rushing sports are white water rafting, paintball, skiing, hiking, bowling, golfing and boating. The men may choose sports venues located nearby or elsewhere if they want an out of town buck’s night.

Watching a musical concert or a sports game together with male friends may also be a last bonding moments for a groom before he commits himself to marriage. Dining in a restaurant then reserving a karaoke place is sure fun way to enjoy the night. It may seem like the trip to the spa is just for the females, but the males can also have a great time in there too, provided that they simply go there for a massage and not for a fling with the therapists, then it would still be a great idea for a clean buck’s night.

Boys will be boys even if they have gained so many years already. So why not ask every guests for the buck’s night to bring along some old childhood pictures to laugh about while having a simple dinner. Or at home you can play traditional board games that men enjoy playing during their younger years, or better yet, rent an arcade gaming machine and prepare some snacks and treats to relive some childhood memories.