Boats and Boating: Boating destinations - "Sail Into The Americas Cup 2007 In Valencia Spain" |
Bookmark | Home |
The America’s Cup competition all started on August 22, 1851 when the British challenged the United States in a sailing event which the British thought they would easily win. The British have always been known for their naval supremacy and for having been more technologically advanced in its time than the rest of the world. But it was at that event, held around the Isle of Wight, that Queen Victoria had to hand over the prize of 100 Guineas to the American team, who had sailed in their 90 foot
schooner called precisely ‘ America’, from the United States to England in just 21 days.The America’s Cup name does not come from the fact that the Americans had been on a winning streak for over the past 132 years, winning 25 times in a row, but from the name of the first non-British boat that achieved taking away the trophy from them. The British pride was badly hurt and they even tried to come up with some accusations like- the Americans had taken a short-cut or having used other types of propellants, but it was all rejected and ever since then, up until 1983, the American teams have been challenged by many countries, all trying to win this prestigious cup.
The next challenge was held in 1870 when England’s Royal Thames Yacht Club entered the competition with their sailboat named ‘ Cambria’ against 18 other American challengers. Unfortunately, the Cambria had an accident with another boat and came in in one of the last places. But like we said, the British are very proud people and the itch to bring the America’s Cup back to England has made some very curious people become particpants such as Sir Thomas Lipton, the tea millionaire or Sir Thomas Sopwith, famous for his aircrafts used in different wars. And some wealthy Americans have also sponsored this event such as Harold Vanderbilt or more recently, the T.V. magnate Ted Turner.
In the 1970’s, shipbuilders started to realize that design was a minimal part of winning and that with all the new tecnologies, much faster boats could be made without ignoring design and comfort in handling. In 1983, five different countries wanted to take their shot at this thrilling activity, and one above all really stuck out. The Australia II, owned by Alan Bond, was said to have a top secret designed keel which Bond kept protected and hidden from spying eyes until the main event was underway. The question that was in the minds of all was whether the keel was legal, keeping within the regulations that had been set down for the competition.
In the end, the keel complied to all standard rules and the final race was set – the U.S. Liberty against the Australia II. It was a neck to neck race but in the last few miles, the skipper of the Australia found a way to make a quick escape with a gust of wind and won by only 25 seconds. Up until that time, the majority of the people in the world had no idea about sailing or even dreamt about owning a yacht, let alone being interested in the America’s Cup. But news quickly spread about Australia’s victory and having broken the spell that had lasted for 132 years.
In 1992, this event was really becoming something big and it was necessary to set up a new organization which would set down strict rules controlling the size and design. Therefore, the International America’s Cup Class or the IACC kicked into action to supervise all the details. Now that the size and design were being watched over, the shipbuilders went for new and better materials making the sailboats lighter but more durable. Some of the recent changes have been longer masts and more sail area, increasing the potential wind to be caught and used for speed. With this, more crew and manpower have also been added making it 17 with one more VIP for a total of 18, to be able to handle this new found speed and power.
But do not fret if you are thinking that you are going to miss out on this wonderful happening which will take place in June 2007 in Valencia http://www.valencia-information.com/spain/americas-cup.html . There will be great television coverage, newspaper articles and internet details for all. Maybe you are even lucky enough to find a cheap flight, hotel and car hire deal and make your dreams come true. And if you are really curious, there is an America’s Cup Museum founded in 1983 which is in Australia, depicting a great collection of all the sailboats which have ever participated in this event. And most probable too, is that in the Fallas of Valencia, there will be more than one carton figure paying honour to this incredible event.
If you are thinking about a scuba diving vacation spot, then you should consider Hawaiian waters.
Hawaii's waters are warm and clear, filled with different colored fish and coral reefs. No place can compare to Hawaii when it comes to scuba diving. A different world once you are under the water, you will experience an adventure you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.
There are eight main islands to choose from, each with their own diving locations, and unique characteristics. Throughout the islands, diving offers many different types of marine life, color coral, and even lava formations.
The water
Read this article in full
Whether you are considering your first yacht charter vacation or simply looking to live the experience again there is a lot of vital information you need before planning and embarking on your voyage. Firstly, you need to consider the type of yacht charter that is suitable for you. There are crewed or unscrewed yacht charters, bareboat or even a motorised yacht. Each have their advantages and personal preference will dictate the chosen charter for you.
One thing for certain, though, whatever type of vessel you go on, there are many destinations to choose from each of them offering beautiful islands
Read this article in full
One of the ports visited on our recent Royal Caribbean cruise was Grand Cayman. This was an eagerly awaited port as I've been there before but wanted to take my girlfriend scuba diving there. We were worried that we might miss this port since the Caymans were hit pretty hard by the hurricanes and indeed, they had closed the islands off to tourist travel for part of the summer/fall.
Fortunately for us, Grand Cayman had reopened just
about two weeks prior to our cruise at the end of November.
Getting to Grand Cayman is by tender because it has a shallow
harbour. This can be a potential problem in
Read this article in full
Scotland has taken its place as the new Mecca for white water rafting and extreme sports enthusiasts. With over 120 activity centres around the country you can do it all here - from jumping off cliffs, sliding through canyons and rolling down hills in plastic balls, to more traditional activities such as white water rafting, quad biking and clay pigeon shooting.
The rugged landscape is perfect for hair-raising outdoor pursuits. As Mark Turner of specialist outdoor sports website adrenalinePASS.com says, "We are especially looking forward to the white water rafting season on the River Tummel. This is undoubtedly the best
Read this article in full
Do you have questions about kayaking? Do you want to seek the advice of kayakers that are more experienced and relate to kayakers that are at your level? Wouldn’t it be nice to connect with other kayaking enthusiasts? The Internet can supply you with robust information about kayaking such as necessary equipment, costs, and travel destinations. However, the Internet also provides forums and discussion boards dedicated to the sport of kayaking. Hop online and plug into the kayaking community.
Several kayaking websites provide message boards. Many websites allow free access to these forums; however some require a small fee. Let’s
Read this article in full
