Drinking mulled wine on the Royal Yacht

Advantages: History, fascinating information, interesting
Disadvantages: A lot of walking but that's not really a problem!

...At the moment Dave has a contract in Edinburgh and I have come up to stay with him for a fortnight to keep him company and to get a break from the daily routine. For those of you wondering about Mew he has gone to the local cattery where he has under paw, sorry under floor, heating, so he'll be OK! I will be doing a review shortly! Anyway today we decided to go and see the Royal Yacht Britannia which is currently moored in the waters of the Firth of Forth at Leith in Edinburgh. When we were last in Edinburgh we drove out to see Britannia but didn't have time to actually go on board. She was moored next to a small building and car park and that was what we expected to find when we got there today. Instead we found the yacht had been moved to the other side of the harbour next to a shopping mall called Ocean Terminal, which I...

SusanLesley 09.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh

Jubilee Sailing Trust

Advantages: Great fun and super experience
Disadvantages: Not too good if you get really seasick

...I first found out about the Jubilee Sailing Trust in the Southampton Boat Show. My Mum knew about it and was rather keen on me going on one of the trips so we took a brochure and a few weeks later I was booked aboard Tenacious for this summer to sail from Southampton to London. Before going on the trip I wasn't too keen or excited about the trip as I had never sailed before and it didn't particularly appeal to me. I will say now that I am extremely glad that my Mum pushed for me to take up this opportunity as I have leant so much from the trip as well as making loads of new friends and encountering new experiences. I now can't wait to go on another trip next summer - and hopefully an even longer one! Day 1: Monday I arrived at the port in Southampton around 2 o'clock and the first thing that hit me was just how amazing...

shamis4 21.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Jubilee Sailing Trust

My Stay at the Stenungsbaden Yacht Club, Stenungsund, Sweden.

Advantages: Quality accomodation and food
Disadvantages: A la carte food is expensive

...I stayed in the Stenungsbaden yacht club while on business in Stenungsund in the Autumn of 2008. Rooms are available for around 1000 SEK per night. The hotel is located 45km from Gothenburg and gives excellent access to the North of Sweden and Norway ( from Gothenburg, you follow the road signs for Oslo). Stenungsbaden is located on the outskirts of Stenungsund, and is a 20 minute walk from the Bus and Train station in Stenungsund centre. The view from the hotel, more importantly the marina is spectacular. The hotel backs onto a dense forest, which runs from the hotel to the Tjornbron Bridge. The Tjornbron Lookout, which you'll reach after crossing the Bridge also offers a spectacular panorama. I stayed in one of the Racing class rooms, the room was spacious and had everything i required for my stay there, large double bed, TV, desk...

allbruteforce 23.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Stenungsbaden Yacht Club, Stenungsund

Sail2005 is over - Try for August 2010

Advantages: Beautiful sight to see. Fascinating event. Doesn't cost a penny to stand and watch!
Disadvantages: lots of people. only happens every 5 years

...We were just lucky, I guess. But that's what happens to us on vacations - we get lucky! When we were in Amsterdam in August of 2000 we were witness to an amazing event in Amsterdam - Sail 2000. Fortunately for you all, it takes place every 5 years, so remember people: if after reading this review, this sounds like something you'd love to see, it looks like you've missed the boat - so to speak - since Sail2005 ended August 22, 2005! What exactly is the "Sail"? The "Sail" is an exhibition of every size shape and type of boat and ship one could ever imagine, all converging on Amsterdam's main port. You'll see everything there - from luxury yachts to tiny motorboats and rowboats, from fully restored antique tall sail boats to crowded canal tour boats. And what, you ask, are they doing? Well, what do boats and ships do usually...

TheChocolateLady 07.09.2000 (22.09.2005) · Read review
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Review of Sail Amsterdam 2005

All aboard for DIsney's Yacht Club!

Advantages: Beautiful resort hotel, great facilities!
Disadvantages: Not easy on the pocket!

...DISNEY'S YACHT CLUB The Yacht Club at Walt Disney World has to be my favourite hotel in all of the world (Disney World that it!) and as many Ciao-ers will know I have stayed in and reviewed a LOT of Disney Hotels! I love this hotel because the service is impeccable down to the staff who open and close the doors for you when you enter and exit the hotel. The staff are also dressed in a clean nautical theme and lobby is expertly themed with low ceilings, benches and port holes! Check-in is always fast and efficient and the concierge is knowledgeable and able to secure most dining and other activities that guests require. The communal areas are all beautiful with lots of great touches: kids love the large globe in the lobby and even the individual towels I the public rest rooms are a rare luxury in this day and age! The shop...

nickjj78 20.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Orlando

Go sailing!

Advantages: asymmetric sailing with no trapeze
Disadvantages: inclination to turtle after capsize

...Elsewhere on ciao.com you'll find a review of the Laser 3000. Here I'm writing about the Laser 2000 - from the same manufacturers, but a very different boat to sail. If you want an exciting asymmetric dinghy, but don't want the added complication of a trapeze, the Laser 2000 is for you. It is normally sailed and raced by two, but could take an adult and two children, or even 3 small adults for cruising. The layout is simple and well thought out, and durable. In the 18 months since we bought ours, we have only had two minor breakages, both halyards, no problem to repair/replace and we race our boat hard. It's quite a forgiving boat for non-experts, if it has a bad point, it's the speed of turning turtle after a capsize. You need a quick crew to get over on the board and stop it. find out more on the class association site http...

jennysue 27.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Sailing - Sailing

sailing the laser 3000

Advantages: good training boat, big fleet, fast, fun, managable
Disadvantages: bad handycap

...I have been sailing the laser 3000 for 4 years now and it is a great boat. The laser 3000 is a 2 man sailing dingy with an asymetric spinnika and trapise for the crew. The boat is an excellent boat for junor racers and is an superb boat to start high performance sailing. The rig is simple and rigging is very quick and easy, and sailing is even easier. The helm has a lot of space in the back as it has an open back cockpit, the centre main sheet work brilliantly but we have found that is easier to remove the cleat as this can be a problem in big gusts. Sailing the boat is very diffrent form the boats people may have sailed like the laser 2 as the main has an asymtric top so even when you dump the main there is still power in the sail so we have found that the best way for the boat to go up wind is to pinch it in the gusts. The boat is...

tom_wood 20.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Sailing - Sailing

Topper Sailing Dinghy

Advantages: Strong and durable, affordable, simple to sail and rig
Disadvantages: Less sutable for experanced sailors

...The topper sailing dinghy is an robust, affordable sailing dinghy which can be sailed by people of all ages making it an excellent choice for families. The design of the Topper means that it can be easily and effectively reefed as required. This is important for use with children when it is often desirable to reduce the power in more than light winds. Despite this the boat is still relatively speedy and certainly give the impression of speed to those who want it! The topper is both light enough (43 Kg) and small enough to be put on the roof rack of a car making towing unnecessary. The construction of the topper is of plastic so it does not require any major maintenance and can not rot! The boat is modular in design so if something breaks or wears out then it is just a matter of unbolting it and bolting on a replacement! Spares...

JohnDM 29.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Sailing - Sailing

Sailing club at mouth of creek

Advantages: Really good location, and friendly atmosphere
Disadvantages: Only possible to sail 3 hours either side of high water

...The Royal Victoria Yacht Club is a friendly family Club, with a very large and active Cadet Section, focussing mainly on competitive optimist and laser 4.7 development. There is also a very large squib fleet, from which about 20 boats race annually at Cowes week. As a visiting sailor you are likely to receive a warm welcome from all clubbers, and if racing you would be well informed of club practice or rules to obide by. The Isle of Wight is the small blob at the bottom of the UK, and is located to the south of Portmouth. The Royal Victoria is located on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight, and at the entrance to Wooton Creek (to the right of the river Medina, when looking at a map, and to the left of Ryde). It is easy to find, as it is next door to the Fishbourne to Portsmouth car ferry terminal. To find out where it is...

Stainer1986 03.03.2003 · Read review
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Review of Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Isle of Wight

Sail a Topper !!!

Advantages: Ideal for a new sailor to learn with, Easy to rig
Disadvantages: Not extremly high performance, can be dificult to sail in light winds.

...If you would like to take up sailing in a single handed dinghy then a Topper is IDEAL for you ! It is simply the best boat ever for learning in it is not extreme power, performance and speed but it does go in a strong blow (I should know Iv had experiences in a force 8(thats 2 off hurican force !!)and they are very fun). They are robust made of a double section plastic hull, they only have one sail and are intended for one person but can easily take 2. They are virtually unsinkable, as we demonstrated at my local sailing club by loading one up with as many kids as we could fit on it! They are around £1600 for a brand new one, anr you can pickup a second hand one for around a grand but they do tend to keep their price as they dont get damaged easily.Well go on have a go in one !! or for more information visit the Topper Class Association...

mat-packer 30.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Sailing - Sailing