There is evidence to suggest that people have been sailing from Holyhead to Ireland from as long ago as 4,000 years, so the tradition is certainly strong on the island. While this Welsh town remains small, it does boast sailing opportunities that make it popular with those hoping to enjoy a sailing holiday in the area and, with a ferry port that handles in excess of 2 million passengers a year, visitors are sure to find the option to suit no matter what kind of sailing holiday floats their boat.

A number of sailing clubs have made Holyhead their home, meaning that it’s a great area to sail with experienced professionals or simply rent a boat if you’re already a sailing whizz yourself. Berthing is also conveniently offered by Holyhead Marina while the Holyhead sailing club continues to expand its fleet of racing and cruising yachts for the enjoyment of locals and visitors to the area.

Holyhead also has a number of things to see and do on the island itself, including a Maritime Museum ideal for grounded sailing fans and the Breakwater Park where visitors will find the equipment used to build a marina as well as evidence of forts dating to the Iron Age, stone circles and burial mounds in the countryside behind it.

An option perfect if you’re recovering your land legs are the Heritage Trail walks that can be enjoyed on Holyhead. These trails take walkers along the coast, much of which has been declared Areas of Special Natural Beauty, with many Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and SSSI’s. Visitors to the town will also find superb cultural offerings at the Ucheldre Centre. Converted from old convent buildings, this community centre boasts an art gallery, performance space and pleasant café.

Any visitor taking a ferry from Holyhead will be sad to leave this charming town behind. But visitors will always be welcome to return to the history steeped island, and with so many local legends and myths to explore, visitors are sure to want to visit again and again.

1. Make your passport and visas up-to-date before you venture out to overseas destinations. Do not forget to fill the emergency information page available on your passport. It could be really handy in times of crisis.

2. Learn something about the culture of the place you are going to visit. It would save you a lot of embarrassment and ensure a safe vacation. Learning some key phrases of the local language, such as “help”, can get you out of trouble situations if you are separated from your tour guide. In case you are traveling alone, then hiring a guide who speaks both the languages would be very useful.

3. Walking in a group is safer than walking alone, especially in thinly populated areas. Having company or staying in a group would add to your enjoyments. Thieves and robbers usually target those who travel alone.

4. Always use covered luggage tags and try to avoid putting your home address on an open luggage tag. Your company’s address can be used if you are out on business or you can put your friend’s address on the tag if you are visiting them.

5. Keep your ears open to your inner voice. Be aware of your surroundings and follow your intuition as most of the times it is correct. Women, single parents and older people become easy prey to crimes against tourists. So be alert all the time when you are on your own.

6. Before you check-in, make sure that your hotel or resort is not in a crime-prone zone. Keep the phone numbers of local medical practitioners and the local police, if you are putting up at a luxury resort in a remote location.

7. Try not to bring any valuables such as jewelry or electronic gadgets when you go for vacation. Don’t forget to keep your valuables or money including traveler checks and credit-cards locked away in the safety deposit box provided by your hotel.

8. If you are going for safaris or other adventurous expeditions with your family, then you need to take special care of the children. Make sure that they do not leave your side, as they can become easy targets for predators.

9. Don’t be too adventurous while checking out the exotic local cuisine. If you are not careful, you can end up with allergies, dysentery and other types of infectious diseases. Hence, have food only at those places which appear clean and hygienic. Your tour operator can guide you well in this regard.

10. Take proper care of your baggage. Tourists are often a soft target for thieves and pick-pockets. Spending some amount of money in buying locks would actually be a great idea! Various types of locks such as combination locks, lightweight cable locks and different sizes of padlocks can ensure the safety of your luggage while you travel.

This assortment of useful tips for safe travel will surely make your vacation a wonderful experience that will be fondly remembered all your life!

However, cruises weren’t quite for me. I felt I wasn’t ready for the large cruise ships quite yet and the large crowds that come with it once you hit the shore. And as for which island, I wasn’t quite keen on Ibiza, which has more of a late night mentality, with casino’s and clubs located throughout. Though it is a stunning island, and there are some private yacht charter trips that go from Ibiza to nearby Formentera within a day, which in fact is quite a relaxing route. One can view Ibiza’s coastline and cliffs and get away from the crowd, finding a cove where you can anchor your yacht for the afternoon.

Still, for the best combination of both, Menorca is still my top choice out of the Balearic Islands. Even with more flights available to Menorca from Gatwick this year than previously, it still felt like Menorca had that calmer easy-going feel to it. Gentle, relaxed and tranquil year round, Menorca is the right combination for all types of visitors. From the relaxed sunbathers to the eager deep sea divers and watersport enthusiasts, attracted by the local cuisine and scenic coastline, it has the best of all worlds, but particularly the one where I want to detach from the faster paced life back in the city.

There are many offers that package holiday villas along with sailing holidays or private yacht charter services in Menorca, but from experience it works best to perhaps pick and choose from each category individually. With single day excursions barely over a hundred euros per person, independently owned local companies such as Go Nautic can not only provide a good price (even by today’s exchange rate standards), but also add the benefit of local experience. It always helps to have someone who knows the nooks and crannies of the coastline and where the best kept secrets are. And of course, a touch of hospitality is always welcome, and having the daily yacht charter excursions include a delicious three course meal, with drinks included was a nice touch.

Should you want it all to yourself though, they also offer weekly charter trips that can take you around the Balearic Islands, which include Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Come to think about it, I guess you actually can have it all. Find more out about holidays in Menorca and the various services available from Go Nautic by visiting their website at www.gonautic.com

Sea sickness – If you?re feeling a little under the weather don’t struggle up into to the top bunk. The best way to help you feel better is to stay low! The motion is less evident there. Try to stay horizontal, and if there are no sea berths onboard, throw some cushions on the floor and lie there. You?ll feel better in no time.

Think tank – Your tank may look full, but many yachts will come to a surprising halt even when the fuel level gauge looks full to burst. The best thing to do is to run a column in your log book for your engine. Keeping a check of fuel fills and oil changes means there will be no more guess work.

Stormy weather – Bad weather is a common worry for sailors. The most effective method of avoiding the effects of bad weather at sea? Avoid sailing altogether. Check local weather forecasts before setting out and try not to sail for a few days after a storm. Inevitably there will be times when getting caught in bad weather is unavoidable. So, it?s therefore essential to know how to keep your crew and boat safe.

Look no hands – You?d be surprised how many people only use auto pilot on passage. Having a free hand to stow a sail or prepare lines is really useful, especially for a small crew. Just remember to make a point of keeping an eye on what?s going on around the boat at all times.

Boom Boom – It?s important to respect the boom. The most common sailing injuries are a result of not being aware when the boom is about to swing. To avoid injury or being knocked overboard, remember to be conscious and respectful of the boom at all times.

A steady course – You’re out at sea and a ship is approaching. You are the give way vessel. All you need to do is make a slight alteration to ensure a collision does not take place. But imagine how the skipper of the other ship feels. He’s wondering whether you’ve made the safest decision. The answer? Show him your sidelight if it’s dark. If it’s light, 20 or 30 degrees and a steady course should put his mind at rest.

Knot to be forgotten – Good sailing knots are essential to sailing. The figure eight knot is a good stopper knot. The figure eight will ensure, especially in windy weather, the jibsheet and the mainsheet remain in the cabin. Other useful knots to learn are the bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches and the reef knot.

Most people have heard of Carfax for uncovering a car’s history. Well, you can do the very same thing prior to purchasing a boat. If you have the hull identification number, you can go online and look up the history for free. It will tell you if the boat was damaged, in an accident, and much more.

Prior to obtaining boat insurance, you will need a surveyor to look the boat over. In some instances, it may not be necessary, if the boat is pretty new. If a survey was performed recently, that information may be available to you to review, to get an idea about the boat’s condition. Anything the surveyor finds should help you to negotiate the price and/or help you make the decision whether you want to spend the money necessary to make any repairs he recommends.

The boat’s value drops significantly within the first few years. A boat that has been equipped with many manufacturers’ options will maintain its value much longer. Limited-edition boats also retain their value for a much longer period of time. A well cared for boat will hold its value longer, as well.  You can save a bundle of money purchasing a boat that’s just a few years old and has been taken care of.

The costly replacements are the motor, engine, props shafts and runners. If the deck is delaminated, that’s a lot of work, too. If the boat’s electronic equipment is out-dated, you may want to stay away from it. Often times, the through holes won’t match the size of the replacement, necessitating major work to make them fit. You may end up buying a whole new panel to have everything match. On top of these issues, a sailboat could have very worn sails, which cost thousands to replace. The shrouds and stays are also expensive.

If the boat’s electronics have been updated, they increase the value of the boat. Other updates that add great value are the knot meter, depth finder, rudder indicator, auto-pilot, GPS, chart plotter, radar, fish finder or wind indicator.

In the navigation station, it’s a big plus to have repeaters and a sit down area. One of the latest, and most luxurious updates, is the bow thruster, an open tube that shoots water from one side to the other to assist in docking. Stern thrusters, in the back of the boat, serve the same purpose.

The hi-tech bonuses are great to have and are quite valuable. If there’s closed circuit tv for watching over different areas in the boat, it lets the captain know what’s going on at all times.

Salon and stateroom stereo systems and a flat screen television are great options to have.

The lower the engine hours, the better off you are. The more engine hours on a boat, the closer you are to replacing the engine. When the boat is equipped with a properly functioning generator, air conditioning, and refrigeration, you’re in good shape. If in bad shape, they can decrease the boat’s value quite a bit.

If you enjoy doing renovations, there are plenty of great deals to be made.

Two of our Club class yachts, Stan (a Prima 38) and Agi (a Hanse 400e), are sailing together up to southern Spain.   The first leg leaves Tenerife on Friday 26th June for Madeira.  After a short sail to get your sea legs, we will make the 300+ mile passage in one go–aiming to arrive in Madeira on the Wednesday.

Madeira is a located in the mid Atlantic ocean.  It is one of the remote islands of Portugal with maderia island and Poto Santo Island being the only inhabited islands. 

We will have a day to explore other harbours and anchorages on Madeira, before you leave us on the Friday (why not stay the weekend?) or take your berth for the next leg.

The second leg from Madeira to Huelva is planned to leave on Friday 3rd July and cover the 500+ miles to Huelva in about 5-6 days

Huelva is a maritime town between the rivers Anas and Baetis, it was seated on the estuary of the river Luxia, and on the road from the mouth of the Anas to Augusta Emerita.

Christopher Columbus started his voyages to the new world from Huelva – and we will be racing in late August here to La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, in celebration of these voyages.

Our final destination will be a marina adjacent to the Doñana National Park located in the Spanish province of Andalusia, in the provinces of Huelva and Seville, and covers 543 km^2, of which 135 km^2 are a protected area. The park is an area of marsh, shallow streams, and sand dunes and a river delta flowing into the Atlantic ocean. The original area was established in 1963 by the World Wildlife Fund  and the Spanish government.

With a day to explore the area by sea we will ask you to  be ready to leave the yacht on Saturday 11th July.

Both legs include breakfast, lunch and dinner on board the yacht and cost C800 per week.  If you book both legs the cost is C1400.

Contact us at info@clubsail.com for more details

Also, another thing to consider is that where a whole family is going away, it is important that everyone on the holiday has a great time which means catering for a range of requirements.

Some of the key considerations when thinking about planning to learn to sail on your summer holiday are:

1. Do you have a preference for what sort of boat you want to learn to sail in? A yacht? Dinghy?

2. Do you want a formal qualification at the end of your course (usually RYA)?

3. Does everyone in the party want to learn to sail and if not, what do they want to do whilst the sailing is going on?

For people who want to try sailing and lots of their reservations dissolve if they are told that the sailing is going to take place in an environment like the Mediterranean where blue skies, warm breezes and warm water are the summer norm.

Most people learn to sail in a dinghy (a small, open boat) as they are highly responsive boats and one of the best ways of getting a real “feel” for how a boat moves in the wind.

It’s common for yacht sailors to have started sailing in small dinghies before they graduate to something bigger.

There are a number of “beach club” holiday destinations in the Med that accommodate learning to sail in dinghies. Guests usually have a lesson for three to four days of the holiday and master the basics by the end of the first week. When not attending sailing lessons that a are able to take advantage of all of the other facilities that a typical beach club will offer such as mountain biking, tennis or just lying by the pool.

For people wanting to learn to sail a yacht there are also “one week learn to sail” courses available where you live on your yacht for the week and have daily tuition until you are competent to sail the yacht without an instructor. On day four or five of your first week you are ready to go and join a “flotilla” with a group of other yachts for a few days sailing in company -a really sociable and enjoyable end to your first week. If you want a two week holiday you can then either follow your first learning to sail week with a complete one week flotilla or have the second week at a beach club

Both the dinghy course and the one week learn to sail courses (if successfully completed) result in the people attending being awarded an official RYA qualification. These qualifications are then built on over subsequent years as more sailing courses are attended and more experience gained.

Most of a beach club holiday centres also offer lots of activities for non-sailors to keep themselves occupied. Beach Clubs by definition are based right beside a beach which will have plenty of sun loungers for those that want to watch the world go by and they nearly all have one or two swimming pools with plenty of space and for those that prefer freshwater swimming. Most Beach Clubs also have a range of mountain bikes and a guide for (early morning!) rides on local trails plus waterskiing, tennis, beauty spas and gymnasiums. The mountain bikes are usually “hard tails” from brands like Specialized, Trek and Orange although some clubs do have the full suspension bikes as well.

Sailing is a great sporting to get in to, and if you look around at what is available outside of the UK there are some great ways to combine learning to sail with a fantastic holiday for you and everyone you go on holiday with.

(Latitude 6o 18.2′ N, Longitude 99 o 51.1′ E, its main radio service being accessible at VHF Channel 69.)

In 2008, the Christofle Asia Boating Awards — the region’s premier sailing event, which celebrates the efforts of boat builders, marinas, clubs, enthusiasts and other like-minded individuals — crowned The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club with the title of Best Asian Marine / Yacht Club of the Year.

Former Commodore of the RLYC, Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah, has seen it fit to attribute the win to the dedication and hard work of staff, and the loyalty of members and supporters. RLYC Rear Commodore, Tunku Soraya Dakhlah Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah, also adds that the recognition would only increase Langkawi’s reputation and desirability as Asia’s premier sailing destination.

In brief, the award of Best Asian Marine / Yacht Club of the Year looked at and tips its hat to various features of The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club.

Firstly, as a marina: The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club allocates some 205 berths for docking yachts. These berths vary in size and cater to a diverse range of crafts; in addition, six areas have also been designated for mega yachts (of up to 60m in length, and a low tide depth of 3 meters).

All berths enjoy electricity supply (single phase and 3 phase, from 32A to 100A), free water, wireless Internet access (spanning the whole club/marina), shower rooms/toilets, a swimming pool, 24 hours of security, maintenance services, laundry, fax, telephone services, and a supply of diesel fuel. Qualified professionals, equipped with the expertise to handle minor boat repairs and basic boat maintenance, are in attendance at all berths.

Then, as a club: The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club plays host to The Royal Langkawi International Regatta. First established in 2003, the event has managed to attract the biggest names from the international yacht racing and sailing crowd ever since.

As The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club has become an international melting pot of sorts, its two main restaurants, Charlie’s Place and  Captain’s Deck, choose to reflect this status by treating its colourful guests to an equally varied culinary palate.

Charlie’s Place serves Malaysian and Western dishes, delectable cocktails and various beverages to accompany the picturesque sunsets and sensual bellows of the sea.

Captain’s Deck is far more adventurous, and its menu, featuring pan-Asian delicacies, panders toward the eclectic. Here, live music would serenade patrons, who are given the choice of savouring the fine dining experience from various locations on the penthouse deck (all of which display an arresting view of the marina and the azure blue sea). The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is quite capable of handling functions, and may accommodate up to 300 people at any one time.

There is something for everyone at the The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club: Those seeking play or peace of mind may be drawn to the  waterfront swimming pool, jaccuzi and sauna. Deep-sea fishing, sailing, and scuba diving may fancy the inquisitive and hardcore sea-lovers. The audaciously daring should not hold back from experiencing the jet skis and speedboats.

The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club offers, through its Hocus Pocus, three outlets for the curious: The Boatique, a chandlery, featuring signature souvenirs, marine supplies and general items; The Bottle Shop, a duty-free wine and liquor outlet; and the Cyber Centre, an internet cafe.

If personal sightseeing and exploration is more to one’s liking, The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club allows guest to book tours, and charter yachts from the various offices within club premises. Guests may try exploring the island of Langkawi itself, which is abundantly laden with lush greenery, gorgeous (and historical) locations, an assortment of sea-based culinary delights, and folklore spanning some few centuries (oftentimes curiously interweaved with history.) A nearby island, Pulau Dayang Bunting, renown for its uniquely placed fresh water lake and scenic seaside, may also prove to be a tempting and irresistible draw for those with an affinity for natural beauty.

The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is both marina and club, and it strives to afford world-class facilities and a variety of leisure diversions to its distinguished guests.

The establishment warmly welcomes all to the experience.

More information can be found at http://www.langkawiyachtclub.com/

A Members Club is a club run by the membership to promote sailboat racing and cruising, as well as providing a meeting place for the sailing community.

A Sailing Club is different from a Yacht Club in that the members mostly sail other people’s boats, at a much lower cost than owning a boat.

Membership is a combination of people who sail as crew, and boat owners. Members decide the objectives to satisfy the membership and to attract other members.

Most clubs will have racing program and may host regattas, ranging from informal local events to larger events on a national level. Often clubs have a weekly evening racing schedule and weekend racing. Many yacht clubs have teams competing against other clubs in team racing.

There are also some specific boat models and lengths which have their own club. These boat ownership clubs often hold single design races for their members.

Clubs with adult sailing programs will often offer junior sailing programs as well, for children from ages 8 to 16. These junior sailing programs often also teach children rowing, kayaking, general seamanship and navigation.

A Commercial Club is owned by individuals or an organisation to provide a service and generate profit. Often they are associated with a particular marina or port.

Yacht Clubs in the UK

Hamble River Sailing Club – Hamble River Sailing Club is located on the west bank of the River Hamble, upstream of Hamble Point Marina and downstream of the public jetty. The club has changing rooms, catering facilities, a bar and a history of regional, national and Olympic successes.

The Royal Burnham Yacht Club – Founded 1895 and receiving Royal Patronage in December 1927, The Royal Burnham Yacht Club is at the heart of sailing and related activities on the River Crouch.

Lough Neagh Antrim Boat Club – Located on the sheltered north east shore of Lough Neagh Antrim Boat Club sits in woodland just a short walk along the beach from Shanes Castle. Most of its events take place in Antrim Bay giving a safe area of about six square miles while at any time never being out of sight of land.

Avon Sailing Club – Founder and current members are proud and passionate of the Avon Sailing Club which was founded over half a century ago, such was there enthusiasm that the club retained it name when it moved from the River Avon to The River Severn in the 1960’s.

Tynemouth Sailing Club – Since 1880, members have sailed and raced many different types of boat on the Tyne estuary and North Sea, continually developing to the present day. They have a proud heritage, having produced world champion sailors, staged national and world championships, and also won the WLYC 24-hour race in 1981.

Tynemouth Sailing Club is located on the North side of the entrance to the River Tyne, in the shadow of Tynemouth Priory.

Perth Sailing Club – Perth Sailing Club offers a friendly club environment some 10 minutes drive from the Queens Bridge in Perth. From April to October, tides permitting, they sail at weekends and some evenings. From office/home to on the water in under 40 minutes is quite feasible.

Merthyr Tydfil – Sailing Club We are a very friendly dinghy sailing club with one of the most beautiful settings in the whole of the UK, based on the large Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons National Park. With this location even non-sailing members of your family can enjoy a lovely day out, with a gentle stroll around the reservoir or up into the hills, simply enjoying the views.