Top Dubrovnik tourist spot named

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Croatia, Dubrovnik, Sailing, sailing holiday, Yachting

Tourism bosses in Croatia have issued their top tip for holidaymakers planning a visit to the city of Dubrovnik.

Any sailing holiday in Croatia this summer is likely to include Dubrovnik in its itinerary, and the local tourism board has highlighted East West Beach as one of the most exciting attractions in the popular coastal city.

The renowned venue has been named as a top site for a chill-out session thanks to its famous day beach soirees, which provide the perfect opportunity to lie back and relax on one of the world’s top coasts.

Those on a yacht charter in Croatia can spend a memorable day at East West Beach and enjoy its restaurant, club, lounge and pampering facilities.

The venue even provides a speedboat that can be used to explore Dubrovnik and nearby islands including Lokrum.

At night, the club becomes a fashionable and exotic party spot where revellers can boogie the night away.

Other recommendations from the Dubrovnik Tourist Board include Culture Club Revelin in the historic area of Fort Revelin.

Sailors face rough weather in island race

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Isle of Wight, Sailing, sailing holiday, sailing race, sailing races, Yachting

It is not just yacht charter holidays around exotic islands off the coasts of far-off countries that can tempt sailors out onto their vessels.

A race around the Isle of Wight has proved to be a strong enough attraction to draw in over 1,900 boats and 16,000 sailors.

One of the largest yacht races in the world, the J.P Morgan Round The Island Race took place on the 25th June.

The largest ever number of competitors faced rough weather conditions to take part in the sailing event, which is now in its 80th year.

TV presenter Denise Van Outen signalled the beginning of the race from the Crowes starting line, but because of the severe conditions – with up to force seven winds and waves around 20 feet – many boats were forced to retire early.

The winner of the epic race was Lionel Lemonchois, which crossed over the finishing line with a time of three hours, 49 minutes and 58 seconds.

Tall Ships Race gets under way

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Sailing, sailing holiday, Yachting

The 2011 Waterford Tall Ships Race has got under way, with the 45 vessels taking part as the flotilla left the Irish port.

Crowds gathered to cheer the majestic ships on as they sailed out of the quays and along the River Suir after assembling off Dunmore East for the Parade of Sail.

The gruelling race – one of the premier sailing events in the calendar – saw the vessels head around the west coast of Ireland to Greenock in Scotland.

However, the sailors were forced to head along the Celtic Sea as bad weather descended on the race – of which Russian ship Mir emerged an early leader.

Once the vessels begin arriving in Greenock they will embark upon a cruise to Lerwick in Shetland.

The second stage of the event will see the vessels race to Halmstad in Sweden.

Among the vessels docked on the north quays was past winner Sorlandet – a Norwegian ship built in 1927.

Croatian beaches have sex factor

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     beaches, Croatia, Sailing, sailing holiday

Croatian beaches are famed for their gorgeous climates and easiness on the eye – but for one steamy website it is their inhabitants that cook up most of the heat.

Travel Channel has taken it upon itself to compile a list of Croatia’s 10 sexiest beaches, for those fancying a double dose of natural beauty.

Over 95 million users, many of whom will be plotting their next sailing holiday in Croatia, have been advised that Plat beach is the sexiest on offer.

The US-based company advises fun seekers to “leave the kids at home.. we’ll take you to the sexiest beaches”.

As well as finding a yacht charter in Croatia, beaches have long been the biggest attraction, with Zrce beach on the island of Pag and the beaches of Pakleni islands also deemed notable for their sex appeal.

Others to feature on the list include Zlatni Rat on the island of Brac, Rab Kandalora beach, Rovinj Valalta, Baska on island Krk and Girandella in Rabac.

Travel Channel also pointed out numerous islands just off the country’s coastline that are well worth a visit.

Ben Miller hails Caribbean paradise

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Sailing, sailing break, sailing holiday, sailing trip

Comedian and actor Ben Miller is loving filming a new BBC detective series in the Caribbean.

The Primeval star is currently filming in Guadeloupe for the new show, to be shown on BBC1 later this year.

The new series, called Death in Paradise, sees Ben play the role of a British detective who is posted to the Caribbean island of Sainte Marie despite hating sun, sea and sand.

But Ben has been loving the location, having already visited a few of the surrounding islands.

He said: “It’s amazing. Guadeloupe where we’re filming, there’s quite a few different islands but the two main ones are Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre.

“Basse-Terre is very flat and touristy and where they grow loads of sugar cane and Grande-Terre is volcanic, very wild and basically just rainforest and beaches, very little tourism. Completely unlike any other place I’ve ever been.”

The show could encourage people to visit the region on holiday, and may even tempt the more adventurous to consider sailing in the Caribbean to experience the different islands like Ben.

However those looking for a family holiday may also want to consider the region as Ben said his children loved the beaches.

He said: “They’ve come out (to visit me). My son loves it out there absolutely loves it. The last time he was out there he was just running about on the beach going ‘I love it here I love it here.’”

The world’s top 10 adventure races No1: Indian Ocean Rowing Race

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Travel, charity, mauritius, Rowing, Sailing

Not all adventures end well. It’s safe to say that Britons James Adair and Ben Stenning were hoping for a better end to their trip to Mauritius. I say trip, as the pair set off 116 days ago to row across the Indian Ocean in the Woodvale Indian Ocean Rowing Race – something only two pairs of rowers had so far managed.

James and Ben before the Bellamy beards

The BBC has reported that right at the end of their 3,200-mile journey, they were overturned by a wave and faced a survival ordeal, not a welcome reception. Chucked into the sea by a 30-foot wall of water, James and Ben found themselves fighting against waves that were set on dashing them onto the rocks.

James was bleeding heavily from lacerations to his legs, and Ben was keeping shark watch until they decided it was time to move from the stricken craft and make a go for shore.

“We had to get away from those rocks or it would be game over,” Ben told the BBC.

But instead of reaching the shore, the pair were washed onto a coral reef, before locals eventually found them and got them back onto dry land.

Oh, and we forgot to mention: these guys are amateurs, and they completed the journey unassisted and for charity rowing in support of the ‘Tumaini- Homes for Hope’ charity, which provides homes and care for children affected or suffering from HIV/AIDS.

It goes to show that there are plenty of adventures out there, more than we ever get to hear about.

So, if you know of an adventure race, no matter what sort, let us know; we’ll happily RT messages of support and maybe even write a piece on it.

Here’s a link to Ben and James’ JustGiving page and more about the race.

Winds force MedCup cancellation

Mark Pawlak    sailingbreaks     Sailing, sailing events, sailing holiday, sailing races

The final day of racing has been cancelled at one of Europe’s biggest sailing events.

Strong Mistral winds made it impossible to hold the last scheduled showdown of the Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy 2011. The tough conditions saw the magnificent yachts of the TP52 fleet remain firmly moored in Vieux Port.

The 16-metre racing yachts, constructed entirely of carbon fibre, are widely considered to be the Formula 1 craft of the sea, with the brand also a popular choice for those taking part in corporate sailing events.

The cancellation in Marseilles made the previous day’s results final, with Container named the winner followed by Quantum Racing.

There was also silverware for the Audi Azzurra sailing team, who took third place as they did in the first leg in Cascais.

The overall classification for the circuit after two legs also sees Azzurra in third place with Quantum in the lead and Container in second.

Azzurra tactician Francesco Bruni said: “We came in the top three again, even if with some difficulty, it is still a good result.”

“We made a few too many mistakes and on two occasions we could have done better, in any case this is a positive result. The next objective is to be protagonists during the home leg in Cagliari from July 19.”