Krewe Of Monalisa Moonpie

Shaun Parker asked:


The sail shade is a relatively new type of garden shade that has only recently become a part of a private garden. Typically this type of shade has been utilised by large organisations for places such as schools, park areas and more recently places that are set to house the Olympic Games. They are extremely striking forms of shade that are erected with the intention of being semi-permanent. This means that they are meant to be used or long periods of time unlike other shade structures like the gazebo which are often put up whilst the sun is out and taken down after the sun has gone in. Sail shades remain erected all year round.

Sail shades are made up of strong cloths which can withstand harsher treatment than the temporary versions of shade that are typically available. Sail shades are typically attached to permanent fixtures such as walls or permanent posts. As a result it is a longer lasting source of shade that should be dealt with as a key part of the design of the outdoor space. Garden designers can often use them to base the design of the outdoor space. Such is the striking nature of this type of shade that the whole theme of the outside space can be amended to work with the sail shade.

Sail shades were first utilised by ancient Roman and Greek sailors that hoisted sails up to protect them from the searing sun when they were on land. This innovative idea was exploited by many different people and the theory has developed into the modern day sail shade. It is said that the coliseum was covered with a sail so that the people that attended the sporting and theatrical events could be kept cool from the searing sun. This theory has been exploited to make the modern sail shade. The primary change has been that the type of cloth used to make the sail has changed. New technology has introduced new fibres that make the modern sail shade both sturdy and extremely effective at blocking out the harmful UV rays from the sun.

The sail shades come in a number of different shapes and sizes. Most sail shades that are used for large outdoor areas are designed by the sail shade manufacturers specifically for the place that they will be used in. The range of options if you decide to have your sail shade designed bespoke to your needs is infinite. There are also a number of sail shades that are sold off the shelf. These come in a number of different sizes and shapes. Each manufacturer and sales company produces different sizes and shapes bust most of these companies will provide something to suit your needs. Most sail shades are available in triangle and square shapes. These are generally called triangle shade sails and square shade sails and are a great way of providing a semi-permanent shade for your garden.

Other types of garden shade that you could utilise in your outdoor space are gazebos, umbrella shade and the larger marquees. Gazebos are another fantastic option as they are quite inexpensive and can be erected anywhere. They are small tent like structures that can be put up anywhere. Unlike tents they do not have walls and they are tall enough to stand under. Also they often provide rain cover as well as shade cover from the sun.

Club Sail asked:


Final plans are in place for two milebuilding trips from Tenerife to Madeira and Madeira to Huelva (near Cadiz).

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 km², of which 135 km² 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 €800 per week.  If you book both legs the cost is €1400.

Contact us at info@clubsail.com for more details

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Sailing yachts come in many different forms and types. You will find that there are different brands of sailing yachts which you can think about buying. These vessels can be used to travel on the surface of land and water in just about any type of weather. Depending on the type of terrain and sailing that you are planning on doing, you should look at the many different yachts you can buy.

Also when you are looking at these sailing yachts you should have a clear idea about the type of sailing that you are going to do. This is important as sailing yachts can be used for speed sailing, land sailing or having a luxurious cruise down a quiet river.

You will need to see if you are looking at sailing yachts which are capable of sailing in deep or shallow waters. Once you have clarified this part of the sailing operation you will know which yacht is best for you. There is one aspect of buying a yacht that should be firmly kept in mind. This item is the price you will need to pay.

Now depending on the type of sailing that you are going to indulge in you will find that the price of the sailing yachts can go hand in hand with this need. This means that while there are people who love to sail on open waters, there are others who are highly enthusiastic about sailing their yachts across solid land.

These people can be seen zooming over the surface of the earth in their highly streamlined, sleek sailing yachts which have been designed to speed across the surface of different terrains.

Since sailing yachts like so many other products are made to last for a certain amount of time it is in your best interests if you look after your chosen yacht with care. Provided that you give your yacht the attention that it needs you will have a sailing vessel that will last for quite a long time.

In many ways you will find that sailing yachts are vessels that can take you anywhere that you want. The many different yachts that you will see in marinas are a testament to the love that people have for these graceful sea going vehicles. With a sailing yacht you are free to travel at your own pace anywhere in the world. These are a few of the attributes and reasons why people love to have fun in sailing yachts of different styles and types.

Rob Jones asked:


Starting Dinghy Sailing

How many people have been on holiday, seen people sailing dinghies and thought “Id love to try that” ?

The best advice to be given to anyone wishing to start dinghy sailing is to take your time, don’t rush into anything and don’t try running before you can walk. First thing to do is to read around the subject and at least gain a basic understanding of what is involved in owning and buying a sailing dinghy. The Internet is an ideal place to do such research and this will be of great help when you start learning to sail.

We dont recommend you buy a dinghy and try to learn to sail yourself. Much better to either go to a recognised training centre or join a sailing club. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Learning to sail at training centre means that you can book lessons to suit yourself and you should receive professional instruction. The downside is that it can be expensive. In our opinion joining a sailing club is the best way to learn. You will meet a variety of boat owners, get advice on the different types of dinghies available etc. You will almost certainly have the opportunity to crew for members which is an excellent way of gaining experience. Many dinghy sailing clubs are focussed on racing. Dont let this put you off. Although it may not seem appealing to a beginner, dinghy racing is an excellent way of improving your sailing techniques.

If you are lucky enough to have a choice of sailing clubs in your area go visit each one. Ask yourself

What are the members like ?

Were you given advice ?

Were you made to feel welcome ?

Do they offer any sort of training ?

What sort of boats do they sail and at what times ?

Unfortunately many clubs forget about attracting new members and concentrate solely on racing without realising everyone has to start somewhere. Gone are the days when all sailing clubs had waiting lists of people to join. Many clubs are now beginning to realise they must actively seek new members to maintain numbers and in some cases survive. See our sailing clubs list to find a sailing club in your area.

Don’t rush into buying a boat. Most clubs usually have a few boats which members can use. Take advantage of this fact until you have more knowledge about dinghies and have decided if sailing is for you. Also offer your services as a crew for members with double handed boats.

When you eventually get to the stage of buying a boat you should have a good idea about what you should be looking for. It’s easy to waste money buying a boat that may be unsuitable. Your local club is an excellent place to buy a boat as people constantly trade up. The best thing about buying a boat from your own club is that often people will know its history, its faults etc.