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Posts Tagged ‘sailing’

If you’re the type that prefers the excitement of ongoing variety, then booking a mainstream vacation may not be for you. Among the many options from which there are to choose, houseboat vacations offer a non-stop, fun-in-the-sun experience which little else can parallel. Perhaps the biggest perk of these floating homes is that if you get tired of your surroundings, you can simply move on to another port and enjoy a new facet of your trip – which equates to a bunch of mini-vacations all within one package.
 
Houseboat Vacation Websites

• houseboatholidays.com – Based in British Columbia, these folks provide vacation packages that allow guests to explore the breathtaking scenery of the Shuswap Lake. The lake’s claim to fame is that it offers boaters the opportunity to view sights that are only visible from certain parts of this H-shaped body of water. Complete with a thunderous waterfall, majestic mountains and crystal waters, a Shuswap Lake vacation combines the excitement and serenity of a top-notch holiday on the water.

• foreverhouseboats.com – Inviting travellers to choose from a number of models and destinations, this vacation merchant also offers summer specials to those who visit the website and book during certain times of the season. Whether you’re looking for a basic model or something in the line of luxury, you’re sure to find it here. Choose from among 11 outstanding destinations, including Lake Don Pedro, Lake Mead, Lake Powell and Lake of the Ozarks.

• voyagaire.com – Explore the Minnesota wilderness from a top-of-the-line houseboat as you follow the routes of fur traders, Indians and voyageurs of old. Swimming, fishing – and a soak in the hot tub – await you when you book your vacation with this Crane Lake, Minnesota rental facility. Choose from among a wide variety of models, from basic to deluxe, and get ready to witness the astounding beauty of towering pines, perennial gardens and immaculate waters.
 
Luxury Houseboats

• waterwayrentals.com – Whether you prefer the sunny west coast of California or the tropical climes of Florida, you can enjoy your vacation in a state-of-the-art luxury Starlite Houseboat, provided by the folks at Waterway Rentals. With the ability to accommodate up to 10 people, these rentals will allow you to go cruising up and down the coastline in style. Amenities include a Bose Home Theater, two full baths, hot tub, digital depth finder, central heat and air conditioning, separate dining room, full size range, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator/ice maker, king and queen size beds, 4 sun lounges, and a built-in entertainment center, as well as nearly two dozen others.

• realadventures.com – Offering four different California locations, including Lake McClure Marinas, Shasta Lake Resorts, New Melones Lake Marina and Herman & Helen’s Marina on the Delta, these vacation packages will have you enjoying lots of local activities when you’re not on board one of the most luxurious houseboats on the west coast. These top-of-the-line vessels include amenities such as a surround sound entertainment system, hot tub, a plethora of modern appliances, heat and air conditioning systems, a richly appointed interior – and even a slide built onto the outside deck, so that swimmers can swoosh into the water at top speed. Accommodating up to 15 guests – and pets! – you’ll be able to enjoy wakeboarding, fishing and water-skiing, as well as a spacious patio for those moments when you need a bit of R&R.

If you don’t know where to stay when you book your next vacation, consider a houseboat. For about the same price as a hotel, you can enjoy the many benefits of travel on one of these spacious vessels – including the privacy that you often have to forfeit when staying in more traditional lodgings.

I have been fascinated with the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University for as long as I can remember. I didn’t attend any of these top two British Universities, nor do I have an avid enthusiasm for rowing but this traditional race of the two boats over exactly 4 miles and 374 yards still holds a fascination for me. I am not alone as the televised event is broadcast, from the historic River Thames, to hundreds of countries and has an audience of millions. The idea for the boat race between these paragons of academia was dreamt up by two students, both named Charles, funnily enough. Charles Merivale was at Cambridge University and Charles Wordsworth was at Oxford.

Cambridge issued their challenge to Oxford on March 12th 1829. Ever since then, it has been a tradition for the loser of a year’s race to challenge the other boat to a rematch the following year.

On 10th June 1829, thousands of enthusiastic people descended on the small town of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. They were there to witness the first ever staging of the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge’s best rowing teams. In a rather embarrassing turn of events the race had to be stopped shortly after both boats had begun to be rowed. It was restarted and Oxford was the winner of the first boat race against Cambridge.

One thing that I didn’t realise about the Boat Race until fairly recently was that the members of both crews do not get any special dispensation as far as their studies go. If they can’t keep up with their academic commitments then the students must resign from that year’s boat squad.

The Boat Race is on a Sunday in March or April and the main event is preceded by a competition between Isis and Goldie. These are the reserve boats for Oxford and Cambridge in that order. About half an hour later the Blue Boats, as the first teams of each University are known, takes place. Cambridge is light blue and Oxford dark blue.