Sailboat

Yacht

What is a yacht? This may seem a strange question, but it's actually a very pertinent one. What makes a yacht a yacht? And when does a boat become a ship? Here's what you need to know. Origin of the yacht - A Dutch "jaght A yacht is a boat used for pleasure and sport. Its name comes from the Dutch word jaght, which translates as "hunter", a fast, light sailing vessel once used by the navy to hunt pirates and other bad guys. When English King Charles II was transported by "jacht" from the Netherlands to his home country in 1660, the word quickly came to mean a vessel in which important people were transported, not just any other boat. What is a yacht? Cruisers, superyachts and mega-yachts Today, there are two types of yacht: sailing yachts and motor yachts. In terms of size, yachts tend to range from 10 meters to several hundred feet. If you own a luxury boat under 12 meters in length, it's usually a cabin cruiser, sometimes just a cruiser. A superyacht is usually over 24 meters long. What is a mega yacht? It's a boat over 50 meters long, and there's no upper limit! The world's largest yacht measures an impressive 222 meters in length.

Catamaran

What is a catamaran? Simply put, a catamaran is a boat with two hulls. The term is derived from the Tamil word kattumaram, meaning "tree trunks bound together". Far from their rudimentary beginnings, today's catamarans are generally built in fiberglass or carbon, with two hulls joined by a deck, and are designed in many sizes and for a variety of activities. Sailing catamarans have made great strides in recent decades. Small day sailing catamarans are popular because they provide a safe and simple learning platform. You'll find fleets of them in seaside resorts, where they're used by people with very little sailing experience. These small boats are generally made of roto-molded plastic or fiberglass and usually have no auxiliary engine, their only source of propulsion being the sails. Tall ships have invaded the world of long-distance cruising and bareboat charters. Almost all bareboat charter companies based in the tropics now offer more sailing catamarans than monohulls, and their numbers are also increasing in destinations such as the Mediterranean. As a rule, sailing catamarans have two engines, one in each hull, for maneuvering, as well as a mast supporting a mainsail and at least one headsail.

Zodiac

On some cruises, the cruise ship simply can't be used - for example, to get to excursions in shallow, rocky waters. That's where the Zodiac boat comes in, an expedition craft that helps you and other cruisers get where your cruise ship simply can't go. Larger cruise ships use tenders to transport passengers to and from shore, while smaller ships - particularly in the adventure category - use Zodiacs to provide the same service or for nature-watching excursions. Originally created in the 1930s for naval aviation, Zodiacs today come in many shapes and sizes - and have a unique application in the cruising industry. First and foremost, Zodiac boats are inflatable. The sides and bow are made of inflatable tubes filled with pressurized gas, making them light, fast, buoyant and easy to transport. They have a shallow draft, which means that the bottom of the boat does not sink very low below the waterline. What does this mean for the functionality of Zodiac rafts? Zodiacs can access shallow waters or waters with obstacles such as rocks that would damage a less resistant metal or fiberglass hull. When you board a Zodiac boat, it's important to be as comfortable and safe as possible. Note that it's quite possible to get wet and cold, so make sure you prepare accordingly with items such as a waterproof jacket (your cruise ship can provide this), fleece jacket, waterproof boots, hat, waterproof gloves, warm socks, waterproof pants and a waterproof bag for your belongings. The wind can be relatively strong, as can the sun and its reflections on the water. We recommend that you wear warm (but waterproof) clothing, a ski mask or scarf to cover your face, and polarized sunglasses (to protect your eyes from the wind and sun). Who can safely board a Zodiac boat? Due to their small size and lack of cover, Zodiacs are best used by passengers with reduced mobility who are comfortable embarking and disembarking at sea, when the boat is pitching due to the movement of waves and currents. Be prepared for disembarking on the water, when the Zodiac stops on a beach and passengers get out of the water and walk a few meters to shore.