Not only just a side show, the Thames Festival is a big outreach initiative by the government to develop the arts industry in the United Kingdom. Vast amounts of paintings are specifically commissioned for the festival and many children are included in parades and exposed to the fine arts and theatre. Citizens of London will be treated to boat races along the Thames and other festival highlights include a vintage film bus, Free photography classes at special times and the amazing flotilla of historic boats on the river that you just wish you could book for London boat trips. This all ends with a closing display of Fireworks over the Thames, which families can share together to the sound of “oohs” and “aaaahs” across the city.

The Thames Festival is a highlight of the year in London and brings the capital to life every September. We cannot recommend it more as an event for the whole family to attend. From singing choirs, to food from all over the globe as well as impromptu theatre scenes, the Thames Festival blossoms for all to enjoy. Please arrive early to avoid congestion at Tube Stations, and you can access the festival from Bank and Waterloo Stations on the London Underground.

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Thames river cruises have been in operation in London for over 300 years now. Starting off as basic cruises, taxi’s etc, the Thames river cruise industry has grown into a flourishing industry that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every summer. One can now arrange a Thames river cruise as a romantic setting for a quiet date or perhaps enjoy a nice quiet cruise on the Thames whereby you have lunch or dinner with family or friends. People have weddings that take place on Thames river cruise boats and all sorts of other functions.

Thames river cruise prices are not nearly as expensive as one might think. I know river cruises in other cities around the world such as Paris and Venice can be expensive for locals, but Thames river cruises prices are very affordable and start off from as little as £4.80.

Some of the sites that you can expect to see from Thames cruises London include:

• Hampton Court Palace and its stunning gardens
• Thames Ditton Island
• Kingston’s cosmopolitan waterfront
• Teddington Lock
• Eel Pie Island
• Richmond Hill and its views

There is plenty more to see, but the above are just some of the more historic highlights of cruises along the Thames river.

What are you waiting for, whether it’s a casual Sunday cruise or you’re already booking your Christmas party cruise, get in touch with one of the many Thames river cruise companies today and add another notch to your list of things to do in London.

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The Royal Yachting Society (RYA) has been around, in one form or another, since 1875 and their Certificates of Competence are highly sought after by many aspiring skippers. Even though there are many RYA courses and certificates available, the RYA Day Skipper Certification is a good stepping stone for any aspirant skipper. Many yacht charter schools offer RYA Day Course Certificate training, where you will learn practical skills that enable you to safely sail in both tidal and non-tidal waters.

In order to register for RYA Day Skipper training, you will first need some sailing experience like a basic sailing course and a basic knowledge of skippering theory and navigation. Most sailing schools usually require 100 miles logged, 5 days aboard, and 4 night hours. They also require basic theoretical knowledge up to the RYA Day Skipper shore based level.

During sailing training sessions, students skipper yachts for short stints at a time, under the watchful eye of a certified professional instructor. The students live aboard the yacht for the duration of the day course training, and will practice piloting techniques by mooring at various harbours. Even though the RYA Day Skipper Course equips students to pilot yachts during the day, most schools will also throw some night sailing into the mix, in order to give the students some experience with piloting in the dark. Since the day skipper will be totally responsible for the management of the yacht, students will be trained for various eventualities ranging from preparing the yacht for the sea, to meteorology.

Obtaining a RYA Day Skipper Certificate furthermore allows you to apply for the Intentional Certificate of Competence (ICC). This certificate is required by most European countries as validation of your competence, and qualifies you to charter and own a boat of your own. The ICC represents a minimum level of competence in navigation, collision avoidance and helmsmanship. The ICC is obtained simply by presenting your RYA Day Skipper certificate, and allows you to charter yachts up to 24 meters in length in coastal waters.

So why wait to embrace your inner seaman and partake in exiting nautical adventures? Contact your local Yacht Charter School and book an appointment for a RYA Day Skipper Course, and you will be chartering yachts on the high seas before you know it.

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The winner is the team that wins the most legs of the race, and this year that racing team was Ericsson 4, skippered by Brazil’s Torben Grael. Grael has an established reputation as one of the world’s sailing greats with five Olympic sailing medals and six world titles, and now he has the Volvo Ocean Race to add to his resume.  Proving their mettle amongst the other racing teams, team Ericsson 4 won the first two legs of the race, as well as three of the last four legs and also achieved a couple of podium finishes in other legs.

Grael is relatively modest about his achievement, saying, “It was very tough, the boats were very close for most of the race. It was intense. To win you had to make the right decisions at the right time and work hard on speed of the boats the whole time.” He added, “We had good moments and bad moments. You make mistakes. The winner is the boat that makes the least number of big mistakes. We managed to do that.”

For landlubbers who dream of sailing a yacht around the world there is the Virtual Volvo Ocean Race, which is nine months and 37,000 nautical miles enjoyed from the comfort of your desktop. Although participants don’t experience the thrill, or the terror, of 100 foot waves and 60 knot winds, or have to find a crew or yacht charter company, they compete in real time and in the same weather conditions as ocean-going competitors without completing a physical sailing course. The only requirement is regular access to an internet connection and an original name. All important information, such as weather forecasts are freely available on the website.

The game was developed by UnitedGames in partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race and was designed to be as close as possible to the real thing. Marijn Harinck, CEO of UnitedGames, says, “We built the game together with our partners from Virtual Regatta who are sailors too. Their knowledge about virtual sailing and our knowledge about gaming make this game unique. It is a game by sailors for sailors.”

Over 220,000 racing teams crossed the Virtual Volvo Ocean finishing line, with POWEROF7 taking the flag. Unlike the real Volvo Ocean Race, which doesn’t award any prizes beyond crystal cups and the satisfaction of completing the toughest sailing race on the planet, first prize in the virtual race was a Volvo C30 complete with a trip to St Petersburg to meet the real teams. Other prizes in the Virtual Volvo Ocean Race included a trip to a Real Madrid or AC Milan soccer game, a VIP trip on the Holmatro Extreme 40 catamaran and a new Sailmaster MKII watch. Proof that while courage is priceless, computer nous continues to reap more rewards.

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Cowes Week

Some of the most recommended sailing destinations situated on the Solent can be found on the Isle of Wight. Cowes, for instance, is considered by many to be the yachting centre in the UK. The port, which is formed by a natural harbour, is host to a number of sailing events such as the annual Cowes Week in August. And while the town is sailing obsessed, there are a handful of activities that don’t require the presence of a large body of salt water. Northwood House and Park built in 1837 and given to the town in 1929, provide residents and guests with public tennis courts, bowling greens and a playground for children. The mansion and park cover 26 acres and with a magnificent view of the Solent and the sailing boats anchored in the harbour.

Yarmouth is also built around a natural harbour and manages to successfully mix olde worlde charm with modern amenities. Its location and broad spectrum of attractions have ensured that Yarmouth has escaped the seasonal highs and lows that affect so many sailing routes on the Solent. While sailing is still its primary source of income, Yarmouth offers tourists scenic walks along the River Yar and is an ornithology haven with its variety of bird species.  Accommodation in Yarmouth ranges from simple yet comfortable camping sites to posh hotels and holiday centres that cater for adults only.

For an experience rich in history, intrepid Solent sailing explorers should pay a visit to Wootton Creek, which is only 5 miles from Cowes. Wootton Creek has been used as an international port for hundreds of years; the Romans landed cargo at Wootton and the Viking King Canute used it as a seat of power while he conquered large portions of medieval Europe. These days, leisure yachtsmen are more likely to come calling than raiding Vikings and a number of businesses and industries keep the port city ticking.

Lulworth Cove

No mention of prime sailing destinations along the Isle of Wight would be complete without Lulworth Cove. Lulworth is one of the most popular sailing destinations on the Solent and as a result suffers from extreme overcrowding. You can’t blame those who battle for anchorage though, as the cove is truly unique with picturesque views and awe inspiring walks. By sea, Lulworth is accessible via an almost entirely enclosed cove that is very difficult to spot, even if you know exactly where to look; the problem is further compounded by steep chalk cliffs that obscure the entrance from the sea. Facilities are very basic unless you’re prepared to venture toward civilisation at West Lulworth village. But visitors to the cove tend to come for the rugged nature and so aren’t terribly disturbed by the lack of shopping malls.

If you prefer to stick a little closer to England’s coastline you can always sail the Hamble River, which has easy access to the Solent for sailing further afield if desired. The Hamble has as many attractions as any destination on the Solent with a range of yacht charter companies, sailing clubs and schools and sailing regattas, as well as nature reserves, walks and historical sites. Pick a sailing course that appeals to you and join in on the fun.

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In boating, it’s important to know that there is a different name for each end of the rope. The loose end in your hand is called ‘the bitter end’, which originates from the name for the posts onto which you secure your boat while docking, called the bitts. The other end, which takes the strain, is called the standing end.  The middle part or loop of the rope also has its unique name in knot-tying terminology and is known as the bight.

One of the simplest sailing knots is something many little boys already know how to tie – the Figure of 8 Knot. This knot is used as a quick stopper, for example to be used to keep the line of the mast in sight. This knot also has the advantage of being undone easily, however, this can be a drawback too as it sometimes slips out. The knot is simple to do: form a loop with the bitter end and pass the bitter end around the standing end and through the loop to make your figure of eight.

A Bowline is an ancient type of knot that you use to form a secure loop and is multi-purpose, and can conveniently be tied with one hand. Swimmers should not use this rope as it can become untied if unloaded.  When teaching youngsters to tie the rope you can use a simple rhyme:

1. The Rabbit hole (make a loop with the one end).
2. The Rabbit comes up the hole (bring the other end through the loop).
3. The Rabbit comes up and around the tree (the second end goes around the first end)
4.  then back down the hole (the rope goes back into the loop)

Another sailing knot, the Bowline on a Bight, is simple to tie once you are shown how but is hard to describe in words.  It can be used for a foothold and has the advantage that it neither slips nor binds. It is made by forming a blight and then forming a loop in the bight. The bight is passed through the small loop. The bight is then spread out and passed around the core of the knot.

Sailing knots are easy for everyone to learn and are one of the first skills that you will get taught in a sailing course,  but are also easy to forget, so they should be practised often as they are important for crew safety and to keep the yacht undamaged. Once you’ve learnt a few simple knot tricks, learning more advanced knot techniques is plain sailing.

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