| | |  Travel & Outdoors | June 2009 
Sailing with the Cabo Adventures America’s Cup Yacht Race Experience
 Carlanne McCrystal - National Travel Examiner
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| | Packed with adventure and excitement, Cabo Adventures offers tours and excursions that are as dynamic and diverse as the awe-inspiring surroundings of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California. Visit the Cabo Adventures' website at Cabo-Adventures.com | |
It was great fun being on an America’s Cup racing boat, the New Zealand 81, sailing and competing. It is so different being on a boat designed to race. I have sailed on, and raced in small local races, on a 32 foot or smaller sailboat. The experience is totally different.
There are 4 “grinders”, dual-armed winches that allow the spinnaker and sails to be winched in and out so that one can tack and jibe as needed to maneuver quickly. There are 2 “grinders” fore and 2 aft. Two people “grind” on each grinder stand. They stand facing each other, grasping the handles from the outside on one side and the inside on the other. When the crew calls out “hands on”, then “forward grind” and the two people grab the grinder handles and grind towards the bow. “Hold” and they stop ASAP. Then “grind back” and they grind briefly in reverse to tighten the sheets.
We “raced” another New Zealand boat loaded with tourists and easily won the first match. We cheered mightily as we crossed the “finish line” many lengths ahead of our competitor. Heady with the win, when the crews decided there should be a second “match”, it was an unspoken agreement on board to be gracious, enjoy this cruise and let the tourists have the win. We all did “grind” but without intensity and mostly to enjoy the sun and wind and waves. We heeled over with the sides touching the waves. There are raised “fins” down the middle of the boat so you lean against the sides and brace your feet against the fins to hold yourself in place as the boat heels over in the wind.
The crew is made up of very good looking young men, so enjoy the view, ladies. They are of various nationalities and accents galore. As I talked at length with a couple of the young men, this is a great way to keep up their sailing skills, earn a living, party hardy, and enjoy living in a warm and welcoming environment. If I were 30 again...
This is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys sailing. However, there is one caveat: if you are a photographer, leave your camera behind. They do not allow cameras on the boat, although they have a professional photographer who will take lots of pictures of you “grinding” and racing and sailing, etc. You can purchase these pictures when you are back on land, or via a website after you get home (just remember the date of the sail you went on and go to Cabo Adventures, click on the date and time of your sail and there are your pictures, orderable by CD or prints). But if you are like me and do not care to have your picture taken, this may not be the right activity for you. I saw such wonderful landscape from the boat and was regretful that I was unable to take pictures of the land, the sky, the water.
Important Tips:
1. Wear a hat with a chin strap so you do not lose it in the wind.
2. Wear Sunscreen. I took Neutrogena Dry-Touch SunblockSPF 70 with helioplex and was comfortable everywhere I put it (I forgot to put it on my face – duh!)
3. Enjoy the wind in your face and the spray of the water over the bow.
4. Do not bring your camera; they will make you put it in a dry bag and stow it below.
Carlanne is an independent travel consultant specializing in designing romance travel, honeymoons & destination weddings that are individualistic & unique experiences for her clients. Carlanne lived in Hawaii for 28 years & now lives in urban Seattle. Contact her at carlanne(at)topdawgtravel.com. |
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