Sailing in Paradise

Aus dem Vorwort: In our fast paced world, there is something quite magical about stepping on board a boat and entering a different space and time afloat. It's a feeling I never tire of and I've done an awful lot of it! I've been lucky enough to sail to many parts of the world on my own boat and though I'd like to think I've seen a lot, it takes only a cursory glance at a map of the world, a conversation over a beer with other fellow voyagers, a quick flick through National Geographic, to make me realise this world is a big place and there are just too many places to get to in my lifetime. Like everyone else I need to work, allot time to other things, and somehow survive it all. Ergo, the only way to get to sail around these places, a few of the 1001 places to sail before you die, is to charter a boat there. In 1977 I fell into yacht charter in Greece. I'd sailed down to Greece in an old 20-footer and I needed to work to top up the kitty. By the next year I was setting up a new flotilla sailing operation, which meant buying the boats and the equipment and getting everything down to Greece, to work there. Things were very different in those days and we had to make do to keep the boafs Boing. Spares came out with new charterers and repairs to the boats were carried out as best we could. When a mast broke we swapped it for the one on the lead boat and had to motor around with the fleet for two weeks until a new mast was shipped out. Over the intervening years I've kept in touch with many of the people who were involved with yacht charter in those early days and have kept tabs on the world of charter. Many of those old friends are still involved in running charter companies, skippering yachts in various parts of the world and running yacht service companies. Lots of these people have provided valuable insider information for this book. A sailing holiday doesn't have to cost as much as you might think. After all, you are like a snail carrying your own home around with you, and most excursions are done under your own steam. You can cook on board or treat yourself to a meal ashore depending on your whims and your budget. And all around you will be the biggest swimming Pool in the world. I hope this book answers some of your questions or at least points you in the right direction. More than that, I hope this book fires you up to go sailing somewhere in the world. If there is one thing that hasn't changed through all the years I've been sailing, it is the sheer joy all of us feel from sailing a boat in foreign climes. There is something about hopping on board a boat and sailing off into the blue that cannot be duplicated. If this book smoothes your way, I've done my job. Rod Heikell South Pacific & London 2009