Kayaking in Asia

J boats are racing keel-boats measured according to their hulls. J-1, the first model, was designed and built in summer 1975 by Rod Johnstone at his home in Stonignton, Connecticut. This boat, called “Ragtime”, would serve as the basis for some 5,200 future designs. Today, Portsmouth, Rhode Island is the center of manufacture. Johnstone’s pioneering J-24 model has an LOA of 7.32 m, an LWL of 6.10 m, a beam of 2.71 m, a hull weight of 1,600 kg and a 261 sq ft sail area with a 100% headsail.

The very first regatta to feature J boat racing was Key West in 1978. 20 boats competed. Other J boats include the International J-22, which usually involves a crew of 3-4 and is of a fixed keel design which means that older boats can compete on equal terms with newer versions. Its “class jib” means that it possess a big spinnaker, a mainsail and a non-overlapping jib. The International J-22 can plane on runs and reaches. Since it was created in 1983, more than 1,600 J-22s have been built and sail in 65 fleets in 18 countries. The 2004 World Championship race was graced with the presence of a staggering 130 boats.

Rod Johnstone perfected his design for J boat racing with the J-27, manufactured between 1983 and 1992. Its overall length is 8.38 m, beam 2.6 m, displacement 3,800 lb, draft 1.5 m and length at the waterline 7 m. Its belowdecks headroom is 1.4 m, standard water capacity 5 gallons and lead keel of 1,530 lbs. The J-27 is still raced under the auspices of various regional fleet authorities covering parts of the USA, Canada and South Africa. The current class president is Louis Johnson and the treasurer is Doug Davies.

The current situation of J boat racing is very positive. Regatta management and racing regulations have been improved resulting in bigger and better events, such as those organised by Midwinters XX. Championship organisers have been returning to the old sailing venues that made the J boat great. San Francisco hosted the 1997 North American and 1998 World Championships. Corpus Christi in Texas and Newport, Rhode Island have both been awarded major competitions in recent years.

Older J boats, some them now over 30 years old, are being improved and fixed up so as to continue conforming to class specs. The comparatively low price of second hand boats has meant that less well-to-do people can get into the arena of competitive racing. Once upon a time, such a hobby was the strict demesne of the rich.

The J brand has expanded into many other areas, such as official merchandise, photography and art which capture beautifully the thrill of sailing the boats either for racing purposes or just for relaxation.

Boat shows are one of the best ways to enjoy the boating life, especially if you are an enthusiast, you can never go wrong with going to the Kansas City Boat Show. The City has been showcasing the most popular events in boating. The Kansas Sports, Boat and Travel Show offers the best exhibits in the US. From there you can enjoy everything about boating and even camping and riding sports vehicles.

But the best part is the boat show. They offer the biggest consumer show of Boats and everything about marine products. It showcases of over 400 boat models from the leading dealers in the country.

The admission fees are commonly the same as most boat shows around the country. You can get in for just $9, and for children under 12, they can also tag along with you. The show hours vary; you might want to check on the latest hours to get accurate show times. You can get a complimentary yearlong subscription to various boating magazines such as Field and Stream, Outdoor Life/Boating Life and Yachting Magazine all for free.

Boasting of up to 7 acres of display room, it has the best yachts, pontoons, ski boats, and other personal water crafts, everything is covered including accessories for various boating needs. One of the attractions features on the 2008 show was:

Sea Lion Splash Show

* One of the highlights in the Boat show, it has sea lions that were not feasibly better to be returned to the wild because if injuries, old age, or cannot provide to hunt their food. Their home, Squalus gave them a permanent home for sea lions for the rest of their lifespan.

* The show is presented in a setting of a tropical climate. With rocks, foliage, two pools and palm trees, they can be observed in an outdoor pool and another can be viewed from under water. There is also a top view to the pool, giving you a better understanding on how they go on with their natural lives. The trainer, surfer Joe, can give you a 30 minute comedic act to educate on their natural habits. Also the sea lions will perform various ad-libs even without being prompted, giving them a chance to also give out a comedic atmosphere with their mischief.

* Before the show ends, you can have time spending with sea lions. You can visit them at show times or not.

Water Toys

* There is also room for the kids in the annual show. Aviva water toys offer the best of the best toys that you can use for your water escapades, they offer almost all backyard and open water toys which can be suitable even for adults.

Notable seminars on this years’ show were Make-a-wish kid’s pond, Wichita photo contest, Hunting simulation, Traveling Photo Display. They are all located within the Arena building, all sponsored by Timber Tina. All of them are continuous features, so they might also be showcased on the next boat show.

Hotel Accommodation

* There are many nearby hotels that you can stay in. here are some on a list. Best Western Park City, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn Suites, Park City Days Inn and Super 8 Motel, all of them have complete amenities so you won’t have any hassle while being there.

Parking

* You can get a parking space available for you. Although they are privately owned lots, the rates only range from 5 to 8 dollars. They are all available anytime and will admit more parking spaces for cars for attendees on the Sports Show. There is a Metered street parking available, it offers free parking during nights and up to weekends. With all that parking, there are still more, there are many surface parking lots scattered through the town.

The next show will be held on H. Roe Bartle Hall on January 7-11 2009. There will be more boats and accessories. You can then again enjoy numerous fishing seminars. Also there will be boat racing that are controlled by remotes, kids fishing and much more. There will also be more contests and giveaways next year, don’t pass up the opportunities and check out the latest news on the Kansas City Boat Show.

Cigarette speed boats are the top of the line, high performance style everyone wants in a speed boat. The power is unmatched by any other for the general public to purchase. We’ve put together a few examples for you to utilize before you go shopping for one of these high end boats. Hopefully, it will give you a better feel of just what you’ll be getting yourself into when owning a Cigarette speed boat.

The Cigarette Revolution 42

If you want a Cigarette Revolution 42 prepare to get all kinds of attention from on lookers. Definitely a beautiful sight to see on the waters, the Revolution 42 attracts everyone who passes by. The graphics alone are enough to look stylish, but the speed boat itself is one to remember. The lower deck normally seats around eight to ten people comfortably for any occasion. Looks like you’ll have a lot of get togethers if you own one of these bad boys.

The 38′ Cigarette Top Gun

Interesting graphics with the Road Runner animation and Wiley Coyote give off a festive look to the Top Gun edition. Sit back and enjoy the five hundred horsepower this speed boat delivers. Expect to pay anywhere from a hundred grand to about a hundred and fifty grand, depending on all the extra features you decide to get with the Cigarette Top Gun. You want fast? Getting one of these with twin powered action will leave you with 1,000 horsepower for a race across the water. So get ready for some fun.

The 36′ Cigarette Racing Gladiator

One look at this beauty and it will definitely demand your respect instantly. The Cigarette Racing Gladiator is one of the sleekest looking speed boats you’ll ever see on the water. With 750 horsepower, an unbelievable stereo system, great looking designs and filled with friends the Gladiator will be an enjoyable ride for anyone you invite. If you like lots of color, top speeds, and a comfortable ride then this is the speed boat for you.

The Overall Analysis

Anytime you ever hear anyone talking about this company plan on hearing nothing but good things. They’ve been around for years and even though they are a little more in price, they’ll be around for many years to come. So if you are really serious about getting a new stylish boat, then it has to be one of these Cigarette speed boats.

Sports are essential part of a healthy daily routine. Sports do not only exercise the body muscles, but also deliver freshness and keep active. India has a great sporting history as there are many sports like Kabaddi, Wrestling, and Swimming etc., which are the important elements of Indian culture. Basically sports are of two types – indoor and outdoor. Indoor sports include the games like Billiards, Chess, etc whether the outdoor games have Cricket, Football, and Wrestling etc. In ancient time the people of India had many interesting sports for their entertainment and refreshment, especially outdoor sports. In fact, some sports have their origin in the roots of Indian culture like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and boat racing etc.

In present Indian sports scenario, Cricket is the most prominent sport in which India has an excellent track record. Football is another popular game in some parts of India, but Cricket has more popularity among the Indians. There are some world level sporting events in India, but most of them are devoted to Cricket. Also there are events for other games like Hockey Premier League. India has hosted many international sporting events as Hockey World Cup, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship in the past.

Apart from Cricket, Indians have delivered some excellent knocks in International sports. Indians have won many medals in Commonwealth and Asian games. In fact, Indians are the world champions in the games like Chess, Billiards etc. They were also the world Hockey champions for many times in the past. In tennis and shuttling there are some brilliant talents in India. Currently Delhi is going to host its first Commonwealth games in 2010. Indian Premier League is a well known sporting event in India, which is among the most successful domestic events in international level.

Many sporting authorities are working towards the wellness of the sports in India. Sporting bodies get aids from the government of India for developing the infrastructure and nurturing the growing talent. India has some world level stadiums like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Major Dhyanchand stadiums etc. which have standard facilities world sports persons. These bodies are supposed to arrange the basic requirements for their concerned sports. Some legendary sports persons from India made a great impact on world stage. Major Dyanchand from hockey, Sachin Tendulkar from cricket, Pulela Gopichand from shuttling, Abhinav Bindra from shooting, Geet Sethi and Pankaj Advani from Billiards, V Anand from chess are among some of the sports persons who left a grand impact in international sports arena.

As India has some world level athletes and sports persons, they are very few as compared to other countries and population of India. Sporting authorities should concentrate on developing new talent from the roots. More sporting events should be organized to promote the sports in low levels. Sports persons have to move towards big cities for better facilities, since in there is the lack of basic requirements in towns. Still Indians have to prove their capabilities in Olympics, the greatest sporting event in international scenario. Indians have won very few personal medals in Olympics. Lack of basic requirements, fundamental facilities and promotional sporting events in root level are the main reasons behind the failure of Indian athletes in the big events like Olympics.

Endurance Boat Racing is the ability to achieve and maintain the following skills in boating:

o Staying power
o Patience
o Survival
o Stamina
o Fortitude
o Continued existence

Most popular Boat Racing Categories:

o Offshore
o Open cockpit
o Closed cockpit
o Formula 1
o Fresh water lake
o Kayak
o Ski boat endurance

Driving an F1 powerboat is like piloting a fighter jet. Take a seat inside the fully enclosed safety capsule of a F1 powerboat and go at full throttle; if it were not for being on the water you would think that you were in a fighter jet over Iraq.

The propellers of these water crafts are specially designed. They are secrets of the trade and one of the many parts of the powerboat that design plays in winning. This is referred to as a ‘black art’ of the sport. Water is one of the hardest materials to include in any form of technical analysis, thanks to the way the water is changing as the propeller is pushing the boat across the surface at one-hundred-miles-per-hour. This multifaceted surface is why the propeller design is kept secret.

Choosing the right propeller; teams can often bring six propeller designs to a race, and will make their final choice as the boat is being put into the water, keeping its design secret from the competition.

Fresh water Lake power boat racing; like the Memorial, 300 Mile Endurance Race from Crazy Beach at Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu, Arizona. The event will once again be sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA), and it is expected that a very large number of teams will enter to try and break the APBA Endurance Record of 5 Hours 13 Minutes to cover the 300 miles set at last year’s event. These type endurance boat races are held all over the world.

Kayak events in Port Lincoln’s Water Warriors became registered members of Dragon Boat South Australia with a paddling group of eighteen. Also the 10th Australian Masters’ Games took place on the River Torrens in Adelaide in October, 2005. They trained fighting elements such as hail, rain, and sunshine to race against the clock testing their endurance.

A final endurance boat racing is ski boat racing in which a team of skiers compete in a relay type race. These skiers compete in a barefoot skiing completion to prove their team is the most dominant and consistent. They compete on lakes plus rivers, in smooth and rough water.

Each boat contains a team of four to six barefoot-skiers plus a judge. The race proceeds relay-style with team members taking turns bare footing at speeds of 40-55 miles per hour. When one goes down, he is replaced. The competition lasts for a distance of twenty to forty miles. The purpose of the race is to test the endurance of the team for the length of the itinerary.

Only the boats that conform to a particular class can participate in off shore power boat racing. These boats are usually the expensive and large models that are specially built for durability and speed and under the pounding ocean waves which can be quite unpredictable.

Taking part in off shore power boat racing involves expending large amounts of money on fuel. It burns fuel up very fast taking into account the speed of the boat and the distance covered. Power boats are expensive and the cost of the competition is high. People who participate in power boat racing are participating in what is called an elite sport. Power racing is a team sport and is usually sponsored. It is supported and funded by both commercial sponsors and private funding. However, it is still considered to be an amateur sport.

Off shore boat racing is actually a regulated sport. Initially, its focus was on endurance racing but now it has moved nearer to circuit type of racing format. This is sport played on an international level with races being held all around world before crowning the season winner. This way, this sport is very similar to formula one racing. The Union International Motonautique, its governing body is in Monaco. In Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the UIM regulated class 1leads the offshore powerboat racing while in the United States the racing is split between the UIM/APBA/SBI and the OSS. The American Power Boat Association (APBA) has the sole authority to hold UIM events and this includes the Divisionals, North American Championship, the worlds and the nationals.

A powerboat championship is more or less like Formula1 car racing. Powerboat racing in its grand prix style has increased its scope since its inauguration in the year 1981. The season held in 2006 had 27 drivers competing in 12 teams. At a time, there were 24 boats competing in a race. As is in Formula1 racing, championship points are supposed to be earned on the way.

The offshore boat racing has a race course with a 350 meter circuit, typically marked out on a river, lake or a sheltered bay and has multiple turns. Speeds can range up to 170kmph depending on the power boat class. In this kind of racing, usually the speeds are around 140kmph. The longest power boat races usually last up to 45 minutes.

It is a little difficult to find out about the occurrences of racing events. On-line magazines and periodicals are now trying to address issues related to offshore boat racing. H2O Full Throttle, one of the latest magazines along with other special publications like World of Powerboats and Extreme Boats and television channels on extreme sports are constantly providing information regarding this sport.

It wasn’t until I was eighteen that I had my first trip in a racing sailboat. I was crewing (well, I thought I was crewing…) in a club race off Rhode Island. And on that day I caught the bug. I guess I was something of a late starter compared to many kids these days but never a day goes by without my thinking of being out on the ocean in a fast racing yacht. And I certainly never thought I’d be producing my own racing sailboat plans.

Dreams DO come true

And last year reality even exceeded my dreams. I hit the waves in a boat I designed myself. Yep. From start to finish. I didn’t build it all myself, I had help with that but the design was all mine and I’m very proud of her. She’s thirty eight feet from stem to stern and I try to get out in her, with my family, every weekend in the season.

How it became possible

It would never have been possible without the new 3d boat design software that’s now on the market. I could never have afforded a professional designer to produce the racing sailboat plans that I had in my mind. And I bet there’d have been plenty of disagreements about what’s right and what’s wrong.

Evaporation

No, designing it for myself was the best thing I ever did. The yacht conforms perfectly to what I’d had in my mind for many years. So many years in fact that I ‘d given up all hope of being able to own such a vessel. But it’s funny how, once you get hooked on designing a boat for yourself, how all the other minor inconveniences (like actually building it!) seem to evaporate. It took over two years to build and, by judicious use of second-hand parts and other reconditioned kit, I managed to keep the cost down to a manageable level. All members of the family had a hand it building it and fitting it out and it’s brought us together as a family.

There’s no doubt about it, from so many perspectives, producing my own racing sailboat plans was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’d recommend it to anybody.

As with any form of organized racing, there are rules and regulations that need to be applied and followed. Boat racing is no exception especially when safety comes into play. Due to the high speeds, boat racers are at high risk for accidents and potential drowning making boat racing safety equipment a necessity.

Not all racing boats are required to have the same safety equipment and vary upon the type of racing or division they are classified under. Nevertheless, personal safety equipment is a must for all boat racing drivers. Some of the major personal boat safety equipment required are:

o Crash Helmet: Must meet all guideline racing specifications with clear identification of such and must be worn at all times on the water unless docked or under towing conditions.
o Helmet Restraint: Approved commercially manufactured straps must be used to secure helmet to drivers head.
o Neck Collar: Must be on at all times while on the water and meet all guideline specifications.
o Eye Protection: Must be on at all times while on water and meet all guideline specifications. Goggles or full face shields are acceptable but standard corrective eyewear or sunglasses alone is not permitted per boat racing safety equipment.
o Corrective Eyewear: At qualification of racing, all drivers must submit either their driver’s license or competition driver’s license in order to see if corrective eyewear is required. If corrective eyewear has been indicated, as a requirement, driver must wear proper corrective eyewear at all times while on the water.
o Medical Tags: All drivers must carry on their body medical identification tags, to be worn around the neck secured under driving suit.
o Ballistic Shorts: When traveling at high speeds on water there is risk of crashing causing serious injury. Ballistic shorts help to protect delicate body parts.
o Driving Suit: Must be made of non-flammable material, long sleeved with closured cuffs, bare the official NDBA logo patch on the upper left front panel or on upper left sleeve, and meet all other specifications for division. Cotton socks and fireproof shoes must also be worn.
o Gloves: fire retardant
o Life Jacket: Both capsule and non-capsule boat styles must wear floatation devices that meet the qualification specifications at all times while on the water.

Personal Safety gear is just one aspect of the boat racing safety equipment required. There is numerous other safety equipment required that also protects the driver in case of accidents. All boats are required to have approved secondary breathing equipment on board and drivers must wear a five-point safety harness. The interior of the boat must have no less then ? inch of foam padding and specified mounting brackets and bolts must securely mount everything. Fire extinguishers, fuel shut off valves, kill switches, paddles and parachutes are just a small amount of some of the requirements.

Boat racing drivers have a specific assortment of gear to help them in the occurrence of an accident. All boats prior to hitting the water must pass a thorough inspection for all boat racing safety equipment. With careful evaluations and constant upgrading, boat racing is less dangerous then it once was.

Do you enjoy sailing and have often thought about doing it competitively? Are you motivated by the thrill of winning? If you are ready to take your sport to the next level, then here are some sail boat racing rules you need to know!

The basic rules are built on three guiding principles:

*Good sportsmanship

*Fair Sailing

*Help in times of danger

Failure to maintain these three basic principles can get you banned from competing altogether, so you want to keep these in mind. Aside from that, there are 10 main rules you need to know. Here is a brief description of the rules. For a more exhaustive description, please refer to the official rules manual.

1. When approaching another boat, the boat on the starboard-tack has the right of way. The boat on port-tack must give way.

2. When on the same tack and overlapping each other, the windward boat shall always give way to the leeward boat. Remember, whether you agree or not with the sail boat racing rules, they have been written to provide safety for you and your fellow sailors.

3. When on the same tack and not overlapping, a boat that is overtaking another boat must change course to avoid a collision.

4. When tacking, you must stay clear of all other boats.

5. Avoid contact with all boats, even if you do have the right of way. Just remember, when you are sailing, it is just as much your responsibility as your fellow sportsmen to stay safe and avoid danger.

6. If you have the right of way and are preparing to make a turn, you must give the other boats the opportunity to give way.

7. When reaching the two-length zone from a mark, you must give overlapped boats the room to round the obstruction on the inside.

8. If crossing the starting line before the start, you must start again by returning behind the line and starting over. Again remember, the sail boat racing rules have been written for the safety of all and fair competition.

9. If while racing, you hit a mark, you are required to take a penalty by making one turn which includes one tack and one jibe. Remember it is your responsibility to make sure the turn is completed safely, giving way to other boats.

10. If fouling another boat during the race, you must take a penalty by making two turns which include two tacks and two jibes. Turns must be made in the same direction and again, it is your responsibility to complete these turns safely.

Sometimes, in the heat of competition, the sail boat racing rules could seem unfair or look like they are giving an unfair advantage. But they were designed under calmer situations and written to keep everyone safe. Abiding by them will give you a better experience and protect you, whether you win or lose. Good sailing!

River kayaking is one of the many sports that offers us the true benefits of getting out doors and enjoying the beauty of nature and the fresh air. Whether or not you are experienced at river kayaking, you have to keep in mind that safety is of paramount importance, when out on the water. Unfortunately many accidents occur on the water, and you really do not want to spoil your summertime fun.

Regardless of your level of experience with river kayaking, a life jacket or flotation vest is one of the most vital pieces of equipment that must accompany you. The life jacket is one of those items that could indeed save your life, if something happens to you and you cannot swim or remain afloat due to some unforeseen circumstance or occurrence. It has happened before that somebody has bumped their head and become unable to swim to safety, due to being unconscious or even semiconscious.

Depending on the environment where you choose to go river kayaking, a helmet may also come in handy, especially if the river concerned has many rocks and faster flowing water. In the event that you capsize, the helmet will protect your head from bumps against these rocks or the river bottom. If the river is not too rough you may be able to get away without the helmet, but you shouldn’t chance that in faster flowing waters.

Another passive danger that many of us are not aware of when rather kayaking, or even outdoors is that of the sun, therefore a peek, or even wide brimmed hat combined with a strong protection sunscreen is necessary to protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. If you really wanted to you could also bring your sunglasses along, however just be aware that you might lose them in the water, if you capsize.

Should you be going to a remote area, for your river kayaking adventure, ensure that you take sufficient amounts of drinking water, to prevent from dehydration and heat exhaustion. The water in the river may not necessarily be fit for drinking, and you did not want to risk becoming sick, whilst enjoying your day out in nature.

One should also familiarize themselves with the environment in which they go kayaking, especially possible currents and danger areas of the river or environment. Unless fully experienced it would be a good idea to steer clear of these danger areas, to prevent any possible injury or unpleasant accidents or experiences.

River kayaking can provide some of the best fun and exercise, however we have to place safety as the number one priority, so that we may enjoy the experience without any unfortunate or unnecessary mishaps or accidents, which could in any way be avoided by proper planning and sensible behavior when outdoors.