An engine problem destroyed by sailing holiday. What shall I do?

Written by Alexander Vournas


Continued from page 1

The morning of Day 6 dawns - and you are ready to sail, BUT a minor detail now crosses your mind -repparttar only destination open to you is back to your original departure Port or Marina as you only had a week's holiday, your flight home departs tomorrow morning early, and you need to be back in that port that evening !!

What an we learn from this story? However reputablerepparttar 133922 yacht owner/agency, however newrepparttar 133923 yacht and its equipment, however well maintained, however careful you may be - this sort of thing can happen to anyone, anywhere. Just changerepparttar 133924 names and places and a similar problem can arise. Don't forget also that you can be gale-bound in harbour for days on end.

Can you protect yourself against such a happening, and what should you do when it arises?

The answer torepparttar 133925 first question is NO, andrepparttar 133926 suggested reaction torepparttar 133927 second is: - relax (difficult though this may at first seem); be patient; try to understandrepparttar 133928 elements of human nature which will be displayed by all around you - your crew andrepparttar 133929 "outsiders".

You could react likerepparttar 133930 skipper in our story and make endless irate phone calls to everyone you can think of or, as we suggest, you can acceptrepparttar 133931 facts as they are -repparttar 133932 problem has arisen.

1. Try and makerepparttar 133933 best of a bad job. Explorerepparttar 133934 locale where you are "marooned". Make short trips by water-taxi, taxi, hire-car, on foot or by local ferries and keep your crew amused and remaining in holiday mood, i.e. shopping, sightseeing, swimming, enjoying special lunches and dinners, etc.

2. Remember, you will certainly be compensated by your charter agent/owner forrepparttar 133935 lost sailing days, provided you take a few simple steps to ensure that your claim will be met.

3. Contact your charter company immediately, PREFERABLY IN WRITING, if it is at all possible, e.g. by fax or e-mail, and inform them of what has happened and that you will contact them again. Give them a telephone or fax number where you can be contacted.

4. NEVER LEAVE THE VESSEL UNATTENDED OR OUT OF SIGHT - Vangelis would love you to give him an excuse or "cover story" for not having come back torepparttar 133936 boat when promised.

5. Be understanding of Vangelis's problems - he will do his best if you are polite and patient. Tip his assistant - that will work wonders.

6. When all is well again andrepparttar 133937 boat is repaired - contact your agent again, by fax or e-mail preferably, tell him that all is well and tell him that a FORMAL CLAIM for compensation for loss of holiday will be forthcoming.

7. When you finally return home makerepparttar 133938 formal claim, in writing, detailingrepparttar 133939 minutes details ofrepparttar 133940 saga as it unfolded - what happened,repparttar 133941 actions you took,repparttar 133942 reactions ofrepparttar 133943 local agent and his employed contacts.

Make sure you have allrepparttar 133944 paperwork involved, especiallyrepparttar 133945 contract documents- do not leave them onrepparttar 133946 boat! A sensible thing to have done would have been to look back inrepparttar 133947 Ship's Log Book (if there is any), to see if previous charterers had run into similar problems.

If an accident was part ofrepparttar 133948 cause ofrepparttar 133949 problem make sure that other people who may have been involved are brought intorepparttar 133950 act, and statements are taken for witnesses.

We can not really advise you as to whether, or not, you will accept any offered compensation - whether it be cash or substitute holidays - THAT CHOICE IS YOURS. Only you know how you and your crew felt aboutrepparttar 133951 happenings, whether you maderepparttar 133952 best of a bad job atrepparttar 133953 time, whether everyone did their best to mitigate your losses and disappointments, and whetherrepparttar 133954 offered compensation is adequate.

Whether you accept cash or a replacement holiday will probably depend on how much holiday time you and your crew have left.

Alexander M. Vournas



Alex. Vournas is the owner and managing director of Almi Yachts ltd, a yacht charter company in Greece. He is also the web designer and SEO of www.almiyachts.com


Mazatlán

Written by Yvon Marier


Continued from page 1

Nightlife The nightlife in Mazatlán starts late and will live up to your expectations. Many ofrepparttar nightclubs and discos do not even open until 9 or 10 pm and close around 3 or 4 am. A large selection of dancing, live music, Mexican Fiestas and Theme Night Spectaculars, and festive watering holes to choose from. Music at local bars, sport bars and discotheques ranges from easy listening piano bar music for a quieter evening to mariachi groups or tambora bands. Most places don’t require cover charge, but some do. Many bars offer ‘ladies nights’ duringrepparttar 133921 week with free admissions and drinks. One thing for sure, you will love Mazatlán after dark! Event There's always something happening in Mazatlán. They have several activity events every month. What to See Acuario Mazatlán (Mazatlan Aquarium) - located half a block east of Avenida del Mar at Avenida de los Deportes #111. Over 250 species from aroundrepparttar 133922 world of fresh and saltwater marine life from colorful reef, fish to moray eels. Interesting sea museum and an auditorium with film about sea life. Daily show of sea lion and exotic birds is presented several times everyday in an open-air amphitheater. There is an adjoining botanical garden with various tropical displays and small zoo with crocodile exhibit. Mazatlán's Aquarium, one ofrepparttar 133923 largest in Latin America, it's perfect for a family visit. Open daily 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m, admission is charged. Old Mazatlán Historical Zone -repparttar 133924 oldest part ofrepparttar 133925 city just inland from Playa Olas Atlas. Inrepparttar 133926 heart of Old Mazatlán isrepparttar 133927 large 19th-century cathedral with its high, yellow twin towers and beautiful statues inside. Two blocks south,repparttar 133928 attractive Plazuela Machado isrepparttar 133929 centre of a large historic area of Mazatlán. It's surrounded by unique sidewalk cafes and beautifully restored historic buildings such asrepparttar 133930 Teatro Ángela Peralta, built in 1860. Blocks of historical building structures and private residences including rows of town house with wrought-iron and stone trimlinerepparttar 133931 narrow streets. Cliff Divers -repparttar 133932 cliff divers are a tradition inrepparttar 133933 Old Mazatlán. They jump into a small shallow cove and come very close torepparttar 133934 rocks. The divers are not paid and they only jump for tips and for fun. This is also where families gather and enjoy food and snacks from street vendors, includingrepparttar 133935 fresh coconut drinks. Activities Mazatlán is famous for its sport fishing - especially for marlin, swordfish, sailfish, tuna and dorado (dolphinfish). There are plenty of fishing operators, all of whom should offer tag and release options. Water sports such as scuba diving, water-skiing, sailing, parasailing and boogie boarding are all available year-round. The best surfing is at Punta Camarón and 'Cannons', offrepparttar 133936 point nearrepparttar 133937 old fort on Paseo Olas Altas.

Guided Tour A tour guide is a good way to seerepparttar 133938 city highlights,repparttar 133939 history and several points of interest surrounding towns and area. If you want to enjoyrepparttar 133940 sights and best shopping of Mazatlán. We recomand Frank as your guide, he will meet you at your hotel, atrepparttar 133941 cruise ship dock or atrepparttar 133942 airport with a very comfortable, clean and air conditioned vehicle. He speaks English and Spanish, very friendly and knowledgeable aboutrepparttar 133943 city, and he will answer any of your questions. Visit his website at www.mazatlan-tours.com Jungle Tour -repparttar 133944 tour boat will passrepparttar 133945 harbor featuringrepparttar 133946 largest shrimp, tuna fleets inrepparttar 133947 country, Mexican navy boat,repparttar 133948 Pacifico Brewery,repparttar 133949 shrimp packing plants andrepparttar 133950 thermoelectric plant where power is produced forrepparttar 133951 state of Sinaloa. You will cruise through mangroves-lined waterways and inlets, and up to Isla de la Piedra (Stone Island). It is ideal for bird and nature lovers. You could seerepparttar 133952 Mexican Brown Pelican, Sea Hawk, Blue Heron, Osprey and other exotic water fowls in this protected wildlife refuge. The tour stops at a native farm for a snack. You will go for an wonderful ride throughrepparttar 133953 coconut plantation to a private beach. Where you would enjoy sunbathing, horseback riding, or a stroll downrepparttar 133954 beach looking for seashells and mayberepparttar 133955 largest sand dollars. A delicious charcoal-grilled fish, Mexican rice, homemade tortillas, and coconut candy desert will be served. On your return, get ready to enjoyrepparttar 133956 Pelican and Frigate bird show.

Recommended Reading "Mazatlan IS Paradise" by Charles A Hall. This book is available at La Vina church and Mazatlán Book and Coffee Shop in Mazatlán, also online at www.iuniverse.com or www.amazon.com

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This article is just a small portion of what Mazatlán has to offer. There is so much about its history, beach, real estate, rental, medical, dining, what to see and do, events, wild life rescrue, charity, fishing, bird watching and much more.

I highly recomand readingrepparttar 133957 book mentioned above "Mazatlan IS Paradise". Then you will fall in love with this city as I did. Whatever your passion, this isrepparttar 133958 place. Mazatlán, where you can still experiencerepparttar 133959 "real Mexico" with friendly people, very good food and activities to choose from, and nice long streches of sunny beach and spectacular sunsets.

About the author: Yvon Marier, waiting to retire and moving full time to Mazatlán. For more info about your travel booking, go to: http://www.easytraveling.net




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