Virginia Beach is way more than just your average beach town. With the world's longest pleasure beach, an award-winning boardwalk, a cosmopolitan downtown, more than 35 miles of ocean and bay beaches and the most visited nature park in the state, this is an exciting place to visit.
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| "Sailing, Take Me Away-" |
| Saturday, 31 July 2010 00:00 |
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They say that the happiest time for a sailor is when he/she first purchases his/her boat and when he/she sells it. What if it was possible to skip those hassles and hang onto that joie de vivre that is found in between-sailing? What if the ability to be a captain-carry the title with you where ever you go-was not far into the horizon? And what if you could turn this into a lifestyle without being rich and famous? All this is possible with Sail Time a fractional sailing company and community that is world wide. Captain Dave Wilbar, Norfolk's Sail Time Manager paints the picture of a cruiser: those who sail, anchor, and explore, while making friends along the way, "It is this idea that people feel they cannot get to, meanwhile some can justify spending $75 an hour on a jet ski somewhere. Sail Time gets you there without loosing your shirt." For instance, currently Sail Time is offering sailing from May to October on a Hunter 216 for $265 per month.
One can also compare a Sail Time membership to vacation ownership-minus the deed, and other fees. Members are able to bareboat charter at Sail Time's other bases located around the world with their newest base in Sydney, Australia. "People think that it's hard to sail and that you have to have a ton of money, but even a knucklehead like me can do it," chuckles Wilbar. For more information call the Sail Time office at 757-480-SAIL. Quote this article on your siteTo create link towards this article on your website, copy and paste the text below in your page. Preview :  Powered by QuoteThis © 2008 |
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Members can enjoy the added benefit of the American Sailing Association Certified Training Course, where the most novice sailor can go from zero to captain in a year (memberships are annual). "So, people can plan for that different type of vacation, like sailing around the BVI [British Virgin Islands] for ten days-sail, anchor, and enjoy," suggests Wilbar.
With two locations in Hampton Roads: Virginia Beach (Bay Pointe Marina) and Norfolk (Willoughby Marina) Sail Time manages to separate itself from other sailing charters through its membership. According to Wilbar, "Hampton Roads should be a sailing Mecca! Look at all this water!" While people sail to feel the freedom of the wind as their motor, the sun as their clock and the exuberance of being on the water, being a boat owner has its own ball and chain. The rule of thumb is that owning a boat will cost you anywhere from 15%-20% of the total cost of your boat per year to maintain. Then there is the added obligation that you have to sail after all those expenses to justify itself. But you can alleviate yourself of being responsible for maintenance, slip fees, and insurance with Sail Time, "It's just one monthly or annual fee, and members can sail as much or as little as they want."
"Many Sail Time members turn into boat owners. The good thing about that is they are certified and they are knowledgeable about the features they are looking for in a boat," says Wilbar. "For some reason the philosophy of how to buy a car doesn't apply to boats-people think the best deal with a boat is the cheapest one." Sail Time also offers a boat ownership program where owners are able to sublet their boats when it is not in use so that have to attitude goes out the window. Sail Time will take care of the marina fees, insurance and routine maintenance and servicing.