Novice sailor recounts Caribbean experience

Oct 21st, 2009
Last week, Seth Stevenson wrote on Slate.com of his experience in learning to sail a yacht.

He has continued his story by telling how, after his initial apprehension, he has come to love the catamaran he hired in Tortola.

Mr Stevenson explained how he, his partner and two friends took the vessel to the Caribbean wreck site of the Rhone, which sunk 130 years ago in a storm.

The attraction is part of a national park and is only accessible by boat, with visitors able to tie their yacht to a buoy and see the remains of the ship with the help of their snorkel gear.

He said the best thing about the luxury catamaran is its "trampoline" - the mesh at the front of the boat that stretches between its twin hulls.

"It's the perfect spot to lie down and suntan," he suggested. "Or read a book. Or watch the stars. Or - if you're daring - you can use the tramp to bounce skyward, and then tuck into a cannonball dive off the bow."

Brits looking for a similar experience can choose to hire a bareboat, which they pilot themselves, or a crewed luxury yacht such as El Capi III - a 62-foot sailboat with two such trampolines.

Posted by Chris Yates