Advantages: Fun, safe, easy to sail, cheap. Builds confidence. Beats TV and Playstation for real thrills! Disadvantages: Some parental commitment required. Too small for you to have a go!
...The International Optimist, or’ Oppy’ as it is known, is an 8 foot, single-handed pram type dinghy designed in 1947 specifically for children under the age of 16.
Since it’s introduction it has been phenomenally successful. There are an estimated 250,000 worldwide and over 60 countries are members of the International Class Association. The Oppy provides the ideal learning platform for both boys and girls and is one of the few areas of sport where they can compete on equal terms.
I was lucky enough to have my first Oppy when I was 6 years old. My Dad actually built one in our garage from a set of plans. He also built 2 more from kits that I raced quite successfully for many years. Since then we have both been involved in teaching school and youth groups to sail and the Oppy is the best tool we have for this...
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Advantages: it's quick, fun and a supreme singlehander for all ability levels Disadvantages: Can be cold when you go in for that early swim
...the lower half of the mast. Thus making it very versatile and very quick to change the rig to suit the sailor.
S singlehanded - it makes you feel really independant, and you come away after a sail feeling really good about yourself. No one else can share the credit, or in some cases defeat; but it sets you targets, and when you beat them the feeling you get is undescribable.
E epidemic - once started it is is the most catching thing around. Forget the flu, this spreads 10 times as fast. Only start if you have the time to comit yourself to the sport, or everything else will start to suffer, as you just can't keep away from you laser.
R reliable - you don't want a boat that will break down on you whilst out on the water on a cold winters day, you want a strong well built boat. The laser requires very little maintainance, yet really...
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Advantages: Lightweight and ideal for adventure trips. Easy to errect Disadvantages: Noise of camping
...I used a Eurohike 220 to live in when I travelled eastern Europe for 3 months. Although I travelled in a car and didn't have to carry it, the size of the tent when folded was very important as their had to be room for all of our camping equiptment and 3 peoples luggage. This tent is extremely easy to put up, just fitting the poles though the outer waterproof cover, pegging down the inner section and the attaching the two together. Very easy to errect and take down. The first few times do take that little bit longer but once you have put it up and down a few times you get quicker at it. I would advise anyone who is giong to camp, anywhere, to take roll mats. you wouldn't think such a thin layer of foam would make too much difference, but it does. Once you are in your sleeping bag, on top of the roll mat, you can not feel the ground...
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To say that Europe on a Shoestring has been my Bible for the past three weeks would be an overstatement, but it was certainly very helpful and I would recommend it for any young first-time traveller. It is a comprehensive and amusing guide which makes it more
It's an awful burden for bands when they have a hit that gets played just as much as "The Final Countdown" did as it often seems to override any of their other musical accomplishments. This release is an impressive collection of Europe's best tracks as... more
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