Yacht is a light sailing vessel typically used for recreation around the world. Yacht is generally perceived to serve pleasure purposes and has luxury connotations to it. These days they are termed as power boats which have motors attached. Special luxury yachts are designed for sports. The motor can also be switched off if one is sailing for leisure and wants a peaceful time on water.
Yachting is a term given to recreational boating. It has become a luxurious way of spending holidays and vacations as rich families buy their personal boats and hit the sea. These lavish vessels have a variety of facilities on board for convenience. Competitive sailing has also become a famous class of water sports. Racing yachts are built to be extremely light for strategic purpose.
Cruising is a step further from recreational yachting and involves travelling on boat and going to places. Cruising is a whole new lifestyle for those who find comfort and peace at sea. You live on the boat for extended periods of time and visit new destinations for pleasure. It requires passion, skill, knowledge of meteorology and navigation and a lot of planning before you take up a sea voyage.
Yacht racing is becoming a popular sport everywhere and families and companies sign up their teams for annual racing regattas. This sport is full of thrill and requires a test of equipment, intellect and skill in maneuvering safety. There are numerous racing events conducted every year.
There are two types of yacht racing events; harbor or buoy racing and offshore racing. Buoy racing is conduced in protected waters and lasts for a shorter time period. Mostly the event ends in few hours. On the other hand offshore racing is a bigger event and takes several days and even months. It involves going into open water and travelling long distances around the globe. This is a real test of skill and nerves.
Several racing events like Dartmouth regatta and The America’s Cup are held for which teams sign up weeks in advance. There are events for offshore as well as buoy racing. People get special yachts designed for such events. Louis Vuitton Trophy is also a famous one. It is a series of match race regattas. Eight to ten teams from various countries take part in each event of the series. This is a much awaited trophy for lovers of Yachting lifestyle.