Essential Wakeboarding Equipment: What You Need For A Great Wakeboarding Experience

by Niall Pesci

Wakeboarding is such a great sport that many people are getting hooked. It provides a new dimension of opportunities where you can express themselves. An exciting sport giving you a whole new excitement, thrills, and fun all rolled into one. Almost anyone can experience this relatively new sports craze.

Getting the right gear together is the first step in wakeboarding. Make a start by knowing the basic equipment essential to wakeboarding. You can get familiar with those by getting in with the riders who have already their own gear. Alternatively there are some great resources online. Here are the basic equipments used in wakeboarding.

Wakeboard Boat

Have your boat modified before even trying to be a wakeboarder. Water skiers and wakeboarders have entirely different goals when it comes to wakes. Skiers, of coarse want no wakes. Wakeboarders want maximum wakes. You'll be surprised how much better you'll be if you give yourself a good wake.

Almost any boat can be a good wakeboarding boat, but if you have a good tournament inboard you can make an especially good wakeboard boat. Ski boats have the ultimate power and handling - all you need is "wake-making matter". Wake-making matter - literally matter that makes wake - is weight. Mostly all serious wakeboarders use a few giant bags of water that they generically refer to as Fat Sacs (which also happens to be a brand name). Two sacs, one on each side of the engine, is a good starting point. That will add about 600 pounds to your boat and at least a foot to your wake. If you find yourself just skipping across the wake like a stone on a pond, you need a bigger wake.

The next key to getting air is using an extended pylon. Most riders refer to these poles as Skylons (also another brand name). An extended pylon can get you good air on your half-cabs by providing a dramatic upward pull with little to no effort on your part. It will give you extra float time to really pop that move and the appearance of hang-time you're searching for. A big wake plus skylon equals real wakeboarder - automatic acceptance on the lake.

Ropes

Wakeboarding ropes made of Spectra, Spectra-Fusion and Tak have zero stretch, look virtually like shoestrings and weigh almost nothing. Nearly all-standard ropes come at 60 feet, which is a full 15 feet shorter than a ski rope, but can be custom-ordered to accommodate longer lengths.

Boards

Wakeboarders have their own boards. Like lawmen of the Old West had their own guns, you come to the boat all set - with your own board. Don't settle for the group board. It'll never feel quite like yours, and with the definition in styles today, you'll look like a kook riding your buddy's Mini Squirt if you weigh 100 pounds more. Also, the more you want to be a wakeboarder, the newer the board you should ride. Models get outdated quickly and so will you. New school rules!

Boots

It is not recommended to share boots just like sharing boards. You wouldn't wear your buddy's Air Jordans would you? And don't think that surf-straps are acceptable 'cause they're adjustable. They are antiquated relics, and unless you're doing tow-ins in Hawaii, you'll look stupid. Real wakeboarders wear boots, preferably high-tech models like the CWB Vert boot and Fulltilt XTC (very futuristic), custom boots like Bad Ass Bindings or Wiley's or top-of-the-line Hyperlite Storm Troopers or Liquid Force Super Suctions.

It is important to have them all if you're really serious to being a real wakeboard rider.

About the Author

Niall has been wakeboarding for 2 years and enjoys combining foreign travel and wakeboarding. Visit Wakeboarding Supplies for news, views and information about wakeboarding. http://www.Wakeboarding-Supplies.info

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Wakeboarding-Supplies.info

http://www.waterskisource.com

Enjoy Boating

by Julee Mitchelsin

Have you ever enjoyed the pleasure of spending an afternoon boating on a lake or an ocean? If so, then you know how fun boating can be. You know that there is nothing quite like the feeling of being on the water and enjoying time in beautiful weather.

Boating is a great activity for many reasons. First, it is great because it allows people to be outside in the beauty of nature. There is no better way to spend a spring, summer or warm fall day than boating. Not only do you get to be outside, but you also get to enjoy being in and on the water. Boating enables you to enjoy the warmth and the sun. It is necessary and helpful for people to get outside and boating is one of the best ways to do that.

Boating also provides time for family and friends to gather and enjoy the company of one another. Busy families can get away from the rush of work and activities and enjoy a quiet day away from all distractions. Boating can be a perfect activity that combines rest, beauty and fun. Friends can come together for a day or a weekend and enjoy renewed friendship and conversation during a special boating trip.

A great thing about boating is that it includes several different ways to have fun. Boating allows you to enjoy the quiet and peace of anchoring at a spot on the water or you can enjoy the wind in your face as you speed from one side of the water to another. For many people, boating also means swimming, tubing, and even waterskiing. Once you are out on the water there are so many ways to enjoy the day. You can anchor the boat and spend hour after hour jumping into the water and swimming. More adventurous people will want to try out a tube or a waterski to enjoy boating even more. Some will love the thrill of watching the tubers or the waterskiers from the safety of the boat. Whatever water activities sound fun to you, boating is a great way to enjoy them all.

If you have never learned how to handle a boat you can take lessons and learn how to lead your friends or family in a boating adventure. If you do not own a boat and are not sure if purchasing one is right for you, look for a family member or friend to lend you theirs for a weekend boating excusion. In no time you will be so excited about boating that you will want to purchase your own. Your family and friends will look to you to provide the endless hours of outdoor fun that boating is sure to provide.

About the Author

A lover of boating, Julee Mitchelsin advises everyone who loves to be outdoors to invest in a great boat. See if boating is right for you at www.fineboating.info

Great Places To Wakeboard Around The World

by Niall Pesci

Wakeboarding is a great boarding sport. Many have even dazzled by this sport - spectators and players alike. Many hotspots and specialized locations around the world ahve sprung up which cater not only to wakeboarding and wakeboarders but also other sports, offering vacation packages as well.

Below is a list of top-quality locations ideal for wakeboarding and other sports.

Costa Rica

AquaSki Adventures in Costa Rica - A ski paradise. However, their vacation consists of much more than just year round world-class water-skiing (behind a Ski Nautique Boat). It hosts quite a few people who are first time skiers and boarders (slalom and wakeboarders) and just as many who don't even ski at all! You can combine skiing, wakeboarding, barefooting, hiking, biking, rafting, language learning, taste testing, horseback riding, ATV riding, river floating and other tourist activities.

Mexico

Cancun Water-ski and Wakeboard - Offering water-ski and wakeboard instruction for all levels from beginner to pro. Slalom course and package deals available.

Canada

Bush's Sports Centre - Water-skiing, wakeboarding courses and clinics, equipment sales and rentals in Bala, Ontario, Canada.

Thailand

Phuketwake - Phuket wakeboard, Discount cable-ski package in Thailand

California

Seattle Watersports - The largest wakeboard and water-ski pros hop in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn2Wakeboard - San Francisco Bay Area wakeboard and water-ski instruction program. Group trips or lessons for singles

Willi's Water Ski Center - Lessons from beginner to professional in slalom, jump, trick, barefoot and wakeboard. Near Napa Valley. Lake Berryessa, CA.

Mission Bay Aquatic Center - Water-skiing, wakeboarding, other water sports. Courses and equipment rentals. San Diego, CA.

California Delta Waterway - Good water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, and camping spots in this 1,000 mile waterway. Marina and launch ramp listings.

Canyon Lakes - A community with water-ski and wakeboard clubs and events. Canyon Lake, CA.

California Skier - Salom and wakeboard instruction for all skill levels. Pro shop, boat sales. Lake Elsinore, CA.

Bay Area Water Ski Club - The Bay Area Water Ski, wakeboarding and foilboarding club is a nonprofit, non-competitive, recreational based club. The club features fun water sport events throughout the year including weekend camping, single day water skiing, houseboat trips, and instructional how-to events.

Florida

Pickos Ski and Wakeboards School - The Pickos Ski and Wakeboard School is the world leader in water ski/wakeboard vacations and instruction. They specialize in water-skiing and wakeboarding, and their main goal is to provide you with the very best in instruction and to give you a world-class water-ski/wakeboard experience.

O'Town Watersports - They coach all levels of water-skiing and wakeboarding from beginners to World Champions Dallas Friday, Leslie Kent, Rusty Malinoski and Danny Thollander. O'Town has multiple sliders and a kicker, along with 3 slalom courses to challenge all levels of wakeboarders or water-skiers. They believe in one-on-one coaching tailored specifically to each individual's needs with coaching/training programs that are extremely in-depth using both trampoline and weight training. Clients travel from all over the world to train with Their top riders/coaches for weeks on end. O'Town Watersports has a prime downtown Orlando location 10 minutes from the Orlando International Airport and 25 minutes from the Convention Center, Universal Studios and Disney.

England

Sheffield Cable - Wakeboard, slalom, trick and jump at North England's only cable water-ski site.

Aqua Ski Cable Tow Water Skiing and Wakeboarding - Cable tow water skiing facility in Skegness, Lincolnshire. Cable tow design, manufacture and servicing worldwide.

Portugal

Portugal International Waterski and Wakeboard Center - Located on a private lake, 1 hour east of Lisbon. Includes on-site club house, swimming pool, toilette, shower, and Correct Craft boat. Offers instruction with 3 slalom courses, 1 jump, and personalized coaching for the beginning to expert level.

France

Taxi des Mers - Skiing, wakeboarding for 3 to 77 year-olds on the French Riviera. Nice, France.

Ski West - Instruction in slalom, trick, jump skiing, wakeboarding, at all levels. Garennes sur Eure, France.

Brazil

Alphavillage - The eco resort Alphavillage has a lake with an extension of 2,100 feet, covering an area of 13,6 acres, perfect for water sports, such as slalom, jump, tricks and wakeboard. The eco resort has 2 Ski Nautique boats with PCM 320 HP Multiport engines, both equipped with Perfect Pass 6.0, and provides all the necessary gear. Regularly hosts international competitions.

There are more and more wakeboarding centers opening around the world Find one near you and start to enjoy the great sport of wakeboarding.

About the Author

Niall Pesci has been wakeboarding for 2 years and enjoys combining foreign travel and wakeboarding. Visit Wakeboarding Supplies for news, views and information about wakeboarding. http://www.Wakeboarding-Supplies.info

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Wakeboarding-Supplies.info

http://www.waterskisource.com

Cancun Vacations

Cancun is a paradise holiday destination located amongst the beautiful Mayan ruins of Mexico.

Cancun is a paradise holiday destination located amongst the beautiful Mayan ruins of Mexico. This is definitely a great holiday destination for both the young, and the young at heart. Those who love all kinds of water sports, eating, nightlife and shopping should definitely head for Cancun.
Cancun Island is only 14 miles long and less than a mile wide. This is why you are always near a beach here. You can enjoy the beaches with water skiing, renting a jet ski or perhaps soaring into the skies under a parasail. Or you could join the windsurfers on Islam Majors, or go exploring with a kayak or a paddleboat. Besides all this, there are also local outfitters who provide snorkeling and scuba trips to the various coral reefs. If water sports are just not up your alley, a Cancun vacation also proves to be suited for exploring some of the Yucatan Peninsula’s spectacular ruins, including Talcum, the seaside-facing blue lagoon and the sacred city of Chichen-Itza. Xcaret is another amazing water park that is suited on the sunken ruins of a Mayan port city.
Those who aren’t fond of sports can visit the many handsome and substantial malls found amongst the Cancun hotels. You will find everything from local craft galleries to international fashion chains like Ralph Lauren and Benetton. Those who prefer traditional shopping should head to downtown Cancun, the mainland part of the resort area, where there is a mix of stores, shops and flea markets in Avenida Tulum. You can find local toys, foodstuffs and beautiful souvenirs here. And once the sun goes down, Cancun lights up. The numerous clubs and discos here seep Latin, jazz, rock and salsa. If you are looking for a quiet night, you could head for the lobby bars of hotels for flamenco and jazz. The romantic can go to the numerous dinner cruises available that offer music and dancing on the waves. So just contact your travel agent for your Cancun vacation and pack your bag with clothes fit for the tropics, to enjoy yourself to the limits at Cancun.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cancun Hotels provides detailed information on Cancun, Cancun Hotels, Cancun Spring Break, Cancun Vacations and more. Cancun Hotels is affiliated with Cancun Hotel Maps.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – is it a Family or Golfers Vacation Destination?

Before finding the answer to this dilemma, let’s take an overview of Hilton Head and its surrounding area.

Conveniently located along the south Atlantic coast, Hilton Head Island combines breathtaking natural beauty, world-class golf, award-winning dining, and quality shopping on a barrier island just 12 miles long and 5 miles wide.
With over 12 miles of sandy beaches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, water lovers will find that Hilton Head Island is a coastal paradise.
The unique blend of unspoiled natural beauty and environmentally sensitive design is complemented by world-class resorts, amenities and activities. This makes Hilton Head Island, South Carolina a vacation destination like no other. That’s why Hilton Head Island is widely considered to be one of the finest resort communities in the United States, welcoming millions of visitors from across the country and around the globe each year.
What if a family is visiting the island? What can they do to really enjoy their vacation? The variety of activities and family fun is unique, but browsing through the short list of sample activities below will give you an idea about the friendliness and family fun you can have in Hilton Head Island:
Close dolphin encounters, bird watching and ocean ecology awareness
Family Golf, Miniature Golf & Tennis
Family Biking - with miles of bike paths available, many of which take you through nature preserves, this is truly an enjoyable way to experience the natural splendor of the island
Guided Kayak Tours & Kayak Fishing
Kayak Birthday Parties – something different
Discovery Days – activities centered on interpretive beach walks, kayaking through the marshes, and plenty of great games and activities
Eco-Adventures - older children enjoy learning the basics of sea kayaking while developing an understanding of our connection to the natural world through hands-on study of coastal ecology.
Adventure Island - teens take a boat ride to a secluded tropical island that they’ll have all to themselves. Here they will kayak in the pristine waters, engage in teambuilding activities, explore the island for Indian artifacts, and learn about coastal ecology through hands-on exploration.
Teen Tours – teens are exploring the coastal marshlands of Hilton Head Island, where they’ll have fun paddling kayaks, throwing cast nets, or even learning kayak rescue skills.
Teen Expedition Camping - Camping on a pristine deserted island
Wave Runners – experience the thrill of riding the waves within Calibogue Sound.
Wakeboard/Water-ski School – novices and veterans can enjoy that water sport here.
Parasailing - get an eagle's eye view of Hilton Head Island and the surrounding areas. View up to 20 miles in all directions.
Hilton Head Island offers this and so much more…
Sounds like fun? I think so...
What about the golfers then, what can they do?
As you may know, Hilton Head Island is home to the PGA Heritage Classic Golf Championship and the Celebrity Golf Tournament.
With an average yearly temperature of 70 degrees, Hilton Head Island visitors are sure to enjoy year round golf on any of the 24 golf courses located on Hilton Head Island and another 40 golf courses just over the bridge.
Our golf courses were designed by the game's greatest– Nicklaus, Fazio, Player, Jones & Dye.
So is Hilton Head Island better suited for golfers or for family vacationing?
Let me first tell you a little about the accommodation and dining options on Hilton Head Island.
There are a large number of hotels to choose from on Hilton Head Island. In general, prices range from $50 per night for basic accommodations to $300 per night for some of the luxurious hotels.
Long and short term rentals alike are readily available. You can come for the weekend or stay a few weeks. Most vacation rentals on Hilton Head Island include the standard amenities such as washer and dryer, cable television and swimming pools.
Many luxury rental properties feature Jacuzzis, indoor pools, ocean views, private beach access, tennis courts and golf facilities.
Villas and condos, homes and timeshares are all available in varying price ranges. Vacation rentals can range from $500 per week for a one bedroom villa up to over $10,000 per week for an oceanfront mansion.
What a wonderful setting for a private wedding reception on the beach.
Over 250 restaurants run the gamut of casual to elegant dining options on the island. Fresh seafood abounds. From five star formal restaurants to fast food and everything in between, every taste and budget is catered to on the island.
So the answer to the dilemma is pretty obvious.
Whether you are a golfer searching for a world-class golf destination, a family on vacation seeking relaxation on the miles of clean sandy beaches or just want to enjoy the gentle sway of palm trees in unspoiled nature, a stay on Hilton Head Island is sure to please the most discerning of vacationers.
Whether you just want to relax in the sun or try your hand at scuba diving, water-skiing or dolphin watching there is something for everyone on beautiful Hilton Head Island.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Szatmari is a Web Developer, Web Marketing and Promotion & Search Engine Optimization Specialist. Mr. Szatmari is the developer and marketer of numerous vacation related websites.http://www.hiltonheadrentals.com/

Nonfatal and fatal drownings in recreational water settings�

Nonfatal and fatal drownings in recreational water settings�United States, 2001-2002
Author: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Drowning is the seventh leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for all ages and the second leading cause of all injury deaths in children aged 1-14 years (1). Many of these injuries occur in recreational water settings, including pools, spas/hot tubs, and natural water settings (e.g., lakes, rivers, or oceans). To examine the incidence and characteristics of nonfatal and fatal unintentional drownings in recreational water settings, CDC analyzed 2001-2002 data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) and National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) death certificate data from 2001. This report summarizes that analysis, which indicated that, during 2001-2002, an estimated 4,174 persons on average per year were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs) for nonfatal unintentional drowning injuries in recreational water settings. Approximately 53% of persons required hospitalization or transfer for more specialized care. During 2001, a total of 3,372 persons suffered fatal unintentional drownings in recreational settings. Nonfatal and fatal injury rates were highest for children aged [less than or equal to] 4 years and for males of all ages. To reduce the number of drownings, environmental protections (e.g., isolation pool-fences and lifeguards) should be adopted; alcohol use should be avoided while swimming, boating, or water skiing or while supervising children; and all participants, caregivers, and supervisors should be knowledgeable regarding water-safety skills and be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (Box).

BOX. Strategies for drowning prevention in recreationalwater settings** Make sure an adult is constantly watching children swimming  or playing in or around the water. Do not read, play  cards, talk on the phone, mow the lawn, or engage in any  other distracting activity while supervising children.* Never swim alone or in unsupervised places and always  swim with a buddy. Select swimming sites that have lifeguards  whenever possible.* Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming,  boating, or water skiing. Avoid drinking alcohol while  supervising children around water.* Learn to swim. Enroll yourself and your children in  swimming classes. The American Academy of Pediatrics  does not recommend swimming classes as a means  of drowning prevention for children aged <4 years.* Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Because of  the time it might take for paramedics to arrive, your  CPR skills can make a difference in someone's life.* Do not use air-filled or foam toys, such as "water wings,"  "noodles," or inner-tubes, in place of life jackets (personal  flotation devices). These are toys and are not  designed to keep swimmers safe.* If you have a swimming pool at your home:--Install a four-sided, isolation pool-fence. The fence  should be [greater than or equal to] 4 feet high and should  completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the  yard. Use self-closing and self-latching gates in the  fence with the latches out of children's reach. Consider  additional barriers such as automatic door locks  and door alarms to prevent access by small children  to the yard or pool.--Toys should be removed from the pool immediately  after use. Floats, balls, and other toys might  encourage children to enter the pool on their own  or to lean over the pool and potentially fall in.* Tips for recreation in natural bodies of water:--Know the local weather conditions and forecast  before swimming or boating. Strong winds and  thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous  to swimmers and boaters.--Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when  boating, regardless of distance to be traveled, size of  boat, or swimming ability of boaters.--Heed colored beach warning flags.--Watch for dangerous waves and signs of rip currents  (e.g., water that is discolored and unusually  choppy, foamy, or filled with debris). If you are  caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore.  Once out of the current, swim toward the shore.* Adapted from SafeUSA. Additional information is available athttp://www.safcusa.org.

NEISS-AIP is operated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and collects data about initial visits for all types and causes of injuries treated in U.S. EDs (2). Data are drawn from a nationally representative subsample of 66 hospitals out of 100 NEISS hospitals that were selected as a stratified probability sample of hospitals in the United States and its territories; the hospitals have a minimum of six beds and a 24-hour ED. NEISS-AIP provides data on approximately 500,000 injury--and consumer product--related ED cases each year. Death certificate data were obtained from NVSS (3). Rates were calculated by using 2001 and 2002 U.S. Census bridged-race population estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics (1).

Nonfatal cases were identified in the NEISS-AIP data if they had a precipitating or immediate cause of "drowning/near-drowning," a diagnosis of "submersion," or the mention of "drown" or "submersion" in the comment field. Cases were reviewed, and any intentional or nonrecreational drownings (e.g., in bathtub, bucket, toilet, or related to motor-vehicle crash) were excluded. In addition, because deaths are not captured completely by NEISS-AIP, persons who were dead on arrival or who died in the ED also were excluded. Each case was assigned a sample weight on the basis of the inverse probability of selection; these weights were summed to provide national estimates of nonfatal drownings. Estimates were based on weighted data for 206 patients with drowning injuries in recreational water settings treated at NEISS-AIP hospital EDs during 2001-2002. Two years of data were necessary to provide stable rates. Confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using a direct variance estimation procedure that accounted for the sample weights and complex sample design. Estimates for the 2 years were annualized by dividing the sample weights by two. Because of the small sample size, percentages of nonfatal injuries by location (Figure) were based on unweighted data for NEISS-AIP cases and, thus, are not nationally representative. Drowning deaths in recreational water settings were defined as those for which the underlying cause recorded on death certificates by a physician or coroner was one of the following International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes: W67-W74, V90, or V92. Because NVSS is a complete census of all deaths, it is not subject to sampling error; however, CIs were calculated to account for random error (3). This report uses the terms "nonfatal drowning" and "fatal drowning" to describe the events captured by using these methods.

During 2001-2002, an estimated 4,174 persons on average were treated annually in U.S. EDs for nonfatal unintentional drowning injuries in recreational settings, and 3,372 persons died in 2001 (Table). Children aged [less than or equal to] 4 years accounted for nearly 50% of the ED visits, and children aged 5-14 years an additional 25%. Fatal rates also were highest in children aged [less than or equal to] 4 years. The nonfatal drowning rate for males was nearly twice that for females, and the fatal rate for males was almost five times that for females. These injuries in recreational settings occurred most commonly on weekends (Friday-Sunday), accounting for 56% of nonfatal injuries, and in summer months (June-August), accounting for 56% of nonfatal injuries and 51% of fatalities. For those cases that were known to occur either in a pool or natural water setting, an estimated 75% of nonfatal injuries occurred in pools, whereas 70% of the Fatalities occurred in natural water settings. Nearly 40% of reported nonfatal injuries to children aged [less than or equal to] 4 years occurred in private pools; both nonfatal and fatal injuries in natural water settings increased with age (Figure). Approximately 53% of ED-treated patients required hospitalization or transfer to another hospital for more specialized care.

Editorial Note: Drownings have been a leading cause of injury death in the United States for decades (1). The findings in this report are consistent with previous reports of fatal drownings, indicating that small children are at highest risk, particularly around residential pools (4). in addition, males are at higher risk than females, possibly because of their choices of activities with higher risk and increased use of alcohol (5).

For more resources on Water Skiing, see http://www.waterskisource.com!

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Out of sight: water-skier Allan Golabek lost his vision but found his calling

Out of sight: water-skier Allan Golabek lost his vision but found his calling - Cool Down - Brief Article - Interview
Author: Men's Fitness

I was halfway through my two-and-a-half-year exchange tour with the Dutch Navy, flying P-3s. While their training is based directly on our NATOPS and training procedures, there are some differences. But I had gotten up to speed with the Dutch way of doing things in the aircraft, and life was good.

We were on our way to Curacao, in the Caribbean, from Holland, with an overnight stop in Lajes, Azores. Trading the European winter for New Year's in the Caribbean sounded great to me. The first leg would last about five hours. The weather brief mentioned the possibility of strong crosswinds at Lajes, but how bad could it be?

About two-thirds into the flight, I noticed the No. 4 engine was down to four gallons of oil. The flight engineer said that it had seven gallons at the beginning of the flight. There were no visible leaks and no history of No. 4 consuming oil. We discussed our options: continue to Lajes or turn back to Valkenburg (home plate). According to the weather briefs, Lajes had the better weather. With snow and high winds, Valkenburg had low visibility forecast all day, while Lajes had the possibility of strong crosswinds. At the current rate of oil loss, there would be two gallons of oil left on arrival at Lajes but none left if we turned back to Valkenburg, which would require a three-engine landing if we kept it running. This is something I wanted to avoid doing at night, in bad weather, if there was another option available. The temperature at altitude was well below freezing, so any prolonged shutdown with intent to restart was not a good idea. One of our propeller seals could freeze, causing leakage during a restart and causing more serious problems. We discussed the situation, and I decided to continue to Lajes.

On our initial descent into Lajes, winds at 2,000 feet were from 240 degrees, gusting 50-to 70-knots. At the approach end of the runway, winds were from 230 degrees at 18 knots, with a wet runway. With runway 15 in use, the crosswind was 80 degrees offset. The maximum-crosswind component for the P-3 is 35 knots, and with a wet runway, it goes down to 22.5, and with standing water, it is less than 20 knots. The winds at the middle of the field and departure end were not given. The forecast weather for our alternate, Montijo, Portugal, about two hours away, was gusty winds and thunderstorms for our arrival time. I really wanted to see what the actual conditions were before proceeding to our alternate. We briefed the approach and landing. We discussed crew responsibilities, windshear, crosswind limits, crosswind effect on the aircraft, and go-around options.

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Sun Sand and Surf an apt description for Goa? But Goa is much more. Ancient temples and old churches? Yes. Portuguese Colony? Carnival City? The original refuge of the hippies? Yes again! Beach Paradise Indias tourism capital the list goes on. Goa Pearl of the Orient is located in

Mazatln
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