CONRAD Summer Sailing Camp
CONRAD Summer Sailing CampLearn to sail
Teenagers Can Learn To Sail a Tall Ship This Summer
Teenagers Can Learn To Sail a Tall Ship This SummerLearn to sail
Set For an Indian Summer with Garden Sails
“Summer” is nearly over and the Indian summer typical of British weather patterns is almost upon us. Time to get the garden sails out, if one hasn’t done so already, in anticipation of all those late September barbecues!
For anyone who hasn’t encountered these wonderful bits of garden furniture: shade sails, as they’re also known, recently entered the UK market after doing extraordinarily well on the continent. Garden or shade sails, which are similar to those toughened awning type affair one sees over the outside table areas of cafes and galleries, are made from a treated canvas like cloth, which offers outstanding protection against both sunlight and inclement weather. The sails are waterproof, weather proof and UV proof: tough enough to withstand winds and long lasting enough to be a worthwhile investment.
Garden sails look amazing, adding a real dash of style and drama to any outside area. They can either be moored to the walls of a house, or its fences: or they’re available with their own mooring posts so they can be erected as free standing structures. Their uses, in the garden, are multiple – as well as providing shade and shelter they can also be used to create specific seating areas or relaxed spaces from which to really enjoy the surroundings. A shade sail effectively becomes a roof, making a dedicated area of a garden into a kind of outdoor “room”: garden sails are ideal in this respect for entertaining on clement evenings, when a whole dinner can be hosted out under the protection of the “roof”.
The sails can be arranged singly or in groups, according to the size of the garden and the intended use of the sails. “Nests” of sails arranged ship fashion have a real good look to them: overlapping shapes and angles making a garden statement that is nothing short of art. The sails can also be used for more practical purposes: making an outdoor car port, for example, by providing a large awning type space to park under. Because garden sails are both weather and UV proof, they can help prevent sun fading on bodywork and they stop the sap from trees damaging a vehicle’s paint during spring and autumn.
Garden sails do require a little maintenance, as one would expect from something that has been designed to stay in situ all year round. A little wipe every now and then keeps the algae away – though the sails are treated with an antibacterial agent, which for the most part keeps it off anyway. Look after the sails in this fashion and they will give years of style and enjoyment.
This is “Sailing By” composed by Ronald Binge in 1963, and performed by the Alan Perry/William Gardner Orchestra, and is the version used by the BBC for its late night shipping forecast. Sailing By is played every night on BBC Radio 4 at around 00:45hrs before the late Shipping Forecast. Its tune is repetitive, assisting in its role of serving as a signal for sailors tuning in to be able to easily identify the radio station. It also functions as a buffer — depending on when the final programme before closedown finishes, Sailing By (or part of it) is played as a ‘filler’ as the shipping forecast starts at 00:48hrs precisely. The initial reason for its introduction was because of the indeterminate finish time for the preceding Midnight News, leading to filling music being played until the Shipping Forecast was due to start. Sailing By was added to allow for a clear break between the end of the music and the start of the forecast
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Shade Sails ? Turn Your Backyard Into A Summer Resort
In addition to the protective benefits, shade sails add beauty and elegance to outdoor gardens, patios, pools and backyards. Available in multiple colors and sizes, the sunshade sail can be installed using various design options including installation at various heights for an offset look that is visually stimulating. The colorful fabric and unique shapes provide a cool and relaxing atmosphere and a feeling of being on vacation without leaving the home. Shade sails are comprised of commercial grade knitted fabrics and can be easily cleaned using soap and water. The durable mesh tarp fabric is designed for years of enjoyment and is naturally resistant to mold, rot and mildew.
Selecting The Position Of Your Shade Sail:
Prior to purchasing a shade sail it is important to select and measure the installation areas. Consider what design element you are trying to achieve and pick the most suitable location. Some of the key factors you want to consider before purchasing a shade sail include
The desired size of the sunshade sail.
The desired shape of the shade sail.
The strength of existing structures that may be used as anchor points.
The direction of the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Once you have decided on the location for your shade sail it is important to consider and determine the fixing points. The fixing points where the shade sail will be attached can be and existing structure such as an attached patio, overhead deck or even the eaves on your house. If there is no existing structures for installation then consider using galvanized steel poles or wooden posts as anchor points. Post and pole lengths should be calculated with the consideration of both the desired height of the shade sail plus the depth of your footings. Properly designed footings should be a minimum of 32″ deep and 16″ square. Each footing should be filled using a concrete mixture.
Installing Your Shade Sail:
Once you have purchased your shade sail and it has arrived to your location, installation can begin. The shade sail can either be purchased with the fixing accessories included or they can be purchased separately. However, in order to properly secure any shade sail it is recommended that the manufacturers hardware be used to prevent any unforeseeable problems. The shade sail will be connected to the mounting points using the fixing accessories. It is important to ensure that all connections are secure and face towards the center point of the shade sail before attaching them to the anchor points. The shade sails use a ratchet tensioning system that can be adjusted until the desired look is achieved.
Installing a sunshade sail is the perfect do it yourself project for summer. Aside from the added benefits of shade and protection, the shade sail will instantly transform your backyard from ordinary to extraordinary. The elegant and modern looks of the shade sail will not only make everyday outdoor activities such as swimming and barbecuing more relaxing but will turn your home environment into a beachside resort like atmosphere.