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What Types of Sailboats Are There?

When thinking about the word “sailboat,” many people unfamiliar with the boating world assume that everything you need to know is in the name — sailboats are boats with sails. While that may be true on the surface, there are many distinctions based on use, rig, and hull types. Before you book your next sailing tour, take the time to learn about the different types of sailboats you might find on your cruise.

Sailboat Rig Types

The rig of a sailboat refers to the arrangement of sails and the number of masts. While there are many sailboat rigging types, many fall into one of four categories:

1. Sloop – A sloop is a rig arrangement that has one mast, one mainsail, and one headsail. This is the classical sailboat rig arrangement.

2. Cutter – A cutter has one mast, one mainsail, one headsail, and one additional sail over the sloop with an additional headsail, also called a foresail.

3. Schooner – Schooners have two masts, two mainsails, and staysails. These boats are beautiful and are often associated with antique sailboats.

4. Ketch – A ketch is another two-masted sailboat with a smaller mizzen mast toward the back of the boat.

Sailboat Hull Types

Sailboat hulls are divided into three categories, each with benefits and disadvantages. The three categories are:

1. Monohulls – Monohulls are the traditional sailboat with a single hull. This boat is popular with private boat owners as it is inexpensive and easy to handle and maintain. However, they can be unstable and don’t provide the smoothest sailing experience for cruises or day trips. Monohulls also have greater rig variety, with more sail arrangements and layouts.

2. Catamarans – Catamaran sailboats are a type of boat with two hulls connected by a deck. These boats are extremely popular for luxury sailing and are the most common sailboats for private charters, tours, and cruises. Catamarans are more stable than monohulls, and space between the two hulls can hold galleys, bedrooms, and lounge areas. Catamaran sailboats are also faster than most monohulls, allowing you to get in a full day of sightseeing. In addition to speed, catamarans can also get closer to shore than monohulls, allowing a private charter to take you near island beaches where there may not be a harbor.

3. Trimaran – Trimarans are similar to catamarans in that they are multi-hulled boats, but trimarans have three hulls arranged side-by-side. While on the surface, they don’t look too different from a catamaran sailboat, trimarans are faster and can add more luxury space in the third hull than catamarans.

Kai Kanani Sailing

Kai Kanani offers a luxury catamaran charter on Maui. We provide high-end tours around the Molokini Crater for sailing, snorkeling, sunset cruises, and whale watching. Our special license allows you to access more of the Crater than any other charter company. Book your trip with us today!

Top sailing tour charters company in Wailea.

Watch the sunset on your private charter, luxury boat ride.

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Best whale cruise rides in Maui.

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What Mistakes Should You Avoid While Snorkeling?

Are you looking to explore the beautiful Hawaiian Islands? Snorkeling is a great way to experience the open water, look at the wildlife underneath the surface, and swim with the animals. When snorkeling, you should consider the safety of yourself and those around you. What are some tips beginners should follow to stay safe while snorkeling or scuba diving in Hawaii?

Do Not Forget To Wear Sunscreen

First, you shouldn’t forget to wear sunscreen before you start to snorkel. In Maui, Hawaii, the water temperature is relatively cool. Therefore, it’s easy to forget that the sun is shining on your body as you go snorkeling. You don’t want to end up with a sunburn when you get out of the water. You should bring a waterproof sunscreen with you when you go snorkeling. If you’re out all day, don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen every few hours.

Do Not Touch the Animals

Even though you may fall in love with the many beautiful plants and animals you see underneath the surface, you shouldn’t touch them. A lot of the animals and plants around the Hawaiian Islands are protected by special regulations. When you go snorkeling, you should look through your mask, but avoid touching the animals with your fins or hands.

Do Not Snorkel Without a Professional Guide

Finally, you should never go snorkeling alone or without a professional guide. Bring a buddy every time you go snorkeling or dive in the area. Even though the water may look calm, you never know what’s going to happen. Therefore, you should go snorkeling with a professional guide who can protect you and your party. Furthermore, if something does happen, you want to have access to a trained professional who can assist you when you travel.

Snorkeling Tours in Maui – See the Magical World Under the Surface.

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Best Maui private charter snorkeling tour and whale watching.

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Luxury Wailea-Makena snorkel cruise.

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What Kind of Whales Can You See Around Hawaii?

If you want to maximize your time on the water, then you may want to consider signing up for whale-watching tours. There are lots of whales that live around Maui and the other Hawaiian Islands. What kind of whales should you expect to see around Hawaii? Do not forget to bring a durable camera!

Humpback Whales Are the Most Common Whales in Hawaii

Even though many whales live around Hawaii, the most common species is the humpback whale. A proportion of the entire humpback whale population in the Northern Pacific returns to Hawaii to breed, nurse, and raise their young. Some whales swim all the way from Alaska down to Hawaii just to give birth.

Male humpback whales can weigh more than 45 tons; however, they are still incredible acrobats. If you watch closely, you might see a few whales jump out of the water, getting up to 40 percent of their bodies above the surface before they make an amazing splash.

Where Can You See the Most Humpback Whales?

Humpback whales can be found all over the Hawaiian Islands; however, one of the best locations to find them is the Auau Channel. This is located between Lanai, Maui, and Molokai. It has developed a reputation for being one of the most popular whale-watching destinations in the world. You may also see whales near the southern shores of Oahu. In particular, humpback whales can be easily spotted from the Makapuu lighthouse.

If you want to get the best pictures of humpback whales, you should work with professionals who can take you on a whale-watching tour. That way, you know what to look for, what you are seeing, and understand the cultural significance of humpback whales to the Hawaiian Islands.

Whale Watching in Maui – We know the best spots.

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The best place to whale watch in Kihei is in our catamaran at sunset.

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Makawao, Hawaii

On the Hawaiian island of Maui is the town of Makawao, located on the slopes of the Haleakala volcano in Upcountry Maui. Makawao is known for its rich history of plantations and agricultural past. Hawaiian cowboys called paniolos still compete at the largest rodeo in Hawaii every Fourth of July and make up a large part of the current population. Today, Makawao is known for its small-town culture and arts community. Makawao has been called one of the top 25 arts destinations in the United States. You can wander the city and visit the diverse population of working artists while shopping.

Any local in the area can tell you about the famous bakery, the T. Komoda Store. This place is legendary throughout Hawaii and has been in operation since 1916. As one of the hallmarks of Makawao, visitors need to arrive early to beat the lines. Along with the vast farmland in the area, Makawao also has beautiful homes and estates, and its central location in Maui ensures that plenty of traffic comes through the small town.

Hawaii is more than well-known for its unique towns, and Makawao is no different. Any visitors to Maui should stop by to enjoy the diverse culture, history, and baked goods.

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