Jetsettersblog

In April 2012, the eyes of the world will be on the waters of Samoa when up to 140 of the world’s best anglers converge in its deep blue water for the Samoa International Game Fishing Tournament.

Usually held in the first week of April, the competition lasts for a week and Samoa will host a plethora of boats and over one hundred anglers from many different countries all competing for winning positions in the event which is one of the highlights of Samoa’s calendar year and a fascinating spectacle for visitors.

While the latest catch in November 2011 by the M/V Southern Destiny broke all other records in the country (a blue marlin weighing in at a staggering 511.5 lbs), reeling in catches of about 350 lbs are not uncommon in Samoa.

Sheltered from big game or sports fishing vessels, the waters are teeming with marine life, making it the perfect Pacific angler’s marine playground.

The tournament is open to all including a ladies trophy with. It also attracts major vessels in the region including Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa – all vying for the top angling fishing trophy.

“The Samoans have a special relationship with the sea and their traditional values and Fa’a Samoa entails that they protect their ocean heritage and maintain its pristine state,” says Peter Sereno of the Samoa Tourism Authority.

“The tournament will be bigger in 2012 and we are expecting a record number of participants reeling in record breaking catches, and joining the celebrations,” says Peter.

The Samoa International Game Fishing Tournament offers a fantastic opportunity to visit and explore the Samoa islands for fishing enthusiastics. From vast tropical beaches on the South coast of Upolu to exhilarating volcano treks on the island of Savai’I Samoa has something to offer every type of visitor.

Compagnie du Ponant’s newest mega-yacht L’Austral is offering two cruises in the South Pacific in March.

The 16-day cruise from Papeete to Noumea, departing March 2, visits 10 ports between French Polynesia and New Caledonia, including Moorea and Fiji’s capital city of Suva.

The March 17 15-day cruise explores French and Australian places, including the Great Barrier Reef. Prices range from $6,075 to $16,070 per person, double, for the Papeete-Noumea itinerary and $5,670 to $14,998 for Noumea to Darwin.

The Papeete-Noumea cruise also visits Papeete, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Aitutaki and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, the Vava’u island chain in Tonga and the Fiji islands of Fulaga and Suva.

The voyage concludes in Noumea, the capital city of the French territory. The Noumea-Darwin itinerary sails to the Isle of Pines, the Great Barrier Reef for three days, and Townsville, Cooktown, Cairns, Port Douglas and Thursday Island in Australia.

For more information, call 888-400-1082,

email USreservations@ponant.com

or visit www.en.ponant.com

Two Holland America Line ships — the Oosterdam and the Volendam — will sail a series of Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific cruises in winter 2012 and spring 2013. The ships will visit more than 50 ports, including Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, as well as the exotic destinations of Vanuatu and Fiji in the South Pacific.

The complete series of sailings ranges from 10 to 58 days. Guests can choose from a series of multiple departures ranging from 10 to 14 days, sailing roundtrip from Sydney, or one way to or from Auckland between October 2012 and March 2013.

The ships will sail a total of five 14-day Australia and New Zealand cruises from Auckland to Sydney or reverse  and feature port calls at Melbourne and Burnie, Australia; Milford Sound and Akaroa (Christchurch), New Zealand; and scenic cruising at Fiordland National Park.

Four 14-day New Zealand Discovery voyages sail roundtrip from Sydney on Oosterdam on Oct. 24, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19, 2012 (holiday cruise), and Jan. 12, 2013. One 14-day Solar Eclipse voyage departs Nov. 7 and includes port calls at Brisbane, Hamilton Island and Townsville, Australia; Ile des Pins and Noumea, New Caledonia; and six days in the Tasman and Coral Sea. Travelers on this voyage will have an opportunity to witness a solar eclipse, which occurs Nov. 14, 2012.

Four additional sailings to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific include the 10-, 11- and 13-day Pacific Treasures cruises roundtrip from Sydney and feature more exotic and lesser-known tropical ports in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. Cruise fares begin at $1,299 per person, double.

Several longer itineraries throughout the season include the Volendam’s 34-day Australia Circumnavigation.

That voyage sails roundtrip from Sydney on Oct. 21, 2012, and offers 18 ports of call and scenic cruising in the remote Ribbon Reef and Far North Regions. Ports of call include Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Perth, Melbourne and Cairns, Australia; Hobart, Tasmania; Komodo Island, Indonesia; sunrise at Lizard Island; and sunset at Booby Island.

The trip also visits the Great Barrier Reef. Cruise fares start at $5,499 per person, double.

The 1,380-passenger Amsterdam sails a 75-day Grand Asia and Australia Voyage, departing Seattle on Sept. 21, 2012.

Ports of call include Darwin, Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Waitangi (Bay of Islands) and Auckland, New Zealand; Lautoka, Fiji; and Apia, Samoa Islands.

Guests will experience regionally inspired cuisine, gala balls and entertainment, and crossing the equator before disembarking at San Diego.

Cruise fares begin at $10,999 per person, double.

Itineraries are also offered at the beginning and end of the season, sailing westbound or eastbound from the U.S. into the Pacific region.

The Oosterdam’s 22- or 23-day trans-Pacific Crossing departs Seattle or Vancouver for Sydney Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2012. The Oosterdam returns on a 22- or 23-day South Pacific Crossing from Sydney to Seattle or Vancouver, departing April 13, 2013.

Cruise fares for the South Pacific and trans-Pacific sailings start at $2,399 per person, double.

Ranging from 25 to 58 days, Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Collectors’ Voyages on the Oosterdam and the Volendam combine two back-to-back itineraries. During the Australia cruise season, Holland America Line sails a total of 11 Collectors’ Voyages. Cruise fares start at $3,049 per person, double.

Port calls continue through the evening or overnight at Tauranga and Wellington, New Zealand, as well as Darwin and Tasmania, Australia, and Suva, Fiji.

IslandsEscapes … by Goway is offering three Pacific destinations — Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Travelers can explore Fiji and Samoa for $2,779, or Fiji and Tonga for $2,694. Both packages include roundtrip airfare with Air Pacific from Los Angeles, meet and greet, all transfers, accommodation, select meals and more.

For more information, call 800-667-6601, or visit www.islandsescapes.com.

Goway has been offering travel to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and island destinations since 1970. It has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. For information, call 800-387-8850 or visit www.goway.com

IslandsEscapes … by Goway is offering three Pacific destinations — Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. In the heart of Polynesia lies the Samoan Archipelago. The islands of history, myth and legends, and home to Samoans for thousands of years are islands of extraordinary beauty; where turquoise lagoons lap onto unspoiled white sand beaches lined with coconut palms, where cascading waterfalls, rich green rainforests, and mist enshrouded mountain peaks are all contained within a sparkling necklace of reefs.

Tonga is an independent constitutional monarchy and the only South Pacific country never to have been colonized.

Spread over 7,700 square kilometers (3,000 square miles) of shimmering turquoise South Seas, these remarkably diverse islands reflect the natural beauty of ancient Polynesia.

Truly deserving of the romantic description of being the land “where time begins.”

Comprised of 330 islands across some 320,000 square kilometers of sea, Fiji’s people are friendly, smiling and always ready to entertain you.

Be amazed by traditional “fire walking,” still performed today. Fiji’s sun-drenched, palm-fringed island resorts are among the best in the world.

Packages start from $2,694. Travelers can explore Fiji and Samoa for $2,779 or Fiji and Tonga for $2,694. Both packages include roundtrip air fare with Air Pacific from Los Angeles, meet and greet, all transfers, accommodation, select meals and more. For more information on this and many other great escapes, refer to the IslandsEscapes’ “World’s Most Idyllic Islands” brochure, call 800-667-6601, or visit www.islandsescapes.com.

Goway has been offering travel to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and island destinations since 1970. It has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. For information, call 800-387-8850 or visit www.goway.com

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced its 2012 sailing schedule in the South Pacific aboard the Paul Gauguin.

The schedule includes three new itineraries, as well as a number of guest speakers and events. Additionally, guests will receive 50 percent off of standard cruise fares and free airfare from Los Angeles.

Among the highlights is the new, 20-night South Pacific Discovery hotel and cruise itinerary to Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Cook and the Society Islands, departing Jan. 23, 2012. The new Australs & Society Islands cruise departs Sept. 1, 2012, sailing to Rurutu, the “Island of Whales,” at the height of whale-watching season.

The Fiji, Tonga, Cook and Society Islandscruise departs Oct. 27 and Nov. 20, 2012. Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Pierre Vigato will join the June 23, 2012, sailing to Tahitiand the Society Islands.

The Parisian chef will prepare gourmet dishes and offer demonstrations of his culinary techniques. Jean-Michel Cousteau will join the Gauguin on the July 11, 2012, sailing to the Society Islandsand Tuamotus; the Nov. 20, 2012, sailing to Fiji, Tonga, Cook and the Society Islands; and the Dec. 1, 2012, sailing to the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands. Cousteau will offer a series of lectures with videos of his work in the world’s oceans, as well as accompany several dives from the ship.

For more information, call 800-848-6172 or visit www.pgcruises.com

The breathtaking art of the South Pacific is as close as Long Beach, at the new Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PieAM), which opened June 12 in Long Beach, near the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA).

Like entering an island village, the museum features a traditionally peaked building and lush sculpture garden with native South Pacific plants.

A mural (by Long Beach native Art Mortimer) recreates a traditional Men’s House from the Island of Yap on the building’s exterior; while inside sculptures, textiles, paintings, wooden tools, jewelry and carvings from across the Pacific showcase the arts of the Marshall, Samoa, Guam, Fiji and Tongan islands.

Nationalities represented include Micronesian, Hawaiian, Ni-Vanuatu, Maori, Polynesian, Melanesian, Palauan, and the I-Kiribati.

Permanent and rotating exhibits as well as continually commissioned new works will be enhanced with traditional dance performances, interactive cultural demonstrations and learning programs.

PieAM was created by the late Dr. Robert Gumbiner, who died in January 2009, and includes his personal collection of Pacific Island ethnic art.

PieAM also is available for small-sized meetings and banquets.

www.pieam.org

LearnToSail.Net Celebrates National Safety Boating Week with Free Safety and Rules of the Road Downloads

In observation of National Safety Boating Week, LearnToSail.Net is running a free downloads campaign of The Rules of the Road and discounts on their educational CDs to raise safety awareness.

This week, to celebrate National Safety Boating Week, LearnToSail.Net is offering free safety downloads and 10% off all CD’s plus a Free Cruising Ebook and Free Sailing App with every order.

The Sailing App topic is “The Points of Sail” and is available for iPad, iPod, iTouch, iPhone and Blackberry. The apps also run on Mac or Windows PC. The Points of Sail App is one of 16 beginner Sailing Apps from Apps4Sailing.com, sister site of LearnToSail.Net.

In addition to the free App, free for download without purchase are The Rules of the Road, and articles on Wearing a Life Jacket and Anchoring.

Apps4Sailing.com is a website featuring beginner sailing applications for iPad, iPhone, and Blackberry, allowing new or rusty sailors access to affordable, individual sailing lessons anytime from anywhere. Taught by a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain and Instructor of American Sailing Association Classes, the lessons are arranged in the order a typical sailing course. Starting with Parts of a Boat, the lessons continue on to other topics such as Wind Theory, Balance, The Points of Sail, Leaving Docks and Moorings, Tacking, Person Overboard Techniques, Righting a Capsize, Knots, Anchoring and much more. These topics are taught using narration, animation and digital video. The user is free to select whatever class she or he wishes to take at anytime and from anywhere on Earth.

The Cd’s “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II” and “Learn Coastal Navigation” at LearnToSail.Net are structured to follow the order of a typical sailing or boating course. The topics are taught using Narration, Animation and Digital Video.

There is a Nautical Dictionary, Sailing Terms Glossary and Quiz.

The user is free to move around the program as she or he pleases and at whatever pace they set.

Both programs are designed to run on all versions of Windows and are easy to install.

“It is very important that all boaters know the Rules of the Road and safety measures.”, states Linda Cullum, CEO of LearnToSail.Net. “I am hoping boaters will come to our website just for the free downloads on safety. There are alot of newbies out there every season and I surely hope they are up to date with rules and safety gear.”

Sailing instructional software is a useful tool and beneficial to those who want to learn or brush up on their skills.

Sailing maneuvers can be taught and practiced anytime of year and conveniently at home.

The user controls the pace and level of learning.

This allows more time to absorb new information.

When it is time for those hands on summer classes, the educated beginner, familiar with terms and technique, will have a greater return on investment.

Advanced lessons are also on the agenda for Apps4Sailing.com. The lessons were created using “Learn to Sail with Multimedia VOL I and II”. Adding 20 years of instruction experience, Captain Susan Smith enriches the learning environment by going into great detail with each lesson and adding valuable sailing tips. The Apps can be played on PC or Mac as well.

Currently, the lessons are downloaded onto the user’s computer in the requested device format and can be played on PC or Mac as well. Android and other formats are in production.

For more information, please visit http://LearnToSail.Net

With a 3,000 year old tradition of wave worship, Samoa offers a unique combination of authentic surfing at the most affordable prices.

Shallow reef breaks and waves – with names like ‘Dragon’s Breath’, ‘Pudding Rock’ and ‘Devil’s Island’ makes the Treasured Islands of the South Pacific a world class destination for experienced surfers.

Upolu and Savaii, Samoa’s two main island’s, offer unbeatable year round surf breaks, only a frisbee throw from simple beach huts costing as little as £14 per night (including breakfast and dinner).

Those in need more comfort and facilities can book into hotels like the Sa’monana Resort on the south western coast of Upolu.

The Sa’moana Resort caters almost exclusively to surfers and offers high quality bungalows designed in an authentic Polynesian style, suitable for single travellers, couples, families or groups of friends.

The resort is located on a pristine beach, set in a tranquil coconut grove.

The perfect place to chill out over a sundowner, or two.

Special Offer until 31 July:

Sa’moana Resort is offering 7 nights for the price of 5 – or 10 nights for the price of 7*.

Book via www.samoanaresort.com

Surf the latest wave news on the web, visit the official Samoa Tourism Authority,
www.samoa.travel/surfing

The ‘First in Surfing News’ iPhone app has been released by Surfersvillage and is aimed at surfers, the surf-industry, and lifestyle enthusiasts.

The launch coincided with Apple’s iPad going on sale in the USA.

Available to download for free on the Apple App Store, the tool helps surfers, surf-Industry personnel, surf-media, and lifestyle entusiasts keep up to date with the latest news in surfing from around the world. The Surfersvillage iPhone App is the first and only app dedicated to Surfing News.

The Surfersvillage First in Surfing News iPhone app launch version features:

FREE download to users

Content includes:
- International Surfing News
- Surf-Industry News
- ASP Surfing News
- Regional Surfing News from;
- Africa
- Australia
- Brazil
- Europe
- Hawaii
- USA
http://itunes.apple.com/app/surfersvillage/id364266772?mt=8