- 14 hours ago
- #brightside
- #brightsideglobal
Sailing is a wonderful way to explore the world and enjoy the beauty of nature. But there is one direction that you should avoid at all costs: west to east. In this video, we will reveal the truth behind why sailing west to east is a terrible idea and what you can do to prevent it.
#brightside #brightsideglobal
TIMESTAMPS:
03:29 Pets onboard
8:34 Why sailors starve rather than eat fish
6:40 Ship 5 times bigger than Titanic
This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
#brightside #brightsideglobal
TIMESTAMPS:
03:29 Pets onboard
8:34 Why sailors starve rather than eat fish
6:40 Ship 5 times bigger than Titanic
This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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00:00Next time you jump into a yacht, you should worry not about the wind, but about waves.
00:06An average storm can't cause enough damage on its own, as the wind is unlikely to tilt the boat over.
00:12A wind-driven wave, however, might destroy a lot of equipment, and even sink the yacht altogether.
00:20Don't worry though, it's not that common to come across a bad storm, or worse, a hurricane while at sea.
00:27You'd really have to be looking for it.
00:29Most people with over 20 years' worth of experience at sea have never encountered extreme weather.
00:36Sure, the word yacht can sound a bit luxurious, but in some parts of the world, it's not that expensive.
00:42Like in Northern Europe, for example, you can purchase a ready-to-sail ship for around $10,000 to $20
00:48,000.
00:50It might need a bit of fixing, but it won't be a bad investment.
00:54If you do plan on sailing to Europe, you might want to skip the Mediterranean, since it's a pretty lousy
01:00region for sailing.
01:01You'll either have too much wind, or no wind at all, which is the worst kind of weather for sailors.
01:07The perfect conditions are created by relatively strong and steady winds.
01:12You'll find those in the Caribbean.
01:14And don't worry about the size of your ship, it's really not that important.
01:18You'll just need to be well prepared.
01:21You can really travel around the world in a 30-foot-long yacht if you're brave enough.
01:27In fact, one of the smallest boats to ever sail around the world was just 21 feet.
01:34Alessandro Di Benedetto circumnavigated the world in his little sailboat.
01:38It took him 268 days and 19 hours.
01:42What's even more impressive is that his boat was nearly destroyed near Cape Horn, but he managed to fix it
01:49and get back to France to win the world record.
01:53Planning on breaking world records yourself?
01:55Make sure you sail around the world eastward.
01:58It's easier, mostly due to stronger and more predictable winds and eastward currents in the southern hemisphere.
02:05Only five existing world records were obtained when travelers used the westward route.
02:10And since 2010, no one has set a record while going in that direction.
02:17There's no need to start learning astronavigation.
02:20Nobody uses it these days.
02:22It's more of a nice-to-have.
02:24Experienced sailors don't rely on space bodies to orient themselves.
02:28What people do use now for recreational navigation is an iPad.
02:33Even Airbus and Boeing pilots use iPads when flying.
02:39Speaking of how prepared you should be, brace yourself for a lot of boredom.
02:44We've all heard stories about wonderful sunrises and sunsets, swimming with dolphins and tuna.
02:50But you might have nothing to do for weeks.
02:54You'll just need to fix the tack every now and then.
02:57And that's it.
02:58As for the remaining 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds of the day, no tasks.
03:04Bring a board game or a lot of books, will you?
03:07You might not be able to catch up with your friends back at home either.
03:11The internet at sea is both really slow and expensive.
03:16Slow as in it's going to take about a half an hour to download a small picture.
03:21Expensive as in a gigabyte might cost up to several thousand dollars.
03:27It's also best if you leave your pets at home.
03:29Dogs in particular don't like it at sea too much.
03:33Especially large dogs or those who weren't accustomed to that environment early on in their lives.
03:39You won't be able to easily toilet train a dog on board either.
03:43Cats, on the other hand, are a lot easier to take care of, so they make better sailors.
03:49Don't go heavy on the bananas if you're heading for the ocean either, as they're seen as bad luck, especially
03:54on fishing boats.
03:55Some sailors say fish won't bite a hook if bananas are somewhere on board.
04:01Cats are, again, absolutely okay to take on a boat, since they're thought to be a sign of good luck.
04:07It probably has more to do with the fact that they keep rats away.
04:12Let's say you want to cross the ocean. Will there be any stops on the way?
04:17If not, you won't want to.
04:19Sure, you can stop in the middle of the ocean and take a break, but why would you want that?
04:24There aren't a lot of islands when you cross the oceans, and it takes weeks to go from one piece
04:30of land to another.
04:32No matter where your yacht is, it has to obey the laws of its country of registration.
04:37As such, you have to make sure that everything you bring on board complies with your national law.
04:43Plus, you have to register everything you have when crossing sea borders.
04:48If Antarctica is on your must-see list, you must know that you might not get there on a non
04:53-metallic boat.
04:54The hull must be made of either steel or aluminum to withstand harsh weather conditions.
05:01You might find birds in the ocean. They don't just pass by, but actually live there.
05:07Most of them choose to sit on deck to rest when they see a boat.
05:10That's because they may have been in continuous flight for months at a time.
05:15If you're not planning on cleaning up after them, it's best you don't allow them to land on your boat.
05:20It depends on how bored you'll get, I guess.
05:23On the fun side, there are a lot of small islands you can only check out by boat.
05:28They are otherwise off-limits to tourists.
05:31You'll be able to see exotic plants and animal species, unique landscapes, and secluded villages.
05:38One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour, or approximately 1.151 miles per hour.
05:46The best wind to handle small and mid-sized ships is anywhere between 8 to 12 knots.
05:52This is still good enough to reach impressive sailing speeds.
05:56For beginners, a speed of 5 to 8 knots is perfect to learn the basics.
06:00Anything under 5 knots is too slow.
06:04Age was only a number for Laura Decker when, at 16 years old, she became the youngest person to ever
06:10circumnavigate the world solo.
06:13The Dutch authorities almost didn't allow this to happen since they believed she was too young for the journey.
06:19This astonishing feat isn't recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records, because nobody wants to encourage 14-year-olds
06:26to sail the world by themselves.
06:28The first time a person managed to circumnavigate the world alone was back in the late 1800s.
06:35Joshua Slocum left Boston, Massachusetts on April 24, 1895, and returned, three years later, on June 27, 1898, to Newport,
06:46Rhode Island.
06:46In total, he sailed more than 46,000 miles.
06:52The water in oceans and seas is pretty salty.
06:56While 3.5% is the average salt level, some bodies of water contain even more salt.
07:02It speeds up metal corrosion, so the saltier the sea, the more damage it will do to your ship and
07:08the faster it'll happen.
07:10The saltiest waters on Earth are in the Mediterranean Sea, which has roughly 3.8% salinity.
07:18For less salty water, head towards the poles.
07:22The fastest sailor of all time is Paul Larson from Australia.
07:26He broke the world record at 65.45 knots.
07:30His records are for the sailing speed at a distance of 0.3 miles, also called outright, and for the
07:37fastest nautical mile.
07:40No maritime story would be complete without that of Violet Jessup, the nurse that survived all three disasters aboard the
07:47sister ships the Titanic, the Britannic, and Olympic.
07:52She worked on ships to support her family well into her 60s and traveled all over the world.
07:59After finishing her voyages, she spent the rest of her life in Suffolk, England.
08:05There are no boats with an unlimited lifespan.
08:08They all have to retire at some point.
08:11After a certain time spent at sea, they are no longer considered safe or stable.
08:17Cargo ships that cross oceans, for example, typically reach 20 to 30 years of age.
08:22As for sailboats, they're meant to last 30 to 40 years at most.
08:28Even if they're built with more flexible materials, like plywood or fiberglass.
08:33Yo ho ho, a pirate's life for me!
08:36Let me stop you right there.
08:37If you think being a pirate or a sailor back in the old days was so cool, here's the harsh
08:43truth.
08:43It was not all about singing sea shanties and embarking on epic voyages across the seven seas to find the
08:51fountain of youth, or caves, filled with gold.
08:54It wasn't actually that cool being at sea all the time, and I have five compelling reasons to prove you
09:00some.
09:00Let's dive in, pun intended.
09:03Now imagine this.
09:05You're so excited.
09:07You've been waiting for this day to come, and finally, it's official.
09:10You're going to become a real sailor.
09:13The captain tells you to get ready, because the next day, you're going to set sail on a journey that
09:18is expected to take somewhere around six months.
09:21If you're lucky, that is.
09:23Because storms and singing mermaids could complicate things.
09:27You pack a few things.
09:29Now, let's pause this daydream for a quick second, because here comes problem number one.
09:34What I mean by packing a few things is just the clothes on your back.
09:39Sailors would only have one set of clothes that they almost never washed during the entire voyage.
09:45That's because they believed that dirt and grease would protect them from winds and rains.
09:50Okay, back to the thought experiment.
09:53You kiss your family goodbye and head to the port where your new home is waiting.
09:57One of your crew members not so warmly welcomes you on the deck and shows you where you'll be sleeping.
10:03This makes you start doubting your choice of becoming a sailor in the first place.
10:07Because after seeing it, you're certain that this is not going to be a five-star hotel comfort level kind
10:14of experience.
10:16So, here's problem number two.
10:19The ships were absolutely crammed.
10:22Back in the day, sailors would have to accept living in such conditions, whether they were working for a big
10:27name like Christopher Columbus or not.
10:29The Ninia and the Pinta were two of Columbus' ships and the best sailing vessels of their time.
10:36Yet again, this didn't change the fact that they were so small that men had no place to sleep.
10:42Which gives us problem number three.
10:45Having to sleep next to one another on a crowded deck where they could barely move was not so great
10:50for sailors' health conditions.
10:52And going below deck to escape the snoring of their fellow shipmates was not an option because there was no
10:58fresh air there.
10:59In addition, you could always come across a rat there.
11:03So, kiss personal hygiene goodbye.
11:05And in case you're wondering how rats got there, those little rascals are actually good swimmers.
11:11Also, sailors were at sea no matter the season or the weather.
11:15So, they were often cold and wet.
11:17Which also made it hard for them to stay healthy and strong.
11:22Speaking of health conditions, brings us to problem number four.
11:25And it's food and hunger.
11:28Sailors didn't have their own mini-fridges with different kinds of condiments back then.
11:32Like the compartments luxury cruises have these days.
11:35So, they had to come up with ways to store enough food that would last for months or even years.
11:41Due to that, their food options were limited.
11:45It definitely wasn't like the food prepared by Michelin star chefs.
11:49One of the most common food options on ships was salted meat, which wasn't as chewy as you might imagine.
11:56Or a biscuit called hardtack, also called sheet iron or worm castles.
12:01And there's a reason for all these creative nicknames.
12:05Hardtack was essentially a mix of water and flour baked into a cardboard-flavored cracker.
12:11They were brick-like and the only way they could be eaten was if they were softened with water.
12:17If only sailors could dip them in their afternoon tea, right?
12:21Sometimes, these biscuits would still be extremely dense.
12:24Then sailors would have to slam their fists down on them to break them into smaller pieces to be able
12:29to eat the stuff.
12:31As long as hardtack was kept dry, it rarely got spoiled.
12:35The sailors would be able to eat them after a year if they had any left.
12:39But most of the time, it would be extremely hard to keep them dry inside wooden casks.
12:45And then, they would get infested with bugs that would leave small holes behind.
12:49However, sailors would still eat them anyway.
12:52Have to take protein from somewhere.
12:55By now, you might have figured out that there were no fruits or vegetables in a sailor's diet.
13:00This caused vitamin deficiency in many sailors.
13:03So, those toothless pirates and sailors in the movies you see?
13:07Yep, it's all because of poor nutrition.
13:09And the iron-hard crackers probably didn't help either.
13:14But, when sailors ran out of food, not having a balanced diet was probably the least of their concerns.
13:20Back in the old times, a voyage could take way longer than expected due to weather conditions.
13:26There could be no winds to push the ship further.
13:29Or, a powerful storm could shake the ship and the waves and water could destroy the food storage.
13:36So, when such a situation happened, sailors could easily run out of food.
13:41Well, they could throw the net into the ocean and catch some fish, right?
13:45But sailors didn't eat fish even in the face of starvation.
13:48Many captains mentioned this in their logbooks, which were basically captains' diaries.
13:54The problem was not that sailors couldn't get fish.
13:57In fact, many different kinds of fish were caught in their nets.
14:00But they had to throw them all back into the sea.
14:03During the exploration era, Antonio Pigafetta mentioned in his logbook
14:08that the ship's crew caught an unbelievable amount of fish.
14:11But they didn't eat any of them.
14:14Also, in the same journal, he mentioned that 40 of the sailors lost their lives.
14:19Naturally, sailors thought that only poisonous fish were dangerous.
14:23And because of that, they were inclined to eat only the fish they knew.
14:27But even a well-cooked tuna could be poisonous.
14:30And they had to learn it the hard way.
14:33But it's not like they didn't have any methods to check fish.
14:37Spanish sailors, for example, put silver coins on them.
14:40If the silver changed color, they considered those fish to be poisonous.
14:44Therefore, inedible.
14:46So, they would toss them overboard.
14:49Other sailors would place the fish they caught on the deck
14:52and observe if flies or other insects came to feast on it.
14:56If they didn't land on the fish, this meant that it was poisonous.
14:59But if insects did come, they considered it safe to eat.
15:03The problem of eating fish caught in the open sea dates back to as early as the 7th century BCE.
15:10Imperial healers in ancient China knew that eating fish was the reason why some sailors lost their lives.
15:16But they couldn't prove that the fish were poisonous.
15:19And the mystery remained unsolved up until the 19th century.
15:24In 1886, a Cuban doctor finally figured out that some fish contained poison in their tissues and muscles.
15:31Even though they were considered a safe-to-eat breed.
15:35That kind of poison is actually something that is found in plankton.
15:39Some fish can eat this plankton without being affected.
15:42They store it in their bodies.
15:43And as they grow, the rate of the poison increases within them.
15:48And this is something that doesn't go away no matter how long one cooks the fish.
15:54If you still think that life at sea back in the old days sounds exciting,
15:58this 5th problem will convince you otherwise.
16:02Let's say you've managed to get along with your roommates,
16:05stay clean and healthy, and eat regularly.
16:08But there's always a risk of getting caught by pirates.
16:11And they didn't ask for things kindly.
16:14So, if you didn't want to end up as food for sharks,
16:18you would have to raise the white flag and simply join them.
16:21Not the career you were planning, right?
16:28Good luck scrubbing the deck for the rest of your life.
16:33So, in 2017, over 25 million people boarded cruise ships all over the world.
16:39Now, if you're keeping count, that's more than the total population of Greece.
16:46It's become America's favorite choice when it comes to going on vacation.
16:50It's easy to see why hopping aboard a cruise ship becomes more popular each year.
16:55Heading out on a cruise is also coming back in style with newer generations.
16:59Two-thirds of Gen Y and Millennials say that cruising is their new preferred type of vacation.
17:07How's that?
17:09Well, let's see.
17:10It's easy to plan in advance.
17:12On board, you can find activities for all family members,
17:15and you get a chance to visit several different destinations in one trip.
17:19An added bonus of booking a cruise?
17:21You can sample various places for a future time off.
17:27The entertainment on board is often top-notch, providing passengers with an added taste of luxury.
17:33And the amenities and accommodations are generally very reliable.
17:37Not to mention that it gives tourists that feeling of actually getting away from everything
17:42that people strive for while out of the office.
17:47Royal Caribbean International is one of the largest cruise lines in the world,
17:51with just over 19% of the cruise market as of 2018.
17:55Its current fleet is divided into many different classes of ships,
17:59including the Voyager-class, Radiance, and Quantum.
18:05The latest addition to the Royal Caribbean International's impressive fleet was built in 2018.
18:10Wonder of the Seas is now the largest cruise ship in the world.
18:15Since this spectacular liner has just had her maiden voyage in March 2022,
18:20let's look at some of the incredible perks it has to offer its passengers.
18:26For starters, the boat is so big that it had to be split into neighborhoods.
18:31Well, it figures since Wonder of the Seas can accommodate almost 7,000 passengers.
18:37Fond of New York?
18:38Well, no worries!
18:39Wonder of the Seas has a central park of its own,
18:42with an estimated 10,000 plants to check out.
18:45The ship's central park is a feature of all Oasis-class ships,
18:49being one of the so-called neighborhoods.
18:53Let's look at some other areas, shall we?
18:56Like this boardwalk, a place that includes an arcade, a candy store, and a sports bar.
19:02It's best suited for long walks.
19:04There's a pool and sports zone on Wonder of the Sea.
19:07These areas feature the ship's numerous pools and hot tubs.
19:11There are many activities to check out on the sports court.
19:17Then, there's the Royal Promenade, or Promenade, if you prefer.
19:21That's the main road on Wonder of the Seas, with bars, lounges, and places to grab a cup of coffee.
19:27Or a luxurious latte.
19:28The entertainment neighborhood is the focal point for leisure activities on the ship.
19:33Here, guests can find a comedy club, an ice-skating rink, and even a theater.
19:40The spa and fitness area is a tranquil zone with a huge array of treatments available.
19:46The fitness center is free of charge, by the way, so there's no excuse for guests to skip a leg
19:51day.
19:54An extra eighth zone was added to Wonder of the Seas.
19:57It's called the Suite Neighborhood.
19:59This is an exclusive area designed for guests staying in the suites.
20:03Oh, now I get it.
20:05It's located at the top of the ship.
20:09Guests here have designated staff members called Royal Genies.
20:13Yeah, if you rub a lamp in your suite, they appear.
20:16Nah, not really.
20:17The Genies are similar to butlers.
20:19They can cater to just a few cabins.
20:23Of course, the cruise line wants to divert other guests from asking these crew members various questions and taking their
20:30time.
20:31That's why the Genies don't wear name tags in public areas.
20:37As for its itinerary, Wonder of the Seas was initially supposed to be homeported in China.
20:42But Royal Caribbean decided to move the liner to the United States.
20:46In March 2022, the ship started its journey with seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
20:55In May 2022, Wonder of the Seas is scheduled for a trip to Europe, with Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona
21:03and Rome planned for its guests.
21:05Passengers will also be able to visit Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and Capri, Italy.
21:12When the summer season is over, Wonder of the Seas is scheduled to return to Florida to offer year-round
21:18sailing starting November 2022.
21:23And by the way, there is no truth to the rumor that a special cruise only for highly allergic and
21:29hay fever sufferers will be called the Wonder of the Sneeze.
21:32Nope, not at all.
21:36Now, it's hard to imagine a ship so massive that can accommodate so many amenities on board.
21:41For example, the Titanic was the largest ship of its time, measuring 882 feet in length.
21:48And Wonder of the Seas is not only 1188 feet long, it's also 36% taller and 34% wider.
21:59Speaking of lifeboats, which I am about to, Titanic had a mere 20 lifeboats on board, which was tragically not
22:06enough to fit all the passengers after the ship hit the iceberg.
22:10But Wonder of the Seas has an even smaller number of lifeboats, 18 to be precise.
22:17Sounds weird and dangerous?
22:19Well, not really, given that each of these lifeboats can accommodate up to 370 people.
22:24It means that all the passengers and crew members, an estimated 8,000 people if fully booked, are going to
22:31be safe in case of an emergency.
22:35If we could somehow have a race between the two ships, well, Titanic was in fact the faster ship out
22:42of the two, beating Wonder of the Seas by one knot per hour.
22:46Cruise ship passengers today are more interested in the experience rather than the speed of the boat itself.
22:51That's why how fast a ship can travel is not an extremely important aspect nowadays.
22:59In terms of costs, Titanic cost around $7.5 million at the time of its construction.
23:05It's the equivalent of about $200 million today.
23:09How about Wonder of the Seas?
23:10Well, it cost a staggering $1.35 billion to build, making it six times more expensive than the Titanic.
23:19How about we compare ticket prices?
23:22Well, in this case, the least expensive ticket on Titanic was 7 pounds.
23:26It's about $1,000 today.
23:28The cheapest ticket on Wonder of the Seas is currently $423.
23:33But prices may vary depending on the location, season, itinerary, and how much you tip your royal genie.
23:41And I know you were going to ask, how about icebergs?
23:45Well, Titanic steamed in the frigid North Atlantic, where you had to be on the lookout for those.
23:51Wonder of the Seas will be cruising the balmy Caribbean, where the worst thing you can hit on is 17
23:56in blackjack.
23:58Oops, busted.
24:01Anyway, set side by side with its other sisters from the Royal Caribbean fleet, Wonder of the Seas is equally
24:08as impressive.
24:09The company's earliest ships could host about 2,500 people.
24:13This included passengers and the staff.
24:15Such ships were Splendor of the Seas, Legends of the Seas, and the smallest of them all, Thumbelina of the
24:21Seas.
24:22No, wait, that should be Empress of the Seas.
24:24Oops, my bad.
24:28The largest ships in the company's fleet can now house about 9,000 people altogether.
24:33That's almost three times the size and capacity of the earlier liners.
24:37Wonder of the Seas is one of them, as well as Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.
24:45Are you seeing a pattern here?
24:47Yep, if you ever encounter a ship with Of the Seas in its name, it's safe to assume it belongs
24:53to Royal Caribbean.
24:54But if it's a can of tuna, it might actually be Chicken of the Seas.
24:58Hey, I like tuna!
25:02Now, choosing between cruise ships based on their size is like wondering if you should visit your local museum or
25:08the Louvre in Paris.
25:10It all depends on your preferences.
25:12Some families prefer small settings.
25:14Others are a fan of large spaces that can provide everything they need.
25:21Historically, it's equally as exciting how far we've come in terms of maritime transportation.
25:27The SS Royal William, for example, was the first boat to ever make a transatlantic voyage almost entirely steam-powered
25:34in 1833.
25:36And it was a mere 160 feet long and could house roughly 155 passengers.
25:44Similarly, the first modern megaship in the world was the MS Sovereign of the Seas.
25:53Launched in 1987, it was only 888 feet long and could carry a little under 3,000 passengers.
26:03Size and capacity are not the single improvements added to newer cruise ships out there.
26:08Recent technological developments in artificial intelligence and facial recognition have allowed cruise operators to ensure faster, smoother boarding for passengers.
26:19If, in the past, it took from 60 to 90 minutes for all passengers to board a ship, nowadays, cruise
26:26ship operators manage to get people comfortably settled in less than 15 minutes.
26:33Now, I'm sure you're already eager to book a ticket.
26:35But let's look into some of the more interesting activities you can try on board Wonder of the Seas.
26:41This way, you'll know what you're getting yourself into.
26:45All Royal Caribbean ships have loads of artworks available for their guests to enjoy.
26:50But Wonder of the Seas goes above and beyond, even featuring statues of astronauts in key locations around the ship.
27:00You'll find the first astronaut looking through the glass at the promenade, while a second one is busy rock climbing
27:06at the boardwalk.
27:08The third and last astronaut is more of a movie fan.
27:11This statue can be found near the movie screen sitting area.
27:14Going astronaut sightseeing is proving to be quite the experience among guests.
27:21In the areas with no access to sunlight, Wonder of the Seas features virtual balconies.
27:27In case of bad weather, guests can still have a feeling of the outdoors, but without having to hide from
27:32wind or rain.
27:36Teenagers have a place of their own reserved on the ship.
27:38There's a special club with a private hot tub, selfie area, games, and comfortable seating.
27:44The inside part of this club features a vending machine, an interesting collection of literature, and tables for foosball.
27:51Well, sign me up!
27:52We'll show you now!
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