But we're not talking about Tonka trucks and building blocks. The toys aboard a charter yacht are sophisticated items of recreational equipment specifically designed for adult playtime. Larger crewed yachts will typically carry a variety of fun-in-the -sun toys such as windsurfers, water-skis, sailing dinghies and dive gear.

Immediate access to these watersports toys whenever you're at anchor creates a spontaneity that gets many charterers motivated to try new thrills, whereas they might not bother if they had to make a previous commitment. Aboard a yacht it's a matter of saying, "Hey skipper, how about that windsurfing lesson?" A far superior method compared with recreation at a land-based resort where one often has to sign up in advance, reserve a specific hour and pay extra for each activity - steps that tend to dissuade you when you're feeling lazy.

The money factor is important too. At $15 per hour for this and $25 per hour for that, active vacationers can sometimes feel nickel and dimed to death at a resort, especially when instruction is involved. On a yacht, however, both the toys and the lessons on using them are provided as part of the package price. Even though those long lists of water accessories found in may charter brochures represent sizable investments for the boat owners, they represent nothing less than added attractions for the charter guest - at no extra charge.

When picking your charter vessel, knowing what toys are offered should be one of your criteria. If you'd like to be a watersports dilettante during your vacation, pick a boat that has the full gamut of gear.

Now if you're the type that doesn't know a snorkel from a shackle or a sailboard from a smorgasbord, don't feel left out. You'll have plenty of time to find out on charter. In the meantime, here's a primer for your upcoming adventures.

SCUBA diving and snorkeling are a favorite pastime of voyaging vacationers. In the tropics, especially, there is no greater complement to basking under sunny skies than exploring the exciting undersea world of a coral reef - alive with fishlife and aflame with color. Shallow inshore area can be easily explored with snorkeling gear alone. (The snorkel tube simply lets you breathe without looking up.) for deeper explorations, however, you may want to try SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus). Since two of the most important qualities of a successful SCUBA diver are being able to breathe calmly and relax underwater it's no surprise that the sport can be mastered by both the young and the old. Some boats have on-board instructors and even carry compressors - and since rendezvous diving is now offered by many dive shops, nearly any yacht can offer SCUBA diving

Another watersport favorite is windsurfing. Easily one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, this is a thrill-a-minute combination of the dynamics of sailing and surfing is as exhilarating as it looks - once you get the hang of it, that is. And, there is no more ideal way to learn than during a charter, with practice and instruction available.

For those who'd rather sit than stand while solo sailing, many yachts carry one or more sailing dinghies. These are great for sharpening skills, teaching kids or - when there are two dinghies on board - staging one-on-one competitions.

The most important attractions of any charter yacht vacation are things like fresh air, sunshine and the calming serenity of life and the sea. And although recreational toys are certainly not an essential ingredient, they definitely add exciting thrills to the trip, while helping distinguish the yacht charter holiday from other vacation options.