Sailing Trip In Croatia

Sailing the high seas, cruising emerald tinged waters, scouting out far off exotic islands, battling waves (and the odd phase of sea sickness) and letting sails propel your boat to the horizon while armed with a “Yo ho ho” and a bottle of rum sounds like a pretty incredible way to spend a holiday! With numerous sailing companies to make a budding pirate’s dream come true, a sailing trip in Croatia is truly a once in a lifetime experience to be had.

If you’ve never been to Croatia, then you should hop over there as fast as you can as there is good reason why it is the country that all travellers have been raving about this year. It has it all: warm waters, beaches, partying, culture, historical architecture, plus it has been the setting for many Game of Thrones scenes, which might explain why its popularity has sky-rocketed in the past year. The stunning country lies on the border of the Mediterranean and southeast Europe, neighbouring many countries, such as Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. And of course, it stretches alongside the deliciously green Adriatic Sea that appears to come straight from a story book. The Dalmatian Coast experiences pretty sweet Mediterranean temperatures, but when you’re island hopping amongst the thousand-plus islands, you must always be prepared for quick storms that might burst above your yacht due to the tropical nature of the climate.

Sailing is the best way to see the islands and many sailing companies have already discovered the popularity of chartering boats. The companies vary in prices and experiences (and quality), but you’re guaranteed to be able to hit up some awesome parties with dashes of culture and sightseeing.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with tour boats, but if you pick the right company, you’re guaranteed a blast! With most, you can either get a whole crew of mates and fill a boat entirely, or nab a cabin with a friend and meet some new people. If you do choose to go alone, they’ll be sure to pop you on a fun boat so you’ll quickly make new friends. Yachts of the same tour tend to sail and dock together, meaning you will have the chance to get to know others from your fleet.

MedSailors (www.medsailors.com) give you a questionnaire in order to try and group you with likeminded people. The yachts have snorkels and paddleboards for you to frolic in the waters with and they provide discounts for dry land activities when you dock, such as scooter/car hire and day trips.

Popular routes usually depart from Split or Dubrovnik, and visit the popular island destinations of Vis, Hvar, Stari Grad and Gradina Bay. Each tour will be different with possible highlights including the Blue Cave and Korcula, but sometimes the weather can really impact your route so don’t go with expectations of a strict itinerary. Each Croatian town that you explore will harbour delightful eateries and bars to relax in, and of course, there is usually a party organised. Hvar Town is renowned for its party reputation, and be sure to catch the sunset at Hula Hula Hvar with a camera and cocktail ready.

There are also unique parties that only a select few yachts could host, and these are known as Raft parties. This is when the fleet of 10 – 25 yachts form a ring in some secluded bay, and then everyone whips out inflatables and sound systems to party the day and night away. Sailing.hr holds as many of these as they can stuff into a week and they are guaranteed to be fun. You could be docked next to a boat of Colombians who free-pour rum straight into your mouth, or you could nab a bottle of fizz from the dingy for ‘Champagne Shower’ o’clock. When the sun is about to slip behind the horizon, the music hits a crescendo and the champagne/cava gets exploded all over the joint. What a celebration!

Yacht Week (www.theyachtweek.com/croatia) is a mammoth trip of up to 50 yachts that sail together. At every dock, you’re likely to be surrounded by these crewmembers that are there to party hard. Despite the merriment, Yacht Week ensures you will get to many sheltered bays for swimming and aim to train you in sailing so you can participate in the end of the week Regatta – a race that crowns the winners based on sailing time, atmosphere on boat and clothing/boat decorations.

Things To Keep In Mind…

There are a few things to remember before joining one of these yacht companies aside from your passport, knowing how to swim and bringing enough Croatian Kuna. You’ll need to stock up on snacks, food, water and alcohol for your trip at the marina before you set sail. There’s a fridge on-board to keep perishables (and your rum) cool, but it may be switched off if you are unable to dock at a marina to recharge your boat’s battery. Reasons for this will be when the marina is full or when you’re pretty much camping (on water) in a hidden bay.

There are also toilets on board, but if you can, keep certain business for onshore as a blocked toilet is not pleasant – especially if you then hit choppy seas! There are showers as well, but like the electricity, your skipper will need to fill up the water supply whenever they dock so don’t get too frivolous with endless showers. Marinas tend to have all the facilities you need, plus local shops, for you to stock your boat with everything. Finally, we shouldn’t need to tell you that, as this is a sailing holiday, anyone prone to seasickness will be taking a risk.

Above all, the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia is the perfect setting for a yachting holiday. When the sea sprays your skin, the sun crackles your salted hair and you’re listening to your favourite tunes with your best friends (new and old), there’s not much in the world that can beat it.

By Sophie Saint