This section discusses general issues such as what is a vacation on a yacht, what is better to choose a motor or sailing yacht, who is the skipper, types of yacht charter and rental, yacht etiquette, standard terms of a yacht rental contract, how best to choose travel companions, sailing conditions along the sea coast of Croatia, weather conditions of the Adriatic Sea, etc. The cost of renting a yacht, if divided among a group of several people, is usually no more expensive, and in some cases even cheaper than the price of staying in a 4-5 star hotel. The impressions you get while cruising along the sea coast and around the islands cannot be compared with anything. Being a kind of floating hotel, the yacht in front of the hotel has many undeniable advantages. Compared to staying in a hotel, where every day there is the same beach, the same view from the window, the same city, there is no monotony and boredom when traveling on a yacht. In just one or two weeks of yachting, you can visit many cities, islands, and attractions on the Adriatic coast that cannot be seen while living in a hotel or renting an apartment on the shore. Only on a yacht can you get closer to places that cannot be reached by ferry or passenger ship.
Traveling on a yacht in Croatia
If you are traveling on a yacht in Croatia under sail with the goal of having fun and simply relaxing from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, then simply sail in the direction where the fair wind blows; there will always be an island or a quiet closed bay on your way. Today you will stop at some place you like, and tomorrow you will move to another. You make the decision yourself because the hotel “room” moves with you and you have freedom of choice. The style of sailing on a yacht depends only on your personal preferences and mood. If you like silence, then choose quiet bays on the islands or small villages, next to which you can always anchor. If you prefer proximity to civilization and active entertainment, then moor in larger cities. Daily change of place is an undeniable advantage for those traveling on a yacht. Today you can walk in the forests or olive groves of the island of Hvar, and the next day you can visit and explore the palace of Emperor Diocletian in the city of Split, or simply enjoy the beauty of the clear sea and nearby islands. Moving from place to place, you will very quickly get used to greeting people who sail past you with your hand; greeting is a yachting tradition that all yachtsmen adhere to. Along the way of your voyage you are sure to meet many new friends who will stay with you for a long time. Typically, during a cruise, sea crossings last no more than 4-8 hours. This mode allows you to better enjoy sailing, have time to explore local attractions and have time to experience the nightlife on shore.
Every day the yacht docks at the marina, where the crew has the opportunity to relax and have fun on the shore or on board the boat. In addition, such a duration of day trips practically eliminates the development of seasickness.
Yachting
Yachting is a great opportunity to gain new unforgettable experiences and gain new skills. Sailing is the most ancient and respected skill in maritime affairs. “Taming” a yacht is a pleasure for everyone who likes to feel and control the power of the wind, stand at the helm, set and retract the sails, and steer with the wind. To operate a sailing yacht, you need knowledge of marine navigation and the technical features of the vessel, good physical fitness and quick reaction. Almost everyone who has sailed on a yacht with a captain usually cannot resist the temptation to control the yacht on their own, learn to tie sea knots and try to understand the intricacies of sail control. After swimming, you will be proud of the experience you have acquired, which will always be useful in everyday life, and most likely your friends and acquaintances will quietly envy you. Take the opportunity to try and learn something new and have an unforgettable sailing experience.
Route: Trogir - o. Šolta - o. Vis - oh. Hvar - o. Saint Clement (Marina Palmisana) - Fr. Korcula - o. Lastovo-o. Mljet – Dubrovnik
Traveling around Croatia on a sailing yacht is an adventure that you will definitely want to repeat. Warm sea, endless blue sky above your head and a fast yacht moving along the intended course... what could be better? Perhaps stops in the marinas of small and large islands of hospitable Croatia! When you sign up as a participant in this sailing yacht trip, you will see Trogir first.
This ancient city was founded by the Greeks, about three centuries BC. Historians say that Trogir is one of the very few cities where ancient buildings from the times of Roman rule and the Gothic era in architecture are perfectly preserved. Thousands of tourists come here to admire the unique monuments of antiquity. We will also stay here, because the old town is just a five-minute walk from the marina. The Venetian Camerlengo Tower, Cipiko Palace and other significant sights of the city will remain in your memory for a long time, and cozy restaurants and taverns in Trogir will delight you with delicious dishes of national cuisine.
After sightseeing and a little refreshment, we will go to the island of Vis. Here travelers are hospitably greeted by the village of Komiža, where the fishing museum has many interesting exhibitions. In addition, Vis is an island that stands out among others for its well-kept beaches of fine sand and pebbles. Vis was once of great strategic importance, so in addition to excellent beaches and restaurants with Mediterranean cuisine, there are many interesting fortifications.
The next stop on your sailing yacht trip is the island of Hvar. The island is called the sunniest place in Croatia, because heavy rains are very rare here. Hvar is also considered one of the major centers of nightlife and a wide variety of entertainment, which makes it one of the most visited islands of the Adriatic Sea.
Having appreciated the cultural life and attractions of Hvar, we move on to Palmisana. It is said that this holiday destination is popular even with members of the royal family of the United Kingdom. True, we were unable to find photographic evidence of this fact. But the following fact does not raise any doubts: Palmisana is an excellent choice if you like to sunbathe, lying in a comfortable sun lounger on golden sand, by the warm blue sea. Very, very beautiful place!
After Palmisana the island of Korcula awaits us. It is rightly called the pearl of Croatia. Oddly enough, it only became like this after Korcula was captured...by the Venetians. This happened back in 1420. Warlike but economical people from Venice made a great contribution to the architecture of the city-state. Imagine a picturesque ancient city surrounded by thick, lush greenery. And in the very center of this splendor is St. Mark's Cathedral. It was built over a hundred years! The island is amazingly beautiful: olive groves and pomegranate trees grow around ancient buildings, souvenir shops and small cafes open all year round on the narrow streets... And the most famous resident of Korcula was the famous traveler Marco Polo. It is very easy to guess about this here - many streets of the city are named after him.
The yacht trip around Croatia will continue with a visit to the island of Lastovo. Its coastline is indented with many secluded coves, and if you look into a village nearby, you will be amazed by the variety of chimneys. It seems that every house in the village of Lastovo has its own pipeline project!
Then we will visit the island of Mljet. Here we will find the Big and Small lakes, the dense greenery of the reserve and its winding paths, a rich underwater world and the opportunity to surf, paddle board or kayak... or just go fishing. Mljet captivates with its beauty, making you grab your camera almost every minute.
Following this, the journey on a sailing yacht will continue with the entrance to the marina off the island of Dubrovnik. Its Lapad and Banje beaches are well known to experienced tourists, and the city itself evokes only warm feelings. Since the 14th century, Dubrovnik has become the center of cultural life and trade in Croatia, successfully competing in this even with Venice. The time of rapid growth and mixing of cultures has left its mark on the appearance of the city streets: in addition to well-kept beaches, there are hundreds of ancient buildings that are just asking to be hosted by an artist.
To see all this with your own eyes, to spend your vacation in an unusual and interesting way, join us. Traveling on a sailing yacht in Croatia takes two whole weeks, full of pleasant impressions!
Promotions and discounts
Price
The cost of the trip includes yacht rental, payment for parking in marinas and fuel consumption, security deposit, paperwork, final cleaning of the yacht. There are no additional charges during or after travel.
Video tutorials, mobile application
To prepare for this trip, we recommend that you review our topics: setting up a sailing yacht, preparing the crew, preparing the yacht before leaving, setting the sails, mooring - leaving the marina, mooring - entering the marina, setting sails, cleaning sails, basic sail control, reefing sails, anchoring, man overboard under motor, man overboard under sail. And be sure to practice with the terminology of the courses in the 3D wind module.
Take part in the event
To reserve a free place on the yacht, you need to select the dates that suit you for this event or, if you have already decided on the date, immediately send us a request.
Raise the sails! All hands on deck!
Hi all! This news is that we are going on an expedition to Croatia to explore the open spaces for 7 daysMediterranean on a snow-white yacht, visiting places that will take your breath away.
- Take a dip in clear waters Adriatic.
- Take the helm for the first time in your life, feel the taste of freedom and the salty sea wind.
- Stroll through the thousand-year-old narrow streets where Roman emperors walked and where Game of Thrones was filmed.
- Take photos to show to your grandchildrenand taste the famous Mediterranean cuisine.
- Touch the history of one of the most beautiful regions of Europe.
Video invitation to our yachting in Croatia:
Why did we decide to organize a yacht tour in the Adriatic?
A yacht expedition has been our long-time dream. Who among us has not dreamed of joining a team of brave explorers navigating the vastness of the seas and oceans, reading Jules Verne, Rafael Sabatini or Emilio Salgari in childhood?Who didn’t admire the adventurous adventures of Cousteau’s team when watching films about the seas and oceans, which forever turned his consciousness and settled in his heart a hitherto unknown feeling that begins to call somewhere as soon as you see the silhouette of a ship on the horizon?
If you understand what is written here, then we will be glad to see you on our yacht expedition to the amazing places of Croatia.
But why yachting in Croatia?
- Incredibly beautiful region
- Great weather in June. The likelihood of storms is extremely low
- One of the most environmentally friendly places on Earth
- Average air temperature in June +27C, water +21C
- “Game of Thrones” was filmed here “at every step!” (we are also waiting for season 7, yes)
History of those places
dates back thousands of years, during which the Croatian land saw Greek colonialists, Roman legions hunting the first Christians, countless hordes of Turks, and Hungarian rulers. This fact leaves a vivid historical imprint on these lands, and we will be able to touch this history, learning much more than we could read in history textbooks.
Until now, in the lands where we are going to go, you can find buildings and monuments that have miraculously survived and survived to our time, despite the chaos of troubled times. Since Croatia became a member of the European Union, the country has become one of the most attractive countries for world tourism, and is distinguished by its careful and reverent attitude towards the numerous historical monuments on its territory.
Today we have a wonderful opportunity to combine two approaches in an expedition - on the one hand, we will go on a yacht trip and walk along the Adriatic, on the other hand, we will see a lot of attractions located in our anchorages.
The worst day of life on a sailing yacht is much better than the best day in the office.
My interview with Irina, who went on a yacht in Greece last year, together with our captain:
Yacht travel in Croatia 2017: main points
- Where: Croatia
- What we do: we travel on a yacht, see the sights, learn the basics of yachting and go through a series of master classes on learning how to operate a sailing yacht, sunbathe, swim, visit taverns and museums, take photographs, search for and find adventures.
- Requirements for participants: beginners (men and women), no special training required
- Band size: 11 people, 1 yacht
- Expedition leaders: Alexey Martynov(captain – license International Bareboat Skipper Sail by IYT Worldwide), (project “On the Edge”)
- Dates for traveling on a yacht on the Adriatic: 8 days on a yacht (from June 10 to 17), 2 days on the way there (from June 9 to 10), 2 days back (from June 17 to 18).
- Duration of the yacht expedition will be 9 days - from June 9 to June 18.
- Cost of participation in the expedition- listed below. The price does not include (visa, meals outside the yacht, souvenirs, transfer from Kaliningrad to Trogir and back (we will decide this issue collectively), and other costs not specified in the cost of participation in the expedition)
- Route: Trogir - Hvar - Loviste - Dubrovnik - Lastovo - Vis - Trogir (about 300 nautical miles)
Yachting expedition program in Croatia 2017:
June 09, Friday:
Arrival in Trogir from Kaliningrad in the afternoon. We check into the hotel and go for a walk. We look at the Cathedral of St. Lawrence of the 13th century, then we remember what we want to eat and have dinner in one of the cozy restaurants in the city. There we also hold a briefing and listen to our captain’s story about the upcoming expedition and how to avoid being susceptible to seasickness. Alexey knows 5 legal methods that work with 100% efficiency and will give you the opportunity to have a wonderful trip. Overnight at the hotel.
June 10, Saturday:
Wake up, breakfast. Acceptance of the yacht. Purchasing provisions for the team. First trip to the sea, lunch on the yacht, we go to the island of Hvar. We arrive on the island of Hvar. Hvar is great. At this time of year, soft purple lavender and pink oleander bloom there, making the island fantastically beautiful and fragrant.Beauty, crystal clear blue sea, big green hills, clean air and a lot of old stone. We try to conquer the Spagnola fortress on the mountain by renting a moped. A must-try dinner is the grilled squid with olive oil and the famous cucumber salad. If we have the strength and desire left, we’ll rush to the Carpe Diem nightclub to rock out to deep house. Overnight on a yacht.
June 11, Sunday:
Wake up, breakfast, go to sea. The third day is proclaimed the day of the gourmet. And this is the reason. We go to Loviste, along the way having lunch in the open air on the open sea on a yacht. Lovište is a quiet fishing village where they cook amazing lobster and octopus, and the red wine produced in this region, called Dingac, is one of the ten highest quality wines in the world. Add to this an excellent beach, swimming, sunbathing and gorgeous views of the tall mountain, and you will get a day that will be remembered for a long time. We spend the night on the yacht.
June 12, Monday:
Wake up, breakfast, go to sea. We're going to Dubrovnik. On this day, we actively study yachting, listen to master classes from the captain, learn the theory and immediately, in practice, test the acquired knowledge. We have lunch at sea on a yacht. After a day's trek we arrive at the magical fortified city of Dubrovnik. We devote the evening to sightseeing and dinner at a tavern, discussing plans for the next day. Overnight on a yacht.
June 13, Tuesday:
Wake up, breakfast on the yacht or in the city - optional. Dubrovnik – we have come for you. This day is dedicated to exploring this ancient Croatian city. We move through narrow streets, eat delicious ice cream, have lunch in the city, take a bunch of memorable photos, shoot videos, visit places where the most famous TV series of our time “Game of Thrones” was filmed: Lovrijenac fortress (Red Castle), Minceta Tower (House of the Immortals), Cathedral Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the old city (King's Landing), etc. Free time. Dinner in a tavern or restaurant. Overnight on a yacht.
June 14, Wednesday:
Rise, breakfast, exit to the open sea from Dubrovnik. We are going to the open sea. This day is dedicated to master classes from the captain. At the end of the day we arrive at the Lastovo National Park. This place is a gift for all the secret introverts in our group. A quiet, calm island-reserve with the cleanest air and water, clear as a baby’s tear. Our expedition is turning into a naturalistic one. We disembark, rent bicycles and ride around the island. The task is to find out what the “fumars” look like and where the lost temple of St. Blaise from the 12th century is located. If we don’t find it, it’s okay - after all, there is always delicious cuisine in one of the restaurants. We spend the night on the yacht.
June 15, Thursday:
Wake up, breakfast, weigh anchor and leave Lastovo. We go by open sea to the island of Vis. On the way we have lunch on the yacht. Vis is the most distant inhabited island in Croatia from the mainland. There was once a secret military base here, but now the island has been opened to the public. We anchor, go into town, see the sights, have dinner, and walk.
The most curious adventurers can try to find that secret naval military base on this small island, which is famous for its taverns and excellent cuisine. Beauty lovers can try to persuade the captain to go to the neighboring island of Bishevo, where the world-famous cave with blue water is located. Overnight in Vis on a yacht in the area of Komiza - the town of fishermen.
June 16, Friday:
Wake up, breakfast, leave Vis. We go to Trogir, swim in the open sea, look at the dolphins who frolic right along the course of our yacht and which can quite easily be found in this part of the Adriatic at this time of year. We have lunch on the yacht. We come and see what we didn’t have time to see on the first day of the expedition, and buy souvenirs. In the evening, we arrange a farewell dinner in another cozy restaurant, suppress our tears because the expedition is coming to an end, and do not show sadness. But, no, no, let’s brush away the tears that come out. We spend the night on the yacht.
June 17, Saturday:
Wake up, breakfast. At 9-00 in the morning we return the yacht to the parking lot, after giving it its original appearance and eliminating traces of our stay on it in the form of garbage and dirty dishes, we say goodbye to the yacht, take photographs, load things and memories onto transport. The end of the yacht expedition. We leave in the direction of Kaliningrad, heading home.
Yachting route in Croatia:
Weather warnings:
Please note that due to changes in weather conditions, the expedition route can be changed unilaterally by the captain of the yacht. Our goal is to get maximum pleasure, comfort and relaxation from your yachting adventure. The safety of expedition participants is most important. Therefore, in case of unforeseen situations with weather conditions, we can change the yacht route without agreement with the expedition participants.
What is included in the cost of a yacht expedition:
- Yacht charter in Croatia,
- Accommodation on board in a double cabin for 7 days while the yacht is at sea,
- Payment for yacht fuel,
- Yacht cleaning,
- Payment for parking in Croatian ports,
- Yacht captain's job
- Master classes on maritime affairs from the yacht captain (yacht management, knots, navigation, weather, working with sails),
- Payment of insurance for the yacht,
- Payment of the security deposit (refundable fee),
- Internet on the yacht throughout the journey,
- Payment of Croatian tourist tax,
- Meals on the boat during the entire expedition (breakfast + lunch: we prepare it ourselves, we buy food in Trogir)
What is not included in the price of a yacht expedition:
- Meals on shore (dinner in taverns or restaurants),
- Souvenirs for yourself and loved ones,
- Schengen multi visa,
- Transfer from Kaliningrad to Sibenik (Croatia) and back - we will solve this issue together. We either book a minibus or go by private car.
- Accommodation in hotels on the way there and back (1-2 nights, we will decide, see point above).
The main question, as usual:
How much money is needed?
- 320 euros per person - first payment (pay before May 20, 2017). Used to prepay the first half of the yacht rental fee. The fee is non-refundable; if you cancel your yacht trip in Croatia, we will not be able to physically return the money to you, as we transfer it to the owner of the yacht.
- 320 euros per person - second installment (pay before May 25, 2017). Used to prepay the second half for a yacht charter in Croatia. The fee is also non-refundable if you cancel a yacht expedition in Croatia for the reason described above.
- 190 euros per person - we take it with us (09 June 2017). It goes towards paying expenses related to meals on the yacht, parking fees, fuel for the yacht, and tourist taxes.
- The remaining expenses will be associated primarily with transfers from Kaliningrad to Trogir and back, with overnight stays along the way. We will decide this issue collectively with the expedition participants.
Attention! To participate in a yacht tour in Croatia, you must have an open Schengen visa.multiple visas. We will be in the European Union, and during our trip we plan to visit not only Croatia, but also Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Austria. We will visit these countries while passing through, but we might want to see something along the way.
Important point! Our sea voyage will start from Kaliningrad, but if you want to join us from another city in Russia, we don’t see any difficulties in this. Contact us, we will discuss the terms of your participation and resolve in advance all issues related to your participation in the yachting adventure from the “On the Edge” project.
Master classes from the captain:
During our cruise on a yacht in the Adriatic, we will take a number of important master classes from Alexey Martynov, each 1-2 hours long. These will be small events for learning yachting and yacht control for beginners, which will make our pastime interesting and exciting, and will also help in the future if you want to repeat a similar experience:
A short list of planned MKs is given below:
- Water rescue: rules, techniques, first aid for a drowning person
- How to tie sea knots: drawings, knitting patterns, practice and competitions for the most beautiful sea knot
- Correct mooring: basics and strategy, beginner mistakes, rules and nuances
- Operating an ocean sailing yacht: theory and practice for beginners
- How to set sails on a yacht: spar, staysail, jib and mainsail, as well as other scary words. From theory to practice.
- Navigation on a yacht with sails, determination of distances and cardinal points
- Working with sails and control on different wind courses
- How to deal with seasickness? 5 of the most legal ways that provide 100% efficiency and joy from traveling.
Clothing and equipment
Proper clothing on a yacht and proper shoes for yachting are the key to comfort and health. We will go along the Adriatic when it is warm, but this does not mean that we should completely neglect clothes or shoes. Shoes with light-colored soles that do not stain the deck are suitable for a yacht. It’s easy to check - put on your shoes, scratch on a light surface: if a mark remains, then such shoes will not fit. It is ideal to take moccasins, boat shoes or sneakers with light-colored soles. On clothes for yachting - written below.
What else to take for life on a yacht?
- Headdress. Panama hat, cap or hat,
- Sunglasses with a lanyard around the neck. Without a lace, there is a risk of losing them overboard,
- Shorts,
- A couple of T-shirts
- Swimming trunks/swimsuit,
- Sun cream (waterproof),
- After sun cream,
- Shales,
- Bicycle gloves are recommended (for working with ropes),
- Lanyards for badges. Tie on a cap, mobile phone, etc.
- Goggles or mask for swimming underwater.
An important point is that things are put into a travel bag, not a suitcase. People don’t come to live on a yacht with suitcases, as there is simply no room for them. They remain in the marina (yacht port), such is their fate.
Sailing requires passion and patience. Daily distances usually do not exceed 40 - 50 miles, but there may be surprises.
Photo of a sailing yacht that we rent in Croatia
Sailing-motor oceanic yacht. Length 45-52 feet (13-16 meters).Crew 11-12 people.
Who else if not you? Who if not us?
Freedom:
A person is born free, but modern society imposes a number of restrictions that lead to the fact that people sooner or later begin to lose this feeling. We are looking for new ways to be different from everyone else, creating new ourselves, including through such travels, where everyone can find a new themselves and reveal the unique facets of their uniqueness. Sea travel on an ocean sailing yacht is one of these ways.
Self-expression:
If you feel it, it means you are still alive and that means you shouldn’t waste time. We sincerely believe that each of us has our own strengths, talents and characteristics. On our sailing trip, everyone can try something new, or show the world what you do best. And those around you will appreciate and recognize it, rest assured!
Community:
For several years now, we have been organizing adventures related to active recreation, extreme sports, travel and everything that makes our lives brighter. Such events contribute not only to new impressions and exciting experiences, but also to new acquaintances. A hundred friends are always worth more than money, you know that yourself.
Values:
Real emotions are what make our lives brighter and richer. True emotions are difficult to describe in words, as anyone who has sailed, jumped with a parachute or traveled many kilometers from home, racing on a bike along endless roads, knows. Money is just paper that comes and goes. Real emotions from the happy moments you have lived stay with you forever!
Know yourself:
Time flows differently at sea. We will not notice how we will have to return back from our sea voyage on a yacht to the rhythm of everyday life. What will remain in my memory are scarlet sunsets and sunrises that no technology can convey, the sound of waves, dolphins following the course of our yacht, the sun-warmed narrow streets of ancient cities and a feeling that is difficult to describe in words. The same one that visited you as a child when reading books about sea adventures, the same one that you experienced on your own and which there will not be enough words for you to describe it.
Subscribe to our telegram channel “On the Edge”— project news, announcements of upcoming events and juicy reports about our adventures regularly appear there.
Still have questions? Contacts for communication
If you notice any inaccuracies in the text or have questions, please tell us about it. Either in a personal message or in the comments to the text. This is as important as my call above. Thank you for reading this far. I tried to make the text not very long and at the same time remove the maximum number of questions.
Text— Dmitry Pelin (c)
In contact with
November 25, 2011 2:01 pm Dubrovnik, Krk, Split - Croatia September 2011
Oh, that Greek king Odysseus had no foolish lips, by no means... Having gorged himself to the point of hiccups (during the ten years of the siege of Troy!) of the vaunted Turkish “all-inclusive” with specific, but still animation, the hero of the Illiad paved the road to his native Greece through the Adriatic Sea , where he actually hung - and after all, he had a place... “The thousand two hundred islands are not figurines to show the sparrows,” I thought, washing down the spicy aroma of a rocky pine bay with dry Croatian Malvasia... and on the table is the same still life as the king of Ithaca had for several thousand years before the events described: white wine sparkles against the backdrop of lush, as if specially fattened, green hills; karst fissures of hard cheeses are softened by cascading waves of cured meats; bread, laid out without ceremony on the teak surface of the table, and the whole composition is completed by a wicker basket with fresh trophies - figs and grapes, obtained on this island located opposite... So Odysseus probably set foot on his land, climbed up the mountain over those stones, inhaled the smell of pine needles and rosemary, bent down from time to time to pick a wild grape or reached for fresh figs, lay down in the shade of a fig tree, quenched his thirst with that same Malvasia and fell asleep to the clatter-russling of the cicadas “well done, well done, well done” Of course well done, just like us who decided to go on a yacht from Dubrovnik to Shchebenik with a visit to the waterfalls.
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If you don’t pull the show-offs, then renting a simple sailing yacht in Croatia in terms of six people is the same, if not cheaper, than renting an apartment with the only difference being that in addition to a berth with amenities, you are also provided with a vehicle that From the outside it seems very, very fashionable... But only from the outside. Some five years ago, looking at people dining at cockpit tables somewhere in Cannes or Antibes, I never even thought about trying on such glamor. Glamor, yeah... now I know for sure that people dine at the tables of a yacht cockpit not because of financial excess, but because of its insufficiency. And then, in France, I was probably a little jealous of those yachtsmen and most likely wished to be in their place. Beware of your wishes - they come true! Would you like a Dolce Vita? Get - fry the cutlets in the hold with the hatches battened down during the transition. Otherwise, what will you eat after a beautiful mooring? The size of the restaurant bill last night directly indicated the supermarket for the next three days of the trip, and even teased “come on, come on, sama-sama-sama.” I give... myself... Who needs tea? Who wants cutlets? What? Should we throw everything to hell and run to re-hang the fenders, otherwise we'll scratch the side to hell? Well, this is me in a moment...
Croatia became the first independent sea voyage after learning yachting in Tenerife. The memory of Tenerife, or more precisely of the drill and the daily eight-hour ocean motion, made a face twist for three months after the end of the course. It was a lot of rocking, but the knowledge that the captain managed to impart into us then turned out to be surprisingly strong - who would have thought that we would be able to manually plot a route, maneuver in the thick twilight among a dozen islands and moor at night in an unknown marina the first time! Remove the sails! Bay - "o-ix-o" - hawse - starboard side is ready! Bay - "o-ix-o" - hawse - port side is ready! Fenders, a hook, a mooring for the cleat, and our “Nikita” gracefully enters the opening, barely visible to the eye, between two yachts.
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The first toast to the young skipper is super! Well done! He still doesn’t really understand that he succeeded. The second toast is to the captain-teacher, he is now somewhere at the regatta, we wish him good luck. Ko-skipper, that is, I limit myself to a handshake and dry kisses on the cheek - well, as they say, who studied for whom... Then we drink without toasts.
Alcohol on a hike is not drunkenness, but a tribute to tradition and a disciplinary measure. The “Admiral's hour”, striking at twelve o'clock in the afternoon, could not be violated - you would anger the monkfish, and they are wow. Exceptions are children and pregnant women. “Admiral's Hour” also carries an element of education - no matter how bad you feel in the morning after an evening binge, you cannot even think about beer until twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Torment yourself with self-analysis and draw organizational conclusions.
The crew members, who are considered teetotalers on land, switch to the “mode” already on the second day - if there is no pitching and seasickness, then not drinking during the transition is a pure sin, and considering that a liter of wine in Croatia is one euro more expensive than a bottle of plain water, then... Executed on tenth, last day of transition poster gesture “I don’t drink anymore!” led to the fact that the “executor” became the only crew member capable of holding the steering wheel for four hours while the team snored in concert. But I would drink and go to the airport like a person, in a taxi. Sea devils are cunning and inventive in their revenge.
“Tutto vicino!!! Tutto vicino!!!”, i.e. very close, yells the Italian skipper, rolling his eyes and frantically waving his arms. Tutto Vicino is about fifteen meters from the starboard side of his yacht “Roma” and the same amount from the left side of the French catamaran “Esmeralda”. For reference, the length of our “Nikita” is thirteen and a half meters, but the Italian, judging by his gestures, is afraid that we were poorly attached to the pine tree, it didn’t matter if we threw the chain onto a stone ledge, and frankly speaking, we weren’t successful with the anchor, so what... He tends to suggest that in the event of a natural disaster, we can hook its side with ours. Late. A natural disaster has already occurred and its name is “Esmeralda”, from which we covered the ungrateful “Roma”. The fact is that while the Italians were splashing in the sunset rays that illuminated the uninhabited island, and we were suffering in the same rays, but only with mooring, the French finished their water procedures and moved on to grilling the barbecue, accompanied by a hefty libation. In their latitudes, apparently, the “admiral’s hour” begins at sunset. The higher the degree, the stronger the fire, the louder the voices, the more active the movement. Will they set it on fire or not? The Roma skipper is the first to break down. Despite the pitch darkness, he gives up and moves twenty meters to the left. Out of harm's way. Our skipper, masking his anxiety with the words “there’s nothing to eat in the house, I’ll go night fishing,” sits down at the stern with a fishing rod at the ready. And on the “Esmeralda” they have already gone to pieces - when everything has been eaten and drunk, they somehow lift the anchor, start the engine and... miraculously, without catching anyone, they leave with a whoop in an unknown direction... The Italians are relieved to turn off the lights in the cockpit, and ours The skipper finally puts the bait on the hook and casts the line.
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If it were not for the need to collect water and charge the battery, it is unlikely that we would have spent the night in equipped marinas. They would go on and on, stopping for sightseeing and replenishing provisions... Yes, the marina sometimes has hot water and there is always more than one toilet, it has shops, restaurants, and laundries. In some you can find boutiques, spa salons, a golf course, and (attention!) swimming pools with sea water, but... what’s the point in a restaurant with, scary to say, an enoteca if you can’t go out on deck, scratch what’s itching without looking at your neighbors and through an instant to find yourself in clean, clear water? And then I woke up and fell into the sea! You get out, wrap yourself in a towel, and instead of “good morning” you are asked a direct question: “How many mussels will we take for lunch?”, and you answer so imposingly, so casually, “Yes, they’re already tired of them. The sausage is over..." Yes, the best fish is sausage, and its closest habitat is, whatever one may say, Marina. Besides, we have a tight schedule and no matter how nice it is in a quiet bay or anchorage, we have to move forward. Swimming, breakfast, washing dishes and the captain, having deployed the pilot, commands “Take off your panties!”
Oddly enough, but the command “Take off your panties!” does not carry any erotic charge. Absolutely. But it helps the team withstand the bon ton. Here an observer stands on the shore, looks at the horizon and his eye catches a white yacht. The wind inflates her sails, she is all so thin, graceful, confident in herself, rushing, cutting the surface of the sea, and... panties and towels flutter on the sides in time with the sails. So that “Nikita” does not make the same impression, the captain stepped up the preparations with a team about underwear. Although, a rare sailboat will enter the marina “without panties,” and in the end we also relaxed and sent welcome signals to the city of Trogir once again with the help of swimsuits. The residents of Trogir, I think, are no strangers, but the owners of swimsuits and the person responsible for getting ready received a slight reprimand.
Yacht household items, as you might guess, are specific. In some places even very much. Well, take, for example, such a question as washing. It would seem something simpler, but it’s not. If you do laundry in the marina, that’s one thing, more on that later, but on board it’s a completely different matter. Firstly, you need to save water. Secondly, electricity. Therefore, we combine washing panties (T-shirts) with washing. That is, panties act as a sponge for the body. There is also a nuance with natural needs - everyone hears what you are currently performing, and at the end of the process you need to do a simple combination of maneuvers to pump waste products into a fictitious tank. Now about washing in the marina. There are laundries there, but they are used by those who have time. In the end, you can buy a basin to wash, but this is not methodical. Those who don’t have the time or desire to buy a basin wash it in sinks. But you can wash small things in the sink, but it was more difficult for us fairies in white trousers and white tunics. But that’s why we are fairies - we found a way out of the situation! And not with the help of a pumpkin and a magic wand, but with simple Russian ingenuity. We went in to wash (if there was hot water in the marina) right in what was available and turned on the shower. In other words, they washed it on themselves.
Cooking is a separate section of the navigation topic. There is a stove in the hold. It swings, maintaining a horizontal position. This allowed us not only to cook while moving, but also to regularly boil the kettle for tea or coffee. In general, yachts are rented with a full set of dishes and knives, right down to a coffee maker, so if we wanted, we could easily afford a blanc mange with jelly, but frankly, I don’t have the time or desire to tinker with ready-to-wear cooking under an inflated sail. Sweeping the deck turned out to be an extremely exciting activity. At least because it is one of the cures for sea motion. This is what ship work was invented for, and the size of a yacht deck is tiny - it’s a sin not to carry a mop.
The daily routine, depending on the place of overnight stay, begins either with swimming (wild bay) or with breakfast (overnight in the marina). Then again, depending on... bathing again, “taking off your panties” and weighing anchor, or division according to interests - some for sightseeing, some for swimming or exploring a new beach, some for getting some sleep, some for drinking coffee on shore, and so on. Gathering at the agreed time and ritual removal of panties. There were situations when culture was located in places inaccessible to yachts. Then they threw off the cute little pot-bellied ace and rode on it to the shore. They threw Tuzik on a leash or agreed with someone from the team that at the agreed time we would call or we would stand here and there and that Schidt on the ice floe would desperately wave his arms.
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The architecture of seaside and island towns is not even shy about Italianity. Why be shy when part of the islands belonged to Italy before World War II, and the rest, over the course of centuries of history, were one way or another part of the Apennine neighbor or had serious trade relations with it. Red tiled roofs, narrow cobbled streets running up and down; lancet, “Venetian” windows of ancient houses; Baroque curlicues and Florentine rosettes on the facades of cathedrals, squares with a “pencil” clock tower, squares like palazzos, and of course, laundry on lines - where would we be without it. Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet, Trogir, Skradenj, Shchebenik, they are all similar to each other, like children of the same parents, and just as different from each other. Hvar and Dubrovnik are older. These are well-fed and self-confident boys, Korcula is a modest girl, timidly lowering her tender blue eyes, Shchebenik is a handsome and bully, his mother’s favorite, Skraden is a quiet one, Mlet is a greedy toddler.
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And Skraden is truly quiet. At first glance, it is no longer remarkable except for the tourist boats going to the waterfalls of the Krka River. But if you enter it from the sea, then along the way you can see the high rocky banks of the Orinoco River. I'm not confusing anything. During the Soviet Union, films about good Indians and bad cowboys were shot here. It was here, where the river flows into the sea, that the handsome black-browed Gojko Mitich famously swept away fathoms in a wooden canoe, set snares for birds and hunted deer. The water near Skradnya is already river water - dark, “heavy” and smells of silt. The banks are lined with reeds, reeds and other marsh vegetation. Ducks quack, swans swim imposingly. We anchor, lower ourselves into the water and are surprised to discover that not only does it taste salty, but the lower layers are warmer than the upper ones! Let's dive to warm up! You can’t show this in a film; you have to feel it.
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“Excuse me,” I select a forty-two-foot “Odyssey” under the English flag as a victim, “Are you the last one to refuel?”
— Do you think we’re waiting for the bus here?
We smile and settle down near the Odyssey. But not everyone is so cultured; some strive to look like a fool. Some “Galata” thinks that she doesn’t have time to spend an hour and a half and is trying to wedge herself into the queue. The impudent “Galata” is being put in its place by the whole world and by all available means: shouting, whistling, hands, towels, I blow, or rather make a not very decent sound, with a brass pipe. Of course, it has a special nautical name, like a watch - flask, a toilet - latrine, even an inflatable boat is affectionately called - tuzik, but in terms of the sounds I make, the best name for a musical instrument is pipe.
After ten days of the trip, we already imagine ourselves as experienced sea wolves. We are completely relaxed - we don’t put on life jackets, we walk along the deck, despite the inflated sails, without bending down... The latter cost the life of the famous Russian navigator Evgeniy Gvozdev - he received a blow to the head with a boom. For me, the imaginary experience almost cost me a phalanx of my left little finger. Thanks to the acrylic on my nails, I held the sheet taut for a minute, under which my finger got caught, while the captain “turned” the boat, loosening the tension of the sails. The same relaxation caused the striptease that we, dressed in short dresses and tunics, showed to the entire gas station while pushing the yacht away from the pier with our feet while mooring on the side. But if we had tied the fenders higher, as the captain said, then who would have appreciated our “mooring” briefs?
Well, if I may say so, our regatta has come to an end. We rent out the yacht, load our things into the rented car and go to the airport, which is two hundred and forty kilometers away, twenty of which are in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. So, at least fifteen minutes, I was still in Bosnia and Herzegovina; it’s a pity I didn’t buy a magnet. When will such an opportunity arise again? But the next case, I hope will never happen again - having arrived at Dubrovnik airport at one in the morning, we found out that it opens at five in the morning. So from the snow-white yacht we went straight to the snow-white benches. Well, such an experience, not counting bronchitis, can be considered useful; in future we will be more prudent.
That's all for sure now. Goodbye toy towns, picturesque bays, uninhabited islands. Goodbye, not very smiling, but still nice Croatians, “praise” you for the lemonade, “prosciutto” and “mixed meat”. Thank you for the warning that there is a “storm” on the island of Vis and forgive me that in supermarkets we behaved like in Auchan - one person takes a place, five run around with baskets. Don't be discouraged by cold water marinas, paid buoys and water taxis. We will come to you to play the harp next to the street musician; drink coffee on the steps of Diocletian's Palace under a cappello from under its domes; breathe in the salty pine air interspersed with lavender and rosemary; drink champagne with a cold oyster on the square in front of the port; look at the stone baptistery of the temple in Shchebenik and again sail between one thousand or so islands along the waves of the sea the color of old, well-worn turquoise. Dovidzhenya!
First I'll say briefly and most importantly - it's amazing! This is a must try!
Well, now the details. :) I met the yacht in 2010 thanks to _boxa_ -, crossing the Black Sea and back, traveling along the coast of Turkey... This is not bullshit. After that, unfortunately, I never managed to get to his yacht again, despite the fact that he called. Alas, business, projects and this very freelance...
And I was in Croatia in 2008 - then we drove through national parks, looked at nature and life in this wonderful country.
Now it's time to put it all together. And when I received an offer from the yacht tour operator Friends Travel to spend a week on their yacht somewhere near the coast of Croatia, I agreed without hesitation. Fortunately, a week-long window had just opened up in my travel schedule.
I’ll say right away that yachting is not a vacation at an exorbitant price, as it might seem. Now there are two packages: 800 and 1170 euros per person. The first is only yachting. The second is the same, but plus flight and insurance if you don’t want to do it yourself. You can read what you get for this money on the website. And I will tell you and show you my emotions from a week-long trip to the beautiful islands of Croatia in the middle Dolmatia.
1. You start your journey at Kastela’s home marina - it’s not far from the airport. You get here on your own, but it’s very easy to do - either a taxi or a bus. Here you meet the skipper, first mate and crew of the yacht - those who decided to prefer an exciting trip to a banal beach + hotel holiday.
2. A yacht is first and foremost a sail! In Croatia, the season lasts from April to October, and each month has its own conditions. July is the hottest, but also the quietest in terms of winds. But you can swim from dawn to dusk. And, to be honest, you can swim at night too.
3. If you don’t know how to set a sail and don’t know a single knot, that’s not a problem. The yacht has a professional skipper who will take care of everything. If you want, you can participate in the life of the crew and help them. If you don't want to, don't. As the senior mate said, one day they were walking a group of seven glamorous girls in stiletto heels, who every night needed a new city with a nightclub. During the day they slept and gained strength before a new party. Such a vacation can also happen. Everyone chooses and gets what they want.
4. One of the advantages of yachting is a non-fixed route. Initially, we were supposed to go to Krka Park to see the waterfalls, but since almost everyone was there, we decided to forget about it and immediately taxi to the islands.
5. Charlie, a professional skipper, explains to Olga the basics of sailing a yacht. How to catch the wind and what to do with it all. And the pleasure of sailing a yacht... it’s hard to compare it with anything, you have to try it.
6. In addition to paying for the tour, when checking into the yacht, about 200 euros are contributed to the general treasury. This money is used to purchase food, pay for fuel after the trip, pay for parking in marinas and other general expenses. The specific amount depends on the number of people in the crew. Moreover, according to tradition, the crew feeds the skipper, and the first mate only pays for food. It is worth saying that the yacht is not a five-star hotel. The conditions are comfortable, everything you need is on board, but expect chandeliers, candelabra and room service, etc. not worth it. This is just a comfortable and slightly unusual house. A day later it already seemed to me that I had been living here for a long time. Everything was so familiar and understandable.
7. You also need to understand that a yacht is not a car and moves slowly. Typically the speed is between 5 and 10 knots. The engine is stable at 4-6. Under sail - from zero to ten. But the surrounding reality is so beautiful that there is no time to be bored. This includes oncoming traffic - just look at this beautiful liner! Nature, sailing, talking, etc. and so on. If you get bored, you can always sleep.
8. But the main thing is the crew. If you rent a yacht with a group, then everyone already knows each other. It is easier. In this case, no one knew anyone except the married couple, but that didn't stop everyone from having a wonderful week together and making friends. Although it happens that there is no common language. But you have to be a very strong beech not to get along with the others on such a trip.
9. Our first stop was planned in Hvar, but it was a bummer. It turns out that at that moment there was a yacht week in Croatia. This is a huge number of boats that move from one party city to another and party, party, party. Having fun. But there’s no room in the marina!
10. Also yachting, of course. But the price of one linear meter of such a vessel is from a million dollars. Maintenance, fuel... If you are not an oligarch, this is not your choice.
11. A modern sailing yacht (or catamaran, as in the photo) is also not cheap: from 150,000 euros and above. Maintenance per year - from 20,000. And also parking, repairs and other expenses. Br...
12. But to rent... Yes, almost all of Croatia and Italy sail on rented yachts. This is quite accessible to everyone. Now, as they say, in Russia too. But still on a yacht to Croatia. Or to Turkey. Or the Caribbean. There is a sea everywhere, and it’s good there.
13. And we came to the bay of Hvar itself and dropped anchor in it. Like a dozen other yachts.
14. We got to the shore on an inflatable boat - a “tuzik” (it is called a tuzik, like a dog, because at sea it is tied to a yacht and runs behind it along the waves). Dinner in Hvar and back to our house to sleep.
15. Skipper's workplace. The yacht is equipped with the most modern equipment. Radar, navigation system, autopilot(!), walkie-talkies and much more useful things. You can try twisting and pressing almost all of this.
16. Our yacht is Kali. Almost 48 feet, the flagship of the fleet. Luxury salon, all business... :)
17. We disembark to swim to the Blue Cave. Fantastic place, just a game of nature's mood.
18. I'm already crazy about this picture. A minute earlier, I was stunned by the fact that a boat was floating near the entrance of the cave, where a cashier was sitting, who was writing out a ticket for 40 kuna (payment from the ship’s cash register)!!! There is also a poster hanging nearby that states that swimming and photography are prohibited. But no one cares. And they take pictures and even swim in the cave.
19. Light penetrates into it only through small natural holes in the rock and, reflecting from the white limestone bottom, colors everything around in silver-blue tones.
20. I can’t help but admire once again how he takes off the third nickel in such conditions. ISO 12000... I’m even afraid to imagine what people there are filming on point-and-shoot cameras with flashes.
21. But July is hot. And the heat means swimming. If you want to stand all day in a deserted bay and swim - welcome. If you want to ride fenders, welcome. As Charlie says, "It's your vacation!"
22. But fender riding brings a lot of emotions and positive emotions!
23. Our skipper is Charlie. Extra-class yacht master. He crossed the Atlantic several times. An eternal optimist and a wonderful person. He spent half his life working as a mechanical engineer and designing off-road vehicles, then volunteered for the British Army, where he rose to the rank of regimental commander, fought in Afghanistan, and has now been sailing for many years. Traveled more than 40,000 miles at sea. By the way, all skippers are mega-positive people. There is no other way to do this kind of work.
24. Well, we are still riding fenders :)
25. One of the parking lots. Marina is busy again, so we stand on the buoy. By the way, 200 kuna! And another 75 for an unlimited toilet and shower.
26. I don’t remember where, but it doesn’t matter. Just beautiful! Some smaller parinas offer free parking as long as you dine in their restaurant. One such dinner cost us just over 1000 kuna for six. Moreover, there was a lot of food and it was very tasty. And the local white wine was simply divine.
27. Well, specialists. What kind of animal? How much it rushes, how much it eats, and in general, why is this vessel so strange?!
28. Mimimi beetle. Violet! Is this a replica or an original?
29. Well, we move on. By the way, I highly recommend not drinking on a yacht. No, this is up to you, but... firstly, seasickness with alcohol can be very insidious, and secondly - why? In the evening at a restaurant is one thing. There's great wine, dinner and company. But during the day it's just hot. As the senior mate said, in one company there was a man who had not dried out since the morning. They tied his leg with a scarf so that he wouldn’t fall overboard. So he lay on the deck all day. But sunbathing is welcome. But remember, the sun doesn’t sleep either. Getting heatstroke is like nothing to do. Okay, relax. Everything is simple and good there :)
30. Charlie is a fan of traditional navigation. Despite the fact that he has a hard time, he uses a sextant for pleasure. It was made in the 80s... and when crossing the Atlantic he had to use a device made in the 20s of the last century. And it worked great!
31. One of the bays on the island of Lastovo. There is an abandoned military bunker here. I'll post a report from there soon.
32. But even without a bunker, this bay is worth stopping and swimming.
33. Naturally, you need to climb the mast.
34. Unforgettable sensations and emotions. Especially when the boat is rocking.
35. My happy and unshaven face is at the top of the mast.
36. Magic Korcula.
37. Very elderly people live on this yacht. They go to sea very rarely, but the yacht itself is in impeccable condition.
38. Mooring of another yacht in the marina.
39. Old town in Korcula.
40. Sunset view from the cocktail tower.
42. Then I remembered that I have a fish eye!
43. Olga, who is in the foreground, is on the yacht for the second time. And Ilya and Masha are the first.
44. Misha, first mate. Professional golfer and yachtsman.
45. Hurray, wind! Everyone sets the sails and turns up the heat. Alas, it doesn't last long. :(
46. The last night takes place in a deserted rocky bay. Here we have dinner and sleep for a couple of hours. We get up at four in the morning, swim at night and go early.
47. Sunrise at sea... It's just beautiful.
This is where the trip around the islands of Croatia ended. It was a wonderful week. Thanks to Charlie, Misha, Olga, Ilya and Masha for the wonderful company. Thank you
