Welcome! First of all we would like to introduce ourselves. At Sails of Croatia we do things differently! We are proud to say that we are a local family business with a unique way of listening to your needs and supporting you every step of the way!
What separates us from the rest?
We are LOCAL and we want you to know it. That is our advantage and this is why all of our guests are satisfied with our service. With more over than 15 years in this business, WE HAVE SELECTION of the right yacht for our guests. From the beginning we have been working on simplifying and solving any problems or needs that our guests have.
IT IS YOUR TIME TO RELAX!
You probably can’t escape that Pre-Holiday Madness completely. There are some things that you can actually do to start your holiday way more relaxing. We are here to make sure that you have the best, most recharging holiday ever!
10 Things People Struggle With While Organizing Sailing Holiday In Croatia
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What type of yacht to choose?
Catamaran deliver great comfort and privacy, while providing a lot of communal areas to better enjoy your group (extra space for everyone). Catamarans don't heel ("tip") like a monohull, providing for a more stable feeling on the boat.
When it comes to finding the smoothest ride around, Power Catamarans are often a top pick. Without sails, these boats ride on two narrow hulls, instead of one wide one. This reduces wave impacts and increases efficiency. These boats are often utilized for charter by vacationers looking to spend a relaxing week or two afloat.
Charter a Motor Yacht for total freedom to cruise on your own voyage of discovery. The motor yacht is yours for the holiday to explore the cruising area at your own pace. Motor yacht gives you total flexibility every day. For speed sailing enthusiasts.
Monohull Sailboats give you performance, freedom and the true feeling of sailing. There are thousands of bareboat sailboats in Croatia, ranging from 30 to 60 feet and from 2 to 6 cabins. If you want the enjoyment of pure sailing, we'd generally recommend a monohull sailboat.
Before choosing a vessel, please bear in mind the following details:
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Yacht age
Just like a car, the older a yacht gets the cheaper it will be. This is due to wear and tear on the yacht, including sun bleaching, fittings becoming worn and things not being as new and modern as they once were. All yachts will be in proper working order with everything working as it should. Though please bear in mind that the older the yacht gets the higher the possibility of breakages. Therefore you will find that all things being equal, an older boat will be cheaper than a newer boat.
We have three general categories of yacht age:
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Yacht equipment
Every yacht comes equipped with standard equipment: oven, stove, refrigerator, kitchen utensils (galley equipment, cutlery), bed linen, towels, dinghy and outboard engine.
Beyond the standard equipment found on most yachts, there's a world of difference when it comes to premium equipment. Having the right equipment on board can make all the difference in comfort and convenience.
There are a few pieces of premium equipment that can truly elevate your yacht charter experience in Croatia: Air conditioning, Generator, Water maker - Desalinator, Ice maker, Teak cockpit, Underwater lights, Dishwasher, Water toys.
Before booking a yacht make sure to check which equipment might suit your needs.
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Your Crew
Crewed yacht charter is a type of charter when you charter a yacht with a professional skipper and a hostess or a chef. It delivers ultimate holiday experience on the water since there will be nothing for you to do but enjoy at your own pace, on your own schedule: swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, fishing, sightseeing, eating, drinking... continue the list yourself with your preferred holiday activities.
Skipper is in charge of sailing/maneuvering the yacht for you, making the itinerary according to your preferences, giving you information about the area, spots to visit, turquoise lagoons for swimming and snorkeling, and restaurants with local food to dine in.
Hostess is responsible for ensuring the yacht interior is maintained/clean, provisioning, making 2 meals a day, breakfast and lunch (and snacks for the day). If you prefer to dine in the restaurant, we recommend taking a hostess for your sailing trip. Hostess helps the skipper during docking and mooring maneuvers.
Chef is responsible for provisioning, making 3 meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner (and snacks for the day, not responsible for cleaning the boat). If you prefer the intimacy of your yacht for dinner, we recommend you to take a chef for your sailing trip.
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How to pack for a sailing trip?
When it comes to packing for a seaside trip, you know the basics: dresses, swimsuits, flip flops, hat, sunglasses and sunblock. However, there’s a few items novice sailors might not think to bring along.
Pack Light: First and foremost, pack light! Sailboat cabins can be pretty conservative in size, and you don’t want to feel claustrophobic with unnecessary personal items cluttering up your space. Stick to one suitcase and be sensible with what (and how much) you pack. A duffel bag is recommended — rather than a hard suitcase — in order to fit your bag into tight spots or fold it up once it’s empty.
Motion Sickness Products: All-natural ginger chews or Dramamine which can be a bit more powerful for those who are really prone to it. Newly popular PSI wristbands: lightweight wristbands that use acupuncture pressure on the wrist to combat nausea. They’re affordable, surprisingly effective and highly recommended!
Clothing: For clothing we recommend several t-shirts, a couple pairs of short and swimsuits, windbreaker or light rain coat, hat, and sunglasses. For shoes, a pair of street, boat, and water shoes are recommended. It’s best to go barefoot on the boat to keep it clean. If you want to wear shoes you can wear something with non-marking soles and good grip. Linens and towels are included, but you might want to pack a separate beach towel. (It is possible to rent a beach towel for the week.) You may be packing for sunshine, but don’t forget that it can get chilly and misty in the evenings. Do not forget a waterproof windbreaker (if it’s a little insulated, even better). If it does rain during your trip, you’ll want to keep your clothes dry.
Hygiene Products: Travel size shampoo, soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Earplugs and eye shades are great for light sleepers.
Convenience Items: Depending on what yacht you end up on, you may be stuck with limited use of power outlets. Sometimes there are only one or two outlets on the boat to be shared with everyone on board. Bring a power bank so you can charge your phone and camera at your convenience. If you’re a light sleeper you must pack ear plugs and an eye mask in case the motor starts up early or the sun shines through the porthole. “Dry Bags” or Zip Lock bags for money and electronics. Matches, playing cards, flashlight, small bag for beach trips, and a small notebook or journal for writing notes about the trip!
Stuff you DO NOT need to bring: Cooking and eating implements and utensils. Navigation tools and charts. First aid kit. All boats have them on board. Ladies: First leave the expensive jewelry at home. Then, forget bringing a lot of makeup and a hair dryer. Most importantly, worries.
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Making of a perfect itinerary
You have the flexibility of no fixed agenda, no pre set ports of call like on a cruise ship. As a guest on a private yacht charter you can change your mind if you get to a port and it's too crowded, or you realize you'd like to stay longer where you are! If one port falls short of your expectations when you get there move on early to the next place! Use these samplers to help your mind wander through the options before settling on an itinerary that works for you. Consider your ideal ports of call as well as which activities will entertain your group best. We are here to help guide you in terms of logistics and "can't miss" spots.
Split route A - 7 days
Split route B - 7 days
Split 14 days route
Don't struggle to much with planning your perfect itinerary by yourself. Once on board, your crew (Skipper & Hostess) will learn your preferences and help you plan your sailing vacation unique to you and your group. Take advantage of their local knowledge and let them show you the best hidden gems Croatia has to offer. Bear in mind that the itinerary is not fixed and is to be adjusted with the weather conditions of the week.
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Finding your chartered yacht
In Croatia you have several marinas in each region. It is very important that you remember the right name of the marina that your boat is moored in. You will get the marina info and contact number of your skipper that will be waiting for you in the marina. Usually the meeting point is at the entrance of the marina or at the reception of the marina. For less struggle in our package we offer organized Airport transfer. The driver waits for you at the airport exit and takes you directly to your designated marina.
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Cash or credit card & currency for paying in Croatia
Cash or credit card & currency for paying in Croatia. Please note that all the services in Croatia are paid in Euros. In restaurants, shops and supermarkets you can use credit cards as well, but not everywhere, so it is always recommended to have some cash in local currency with you. Most of the excursions and restaurants on the islands are cash only, even some mooring fees are also cash only. Don't worry, there are a lot of ATM's on the way where you can withdraw enough for your needs. Good to know: Security deposit (returnable) for the boat can be paid in cash or credit card. Please check the day limit on your credit card before arrival.
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Provisioning your boat
When you charter a yacht in Croatia, you will also need to provision it. There are two basic ways you can provision your boat for sailing vacation:
Provisioning service – yacht provisioning service. This is what we recommend. With this service you don't have to struggle with crowded markets on the day of your arrival. Regarding the preference list that we will send to you, we will do the basic provisioning (for first 2-3 days) and deliver everything to your boat at the time you specify (usually check in time).
Grocery Store - you can go to the grocery store once you are in Croatia in the marina. You can take a taxi to a bigger market, depending in which marina you will be checking in. If you decide to shop once you get there, it’s always better you make ‘to buy list’ in advance. It’s not that easy to just stop by the grocery store for something you forgot during the week because that mostly depends of your sailing route. There is usually a small grocery store on each inhabited island to do some provisioning on the way.
What groceries should you buy for your sailing trip in Croatia?
Breakfast - take lots of easy to eat foods like milk and cereal, bagels, English muffins and toast, bread, eggs and lots of fruit.
Lunch - take enough sandwich fixings for the week and lots of seasonal vegetables like fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other veggies for making quick and great fresh salads. As it’s not so nice to eat a sandwich every single day, and as you will be often at the beach, you can also have some lunch out on land. Stick to easy foods for lunch like pasta or chicken/tuna salads as you will probably sail or moor somewhere that sea might not be always calm.
Dinner - You can make easy dinners by centering them in cockpit or simply go out for dinner to try something local. That’s what most people prefer to do.
Drinks - take lots of water. The golden rule is minimum 1.5 liters/person/day. You will probably never drink that much but water is inexpensive. You will definitely end up drinking more juices and beer than you do at home. And don’t forget the coffee if you are a morning coffee drinker! Your boat will most likely have at least the most simple kind of coffee maker.
Snacks - Don’t forget to bring lots of snacks – food that is easy to get out when you are hungry while in a hurry. Snacks are especially good at happy hour, after of swimming and snorkeling while you are waiting for everyone to get cleaned up and for dinner to be ready. Salami, cheese with some olive oil and olives are always welcome.
Condiments - Basic spices, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc.
Spices - If you use a lot of spices, you might want to consider bringing some from home. Put them in small zip locks which are also packed very easily and it will save you money instead of buying full size spice containers for a week’s trip. Premarinating food at home will also take less spices.
Supplies - Don’t forget things like paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, garbage bags and zip lock bags! Take in consider that refrigerators on boats are not the same as the one you have at home! They are smaller and they have no exact temperature cooling abilities. They only cool when the motor is running or when connected to 220V shore power, so consider that your fridge may not keep everything as cold as you like. The fridge and freezer are often combined. So, start out with lots of ice in your cooler and fridge, run your engine every day to cool off the fridge or go to places which are equipped with electricity.
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Extra costs that you need to know about
Mooring fees: Mooring buoys (estimated 40-60 EUR per night, 2 x for catamarans) offer seclusion and privacy. Marinas (80-200 EUR per night, 2 x for catamarans) have cafes, restaurants, showers & toilet facilities along with shore power and fresh-water refills for the yacht. In our experience a mixture of the all options gives the best balance through the week for most groups.
Excursions: If you want to see more of Croatia, you can go on one of many on shore or water excursions - experience local history, culture and cuisine and activities such as diving, zip-lining and shopping. Sometimes you just need a simple transportation to a nearby city or beach, and you can do what you please once there. The types of shore excursions offered usually depend on the cruise itinerary. For example, some spots are excellent for water activities, and another for a wine tasting or visits to museums and historic buildings. Prices can range from as little as 10 EUR per person to hundreds of euros, depending on what's included
National park fees: There are areas in Croatia that are declared as National Parks - island Mljet, island Lastovo, Kornati islands, waterfalls of river Krka etc. If you visit them you have to calculate an entrance fee. Some national parks have the entrance fee for the whole boat, and some of them per person.
Dinning out: For sure you want to try some local Croatian dish when sailing in Croatia. Don't miss out on fresh fish and 'Peka' (dish under the bell). The prices for a nice dinner, with starters and a glass of wine, start from 30-35 € per person.
Crew food and drinks: Food and drinks for the crew is to be provided by the client. Usually people have breakfast and lunch on the boat. If there is no hostess service, be sure to prepare one more plate for your skipper. If you dine in the restaurant you can invite your crew to join you or give them a budget of 30-35 EUR per person/ per dinner.
Activities while afloat: What to do when you find a perfect anchoring spot? There are several activities that can bring a smile on your face:
SUP (Stand up paddle board / 120€ per week) - a fun and relaxing activity that most anyone can do, it is also one of the best workouts out there.
SNORKELING - Easy enough for children, and exciting enough for even the most jaded traveler. We recommend that you bring your own snorkeling equipment or buy one while in Croatia. Basic set (mask and snorkel) you can find already from 15 € to 20€.
Through a few simple steps choose your boat, crew and package for your unforgettable Sailing Holiday in Croatia!
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