Tag Archives: Croatia

You went to Croatia without a yacht!?

Thinking of visiting Croatia this summer? Undoubtedly, the only way to explore the Adriatic Coast is by yacht. For groups of friends, Croatia provides the perfect blend between partying and enjoying secluded, tranquil bays on your own yacht! There are over 2000 islands scattered around Croatia’s waters and a lot for charterers to explore! It has never been easier for groups to enjoy a yacht charter. With international flights and an increasing number of boats to choose from, a yacht charter has never been more accessible in the Mediterranean!

Having chartered in Croatia on both bareboat and crewed yachts, broker Alice provides her insights into the Adriatic Coast and how to get the best charter boat. You can choose from a bareboat catamaran or a sailing boat charter with or without your own captain and a fully crewed motor or crewed catamaran charter to explore Croatia.

Choosing the right boat

Monohull

A monohull charter provides the classic configuration of a yacht. These type of boats are perfect for those who love sailing and for smaller groups onboard. If you are wanting to charter bareboat for the first time, a monohull is a lot easier to navigate, sail and to moor up in ports as the boat is smaller. Monohulls also tend to be less expensive however they compromise on space and are generally less comfortable than a catamaran. If you are looking to charter a monohull in Croatia, a Hanse is the obvious choice.

Catamaran

A catamaran around the Croatian islands of Split.

A catamaran is the ultimate boat for a group of friends. Catamarans range in size and can accommodate up to groups of 14 people onboard. Catamarans have space on the bow and inside for relaxing. They also give additional space to get peace and quiet onboard. For larger groups, the Bali catamaran range is a great option as the brand has resigned the fleet to allow for more space on the bow for dining, sunbathing and relaxing. I would recommend adding a skipper to the charter if this is your first time bareboat charter on a catamaran. Most catamarans comprise of four double cabins with space for sleeping in the convertible saloon.

A boat with a skipper and a hostess?

For a more luxurious experience, whether you are a sailor or not, be sure to add a skipper and hostess to your charter. Sit back and relax whilst the skipper navigates you to the best kept secrets of the Adriatic Coast. Local knowledge in these parts of the world allows you to see areas such as empty bays, coves, the best anchorages and the best tips for unforgettable restaurants. Think of eating freshly caught octopus, cooked under a bell with local villagers.. this is the additional value of a skipper.

If you choose to add a hostess onto the charter too, this will typically enable you to have two meals per day onboard. Fresh, colourful lunches on deck followed by a swim are a key part of the charter. Note that if you do add a skipper and/ or hostess to the charter you are required to pay for their provisions during the charter.

Offshore Activities

Nightlife

Croatia is known to be the next Ibiza. The island of Hvar has many beach clubs for during the day and even has it’s own island for a night club, visit Carpe Diem island for a very unique nightlife experience. The streets are full of secret, underground bars for after hours. If nightlife isn’t for you but a few glasses of wine after dinner are, many quaint bars are also to be found in every village. The Croatian wine is a must- try, especially on the island of Vis where you can visit a vineyard to sample the latest production.

Nature

The nature you can expect in Croatia consists of natural waterfalls, blue and green caves surrounding Hvar, mountains and breathtaking scenery. There is also the option to dive on wrecks and reefs to explore some of the Mediterraneans sous-marine life. Visit the island Bol for hiking in vegetative mountains, Vis for its Blue Grotto and Mjat for its natural beauty. If you want a more scenic charter, be sure to visit the Kornati national park during the charter. A tip would be to go rafting on some of the waterfalls surrounding Split prior or following your yacht charter.

The Itinerary and Sailing

The Boatbookings brokers will help you plan an itinerary that will suit your group. The islands surrounding Split incorporate a blend of partying, climbing, cultural visits, swimming in secluded bays and even scuba diving. Either start your yacht charter from Split or Dubrovnik to find the best boats for exploring the Croatian islands.

See below some photographs of a Boatbookings broker trip to Croatia in 2019. First-hand experience of the sailing itinerary, best boats and restaurant recommendations enables the Boatbookings brokers to provide impartial charter knowledge.

Contact the Boatbookings team to plan your charter today!

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Spending the night in Split.

Before or after your yacht charter in Croatia, a visit to Split should most definitely be on your to-do list. Most of the surrounding ports in Split are only a 10-15 minute taxi from the beautiful city of Split.

Sailing into Split, catching sunsets and watching dolphins.

Restaurants and Bars

Hidden in underground chambers or on beautiful Venetian streets, there is a wide variety of restaurants for everyone in Split. Traditional Croatian food and contemporary fine dining is both available throughout the city. Be sure to visit the palace for some live music, Croatian wine and historical underground tours. Anthony Bourdain once stated that ‘Croatia is the next great thing. If you have not been there, you are… an idiot! I am an idiot’.

Bokeria

Grilled Octopus, traditional lamb shank, truffle pasta, and cuttlefish are some of the best options from this fabulous restaurant. This restaurant is most definitely worth a visit pre or post charter.

The History behind Europe’s Venetian Capital

The story behind Split is one of the most diverse in Europe. The story resonates from Greek settlement in the 3rd century followed by a Roman invasion and taken by Venetian rule in the late 14th century. Venetian architecture can still be seen all over the city. The infamous Venetian Palace was constructed and the city grew around the palace walls.

After the world war, Croatia was transformed into Yugoslavia and this city experienced industrial growth alongside a large shipbuilding industry and a very dynamic port. Despite the destruction caused to Croatia during the Yugoslavian war in the 1990’s however, soon lost its industrial hold during the years following the liberation. The main industry now in Split is tourism. The city is full of hidden gems, beautiful hikes, beach clubs and some of Europe’s most fascinating architecture.

Get in contact with one of the Boatbookings Broker’s to find out more about your net yacht charter in Split.

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Provisioning on a bareboat charter!

In October, the Boatbookings London team visited Croatia to evaluate the Bali 4.5 and to discover and test out new itineraries and anchorages.

If you are anything like the Boatbookings brokerage team and love your food – here are some food ideas for you! Follow our provisioning list so you won’t be disappointed with your lunches!

Part of the team after the 40 minutes of shopping!

TIPS

Due to having the flu, I was to look after the bags and water while the rest of the team picked up the food.

– Be prepared and write a list! Don’t go in blind. Plan what you will need. There’s nothing worse than preparing lunch and forgetting that you didn’t buy salt….like we did!
– Delegate someone to sit with the bags while others go off to get the food…leave all the water with the bags so that you don’t exhaust yourself!
– Vegetarian lunches are great while cruising. Have your locally sourced protein for dinner.
– Find out exactly what will be on the yacht prior to writing your list!

Provisioning list

Whether provisioning for the Amalfi Coast, or exploring the cays in the Exumas, provisioning for a week’s charter may seem daunting, but do not to threat! This can be a fun exercise when you know what you are going in to get!

Be organized, planned and get excited for all the fantastic cooking you will be doing!

Fresh Food:
– 10 tomatoes
– Box of salad
– Garlic bulbs
– Carrots
– Courgette
– Lemons
– Bananas
– Honey Pomalloe
– Mushrooms
– Peaches
– Shallots
– Red / yellow / green pepper
– Cucumber
– 30 eggs
– Chilies
– Mangos
– Raspberries

Dried foods:
– Bag of Almonds
– Bag of pistachios
– 2 x Tortellini
– 2 x Gnocci

Dairy:
– 2 x mozzarella balls
– 1 ricotta pot
– Feta bar
– Milk
– 2 x Camembert
– Natural Yoghart
– Butter

Misc:
– Balsamic vinegar
– Salt and Pepper
– Olive Oil
– Ketchup
– Coco-Cola
– Bitter lemon
– Tonic water
– 2 bags of crisps
– 2 x Hommous
– Nutella
– Pesto
– Coffee
– Tea

Breakfast:

6 Guest Frittata
  • Olive oil
  • 3 shallots 
  • 1 diced red pepper 
  • 1 diced yellow pepper 
  • 1 diced courgette
  • Salt and pepper
  • Crumbled feta
  • Crack of black pepper
  • 8 eggs and a knob of butter 

Breakfast

Simple breakfast
  • Butter
  • 12 eggs 
  • Hot chilies
  • Fresh bread
  • A Spoon of ricotta with the eggs
  • Mango
  • Raspberries

Lunch

6 guest bruschetta and salad
  • Olive Oil
  • 2 shallots 
  • 4 balsamic glazed tomatoes
  • 1 diced yellow pepper 
  • 4 tablespoons of ricotta
  • Salt and pepper
  • Rocket
  • Pesto for drizzling
  • A crack of black pepper

Lunch

Carbs, with a side of carbs and salad – PERFECT! Pesto Gnocchi, Caramalised onion bruschetta with a fresh greek salad.
  • Olive Oil – everything
  • Half a loaf of toasted bread – bruschetta
  • 4 balsamic glazed shallots – bruschetta
  • Mozerella – bruchetta
  • 3 tomatoes – salad
  • 1 diced green pepper – salad
  • Half a cucumber – salad
  • crumbled feta – Gnocchi
  • Salt and pepper – everything
  • Rocket – Salad and Gnocchi
  • Pesto for the Gnocchi

Eating fresh food on the back of a yacht in a pretty anchorage for lunch is possibiliy one of the best things you can do in life. Food always brings family and friends together, its a great time to talk about the morning’s sail and discuss the options over the next following days. The best way to view a country is from its coastline, speak to one of our team members today about chartering.

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Unmissable Travel Tips

This weeks luxury blog includes three infamous charter destinations. First off, the BVI! With the Romasco-Group readily available to make your charter unrivalled in terms of luxury, exclusivity and style. Also, in Croatia and Ibiza, among many other destinations, hotels are starting to build yacht marinas on the doorstep to blur the lines between water and land trips.


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Wine and Dine As You Sail Croatia

In previous articles we have covered the pristine beauty and historic treasures of Croatia and the stunning Dalmatian coastline, but another reason to charter in this part of the world is the incredible selection of bars and restaurants, where you can while away the days or evenings sampling the local fare. With a multitude of options, I will concentrate on a couple of our clients favourite spots from Split to Hvar.

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