Thursday, June 25, 2015

Island Šćedro - sailing destination


This pearl of Croatian's south Adriatic has been known for its good anchorage places and safe harbors since ancient times, so it is not surprising that Šćedro is a favorite destination for yacht charterers in Croatia. There is no water or electricity on the island so expect higher prices of the water since locals bring it from the island Hvar. Also remember to bring some food and bread along if you opt for a sleepover on Šćedro, as there are no stores on the island.

Mostir and Veli Porat bay (Photo source www.visit-hvar.com)

A very small population of 30 people lives on Šćedro during summer, in winter even less. The old settlements of Mostir and Nastane are now largely abandoned, except for restaurants and other tourist facilities opened in the summer season. In Mostir bay you'll definitely find your peace. Except clean calm sea and untouched nature, this bay adorns a Dominican monastery from the 15th century. You can anchor a charter yacht on one of five buoys (property of a local restaurant). Mostir bay is well protected from southern winds, but open to northern, so if there is a sign of north wind we recommend setting sail and finding a shelter in the neighboring Veli Porat.
Veli Porat is a popular anchorage and is often full in summer, especially when south and north winds blow because the south bays of Hvar provide little shelter. Entering Veli Porat bay, on the left side is a small inlet Rake, with depth of 5-12m, suitable for anchoring. Sailing towards the bottom of the bay you'll enter the inlet Srida with buoy field in property of two restaurants. Your children will definitely enjoy a sandy bottom of inlet Srida. If a strong north wind blows, we recommend anchoring in third inlet of Veli Porat - Lovišće. Here you can anchor on a buoy of local restaurant or on anchor.


Čarnjeni bay (photo source www.visit-hvar.com)

Well protected bays from northern and western winds are bays on the south side of island Šćedro - Čarnjeni bay, called Porteruša by locals and Borova lučica bay. With depth of 7-9 m you can safely anchor a bareboat and stay safe from Bora and northwest winds.

Don't miss beautiful island Šćedro, let it be an unavoidable stop at your sailing vacation with charter yacht in Croatia.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Sailing in Croatia with pets

For crossing the Croatian border with pet, it is obligatory to have pet passport and proper documentation for your pet. Also, in Croatia, it is obligatory that pets are micro chipped and vaccinated against rabies. It will be smart to check Croatian quarantine laws regarding sorts of pets.



We always recommend installation of safety net along the sides of the yacht. Also, plan shorter legs of your sailing trips, remember, dogs need their time on mainland. Recommended is, also, avoiding crowded bays and beaches with your dog; some of your neighbors could protest about dogs and sometimes would not be tolerant of your pet. Beside safety net, you can always bring extra safety gear for your dog or cat; it may be purchased in various pets shops.
Sailing can sometimes cause discomfort to your pet and they may get scared; that's why you need to reserve a corner for them to hide. Also be sure to remove anything that might harm your pet in case of panic.

Dogs should be house-broken, but even then they sometimes get confused on board. Charter yachts leave them limited options. You can try with a piece of Astro Turf. It will give your pet an illusion of grass and it is easy to clean. It is much easier for cats, a litter box will be just enough. However, place these below deck for stability reasons.
Another thing to consider on charter yacht are companionway stairs adapted for your dog. Most of our charter boats are equipped with stairs with approx. 20cm stair space, which is suitable for bigger dogs. A plank is also a practical solution.

A pet can also get sunburns and sea-sickness so make sure there is enough shade for them and fresh water. Some medications used for humans can help them with sea-sickness but you should consult your vet.
At last, your pet will enjoy a trip on sailing yacht in Croatia as much as you, as long as you have prepared everything for its comfortable and safe stay on board.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

What food to buy for a sailing holiday

Before your arrival in Trogir or Primosten base, think about stopping at a supermarket. Whether you're coming from Split airport, or driving a car to either base, there are supermarkets on your way, close to marinas. We recommend you to go shopping while you're still on land because groceries, as well as anything else, are much cheaper on land then on islands.



Quantity of food you're about to take on the boat depends on the crew, but you should also count on greater appetite while at sea. Best is to buy food with extended shelf-life, rather than perishable food. Perishables buy in quantities you're about to spend in day or two. If you are with children take enough snacks and drinking water. You'll be surprised how much food kinds can eat at sea.

We recommend you make a list according to meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner. For breakfast one would normally buy milk, cereals, bagels, eggs, ham, jams, butter and bread. You sure want to keep it simple for lunch, since you wouldn’t want to spend couple of hours cooking. In that case we recommend buying foods that can make a light salad or sandwiches. That includes green salad, seasonal vegetables, canned tuna, pasta, cheese and some meat, like chicken for example. For dinner we suggest tomato sauce, mincemeat, steaks, vegetables, pasta or rice. Do not forget snacks for children - dried fruits, seasonal fruits, cookies, potato chips, sweets... When thinking about different spices you want to use on the boat - besides salt, pepper and sugar that will already be on the boat, you should buy them yourselves.
It is important to think about preparing extra portions, but you'll probably visit some local restaurants and try Croatian cuisine as well - this is also something you should include in your sailing holiday provisioning.
Don’t forget to bring mineral water; it will restore minerals in your body lost by being exposed to the sun. Get enough juices for children and beer and wine for grown-ups, you'll probably drink an extra glass then you would at home. Coffee and tea should also be on the list.