Posts Tagged ‘Yachting’

Yachting Holidays

This year, rather than opting for the usual holiday, why not try a yachting holiday? There’s no better way to spend your time than sailing along a beautiful coastline, enjoying the sea breeze and excitement from a yacht.

Where is best?

There are so many destinations to choose from when deciding where to go on your sailing holiday. We’ve chosen three hot spots to help you make your decision.

Croatia

With many unspoilt and remote islands to discover, a Croatian sailing holiday is the ideal destination for those with a sense of adventure.

Cruise upon the crystal clear waters and stop to visit the historical villages and small marinas which are becoming increasingly popular with sailing holidaymakers. With countless town quays, you’ll never be far from a restaurant or shop for supplies.

Overnight, you can either moor up in a marina with all its conveniences or opt for setting anchor in a secluded creek. Or why not anchor in a quiet bay, perfect for a peaceful swim?

You’ll receive the warmest welcome, typical of Croat hospitality. And warm sunshine too! Croatia has 2600 hours of sunshine per year. Early summer brings good winds, making May and June the best months to go. July and August offer calmer periods, suitable for those preferring a more peaceful sailing holiday.

This amazing country has loads on offer and is great for both those new to sailing and veterans of the sport.

Where to visit – Dalmation Coast, Korcula, Dubrovnic.

Greece

Clear turquoise seas and colourful views ranging from vineyards and orchards to rocky terrains and pebble beaches. Greece offers the most spectacular scenery.

Visit the beautiful quaint villages and sheltered harbours the Greek islands have to offer. Greece also offers sailing holiday makers many places of historical and cultural interest as well as stunning architecture.

Quiet sandy beaches in picturesque coves make for the perfect anchor. In the evenings you can tie up on the quay at one of the many holiday resorts and take in the nightlife.

The weather is invariably good throughout the summer months and the light afternoon breeze makes Greece an ideal sailing location. From April until October there is very little rainfall but the islands still manage to maintain their lush greenness.

The southern island is ideal for the less experienced sailor due to the sheltered waters and shorter routes. The North offers less crowded waters but longer passages for more adventurous sailing.

Where to visit – Cephalonia, Corfu, Ithaka, Paxos, Kythira.

Italy

A gorgeous coastline of breathtaking mountains, still lakes and idyllic islands coupled with vibrant cities, make Italy the perfect destination for holiday cruising.

Italy is a country which has preserved its history for thousands of years. Naples is ideal for art lovers wishing to visit museums and monuments, while Tuscany offers rustic charm and raw beauty. If glamour and style is what you crave then Capri is the place to visit, and the history and diversity of the Amalfi Coast is second to none. A yachting holiday may just be the best way to discover everything that Italy has to offer!

Moor your yacht at one of the many local harbours and take in the superb restaurants serving the finest food. There are always plenty of shops nearby for sailing supplies, making it an ideal base for families. Bays and moorings can get crowded in busy periods.

Italy is one of the most popular sailing destinations with all seasons offering great weather conditions. More than 5000 miles of coastline border the country and most of it stays sunny for the majority of the year. July and August are the hottest months with the lightest winds.

Both experienced sailors and beginners will find a yachting holiday in Italy an experience to treasure forever.

Where to visit – Capri, Almalfi Coast, the Pontine Islands, Procida.

What Now?

If you are an experienced sailor you can charter your own yacht. Remember an up to date competency certificate is usually required. Or why not arrange for a skipper to do all the hard work for you? Either way, a yachting holiday is a fantastic adventure and a wonderful alternative to the standard summer holiday. Make sure you plan your trip with care, do lots of research before you travel and always ensure you are covered by your insurance policy!

Yachting in Croatia

Croatia is one of the countries well-known as nautical paradises. The nature is still untouched and the coast remained unpolluted and free of huge building and houses. Alongside its 5800 km long coast there are thousand islands which are very tempting for ones who want to explore. Numerous small bays and crystal clear sea are one of the reasons why passionate yachtsmen often visit Adriatic. The Croatian coats is relatively near the Middle-European cities ( a flight from London lasts for 2hrs , from Munich for just one hour ).

The ancient towns that origin from Roman Empire as well as many archeological sites and cultural heritage prove that the Croatian coast was interesting to many even at that time. Therefore, these sites should be found in every yachtsman’s itinerary. The ancient times left a trace even in a traditional Croatian cuisine. All of the specialties ( mostly based on fish and Mediterranean spices ) can be tasted in many restaurants and small taverns spread all over the coast.

The weather is ideal for sailors. Because of numerous islands alongside the coast the navigation between them is very pleasant. There are no huge waves which would cause problems to inexperienced, as well as to experienced yachtsmen. Thanks to the number of islands the long voyages is almost impossible without being nearby one of the islands where you can anchor and enjoy. Numerous bays also provides a shelter, so the threat of sudden bad weather is very low. Of course, that does not mean that the yachtsmen do not have to regularly pay attention to weather forecast and plan their navigation accordingly. For the sailboat fans , it is necessary to note that there is always North-West wind during the summer alongside the coast -”maestral”. That wind gives you a refreshment in summer heat. It starts at noon and become weaker in the evening.

Along the Croatian coast there are about 50 marinas most of which belonging to a famous marina chain ACI. The prices for berth in marina are shown at ACI – Adriatic Club International web site www.aci-club.hr . If you are visiting Croatia with you own boat , please note that you have to own a season vignette. A crew list can be changed only for limited number of times during the season. For yachtsmen who do not have their own vessel the prices for charter of almost every charter company are listed at Yacht Charter Croatia , Charter yachts – Croatia , Yacht charter & rent-a-boat .

According to Croatian law the vessels which are in charter in Croatia must sail under Croatian flag . That law was issued recently – just a couple of years ago. Boat leaders must possess a boat leader’s license. Until recently, beside its own , Croatia had recognized all the licenses issued by foreign state institution. Meaning that various diplomas of some local sailing clubs or associations were not accepted. Recently Croatia stated that it would acknowledge only boat leader’s licenses issued by the countries with which the mutual contract has been signed. The matter of fact is that this contract was signed with only 2-3 countries, so it is considered that Croatia would stick to the rule “if the license is valid in your country, it is valid in Croatia as well”.

However, Croatia has been recognized as a top nautical destination by numerous nautical magazines from all over the world.