Croatia

Croatia

Day 1:

Arrive Dubrovnik and settle on boat. Depending on the flight timings either an evening cruise around the fortified city walls or an evening spent exploring the city. I would strongly recommend staying at least one evening as there is so much to see.

Day 2:

Dubrovnik to Celo on Kolocep or Lopud (nice beach) for lunch and then on to Sipanska Luka, a delightful little village with an old quay to moor against. Lovely walk for the morning up the hill to a church where you can see for miles around. (11 miles)

Day 3:

Island of Mljet, the island was once one of the biggest producers of Olive Oil in the Med, Odesseus was fabled to have been seduced here by nymphs in Homer’s “The Odessey”, but it had to be a novel because in real life, he would never have left! Swim and lunch at a little secluded bay that we know and then on to Polace, (literally “palace”) there are the ruins of a Roman palace there. We arrive along a long wooded inlet, and you could be forgiven for thinking that you were sailing up a Norwegian Fjord. At the end is a protected bay with restaurants, you simply moor up at the one that looks the nicest. We like “Ojija”, the service is friendly and they do excellent fresh lobster with Spaghetti. (21 miles)

Day 4:

Sail to the fortified medieval town of Korcula (pronounced KorCHoola), a town to explore. Marco Polo was born here and there is even a cocktail bar at the top of one of the towers, where the drinks arrive by a pulley outside the walls as the stairs are too steep! (15 miles)

Day 5:

Good sail to the deserted island of Lastovo. A military island until 1992, Lastovo was out of bounds to civilians and is completely undeveloped but spectacularly pretty. The anchorage is lovely and very protected. (19 miles)

Day 6:

A fairly long sail to the island of Vis. Studded with little coves and inlets, one is simply spoilt for choice as to where to stop for a dip. Evening in Komiza, where Tito hid from the Germans during WW2 and where there are two excellent restaurants serving fresh fish and local produce. (35 miles)

Day 7:

Short morning sail to the off-lying island of Bisevo, where a quick jump in the dinghy will reveal “the Blue Grotto”, an underwater cave that during the morning is lit from the sun, giving the water an amazing colour. From here, another cove for lunch before the evening stay at Vis town, a charming old town with some excellent restaurants and a “wine bar” where they serve nothing but wine from Vis. (10 miles)

Day 8:

From Vis we then sail to Hvar. Hvar town is overlooked by a large castle and has the oldest theatre in Croatia (circa 1200). This is where the beautiful people hang out. Enjoy a cocktail at the very chic “Carpe Diem” before strolling along the promenade to soak up the atmosphere of Croatia’s Cote D’Azur. (12 miles)

Day 9:

From the hustle and bustle of Hvar, we sail on to Brac, a large but mainly deserted Island for a night in a secluded cove under the stars. No street lights, no cars, no discos. Dinner on board, listening to the Cicadas. (14 mles)

Day 10:

Brac to Rogoznica. Lunch on the beautiful island of Solta, before a night of fun in Rogoznica. A five star marina, and a short dinghy ride to a good restaurant in the town itself, which is in fact an Island connected by a causeway. Then back for some dancing at the famous Pool Club where you can dance or swim, or both until the early hours! (17 miles)

Day 11:

Zirge or Zmajan. An antidote to Rogoznica, these islands are deserted and completely unspoiled. (13 miles)

Day 12:

A morning sail to Lavsa in the heart of the Kornati National Park. The park is breathtakingly beautiful, and there are many anchorages to choose from. Our favorite is in Luka Telascica, a sea lake which has to be seen. (28 miles)

Day 13:

From Luka Telascica we go through a narrow pass between the Island of Kornati and Dugi Otok (literally “Long Island”) before once again heading north to Bozava, a lovely village on the east side, after lunch and a swim, its a short hop to Veli Rat a lovely protected anchorage in the very north. (Don’t let the name put you off!) (20 miles)

Day 14:

Final sail to Zadar, an ancient port, from which there are ferries or busses to Split. (16 miles)