Croatia trips on chartered yachts from 2001 to 2010
Charter Cruise CROATIA 14-23 June 2001
"Sightseeing in Split and Trogir, and cruising to Hvar, Korcula, Sv. Klement and Milna/Brac" Start: Marina Kremik/Primosten
After last year's experience we book a more capable boat for one week, a sports cruiser with similar specification to our own boat in England. We add a couple of days as land holiday.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 18-25 May 2002
"Heading South to Dubrovnik taking in Hvar and Korcula" Start: Marina Kremik/Primosten
For the first time we charter a boat from Offshore Boote, the company we had approached in 2000 but did not use. In the meantime we changed our mind, this time it's not a sports cruiser but a much larger flybridge yacht we take. Seems we are growing up. The reason for this choice is, last but not least, that the semi-displacement Star yacht is offered at the same weekly price as their sport cruiser. 'Star Four', a 13.10 meter (43 feet) model, is their smallest and most basic equipped trawler, with "only" 4 berths. Should be ok for two, and we do not miss a generator or thruster, our own boat doesn't have those either.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 31 May - 7 June 2003
"The Krka falls and through the Kornati" Start: Marina Kremik/Primosten
We stay with flybridge yachts and booked a 40 ft Fairline but to our surprise get upgraded to a Princess 470, a real treat. She is the largest and most luxuriously equipped boat we have been on. After a start in the Sibenik islands and visiting the famous Krka falls, we spend glorious and relaxed days in the Kornati islands, a nature paradise for yachties with stunning views wherever you turn. In variation to a well known tourism slogan of the Olden Days, it's "The Kornati how they once were". The report of 2003 makes one aware what sadly changed in Croatia since those days. The experience we had can never be recreated.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 22 May - 5 June 2004
"2 weeks' through the Kornati to Zadar, then Mali Losinj and Rab, and islands en-route" Start: Marina Kremik/Primosten
Enjoyment of fine weather in previous early seasons persuaded us to go for two weeks, last week of May and first of June. This time our weather luck had run out. We will learn from it.
We choose a good value small British flybridge yacht, an older Fairline 35 Corsica, a well known planning model of 36-37ft in standard configuration of motor yachts of the time. In 1990, thrusters were not standard on a boat of that size. For the first time we expect guests on board, friends from Vienna, they will join us for two days on a cruise from Mali Losinj to Rab. Willi is an experienced boat person, he comes with his wife and 12 years old son. Whilst the young man seems to get on well on the boat, the lady isn't sure yachting is for her. During their time on board luckily the weather is not playing up. Otherwise unstable, cold, wet and windy conditions make the experience of this cruise a lesser one than hoped. It's an experience how to deal with weather warnings.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 27 August - 2 September 2005
"Exploring island Vis and visiting Lastovo, Korcula and Hvar" Start: Marina Kremik/Primosten
After last year's cold early summer we book one week in late August/early September. Our boat will again be a small planning flybridge, this time an Azimut 36. She is, unusual for her size, equipped with bow and stern thruster, a small generator and air conditioning. The boat is stylish and powerful, but I find that sitting at the fly helm felt a little exposed, the hand rails are low. Had design taken priority over practicality?
Vis is a "younger" tourist destination than the other islands, it had been closed to foreigners and tourists by the Yugoslav authorities for military isolation until 1989.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 2 - 9 September 2006
"To the Dalmatian islands of Solta, Korcula, Sv Klement, Hvar and Brac"
We find a spacious trawler yacht with aft deck terrace to be the preferred choice and book 'Star Two' which is available, the slightly advanced sister ship to 'Star Four' we had in 2002.
For the first time Jane'e daughter Peex is going to join us as third member of crew. We will again turn South from Primosten, with a focus on exploring Korcula and Hvar.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 1 - 8 September 2007
"To the Dalmatian islands of Vis, Sv.Klement/Hvar, Lastovo and Brac"
We intend to explore the outer lying islands Vis and Korcula, with stops at our favourite marinas in Hvar and Brac. Jane's daughter Peex is again joining us, so we are three on board.
The boat we use is a sturdy and comfortable older 45 feet Ocean Alexander; she isn't perfect but performs well in difficult sea conditions. I find that the galley is quite small, given it's a boat with three cabins. Unfortunately we experience a lot of inclement weather, Bora ridden and very chilly for the time of year. I still put my new digital SLR to good use.
Charter Cruise CROATIA 6 -13 September 2008
"Through the Kornati and the Sibenik archipelago" Start: Marina Kremik/Primosten
Charter Cruise CROATIA 6 -20 June 2009
"2 weeks' trip from Split to the Southern islands including Dubrovnik"
Start: Marina Kremik, Primosten
Charter cruise CROATIA 9-19 June 2010
"10 days through Central Dalmatia, Skradin – Kornati – Molat – Dugi Otok - Zadar - Zlarin"
Start: Marina Kremik, Primosten
At the time, in summer 2010, I already owned Tarilian, but the Trader was in Falmouth and we did not want to miss out on a summer sun trip in Croatia. So we booked a trawler style yacht from our trusted Austrian charter operator Offshore Boote.
They offered an option of a 10 days charter, Wednesday to Saturday the following week, which suited us well. Blue Star, a Staryacht of 15 meters, was more basic equipped and older but solidly built traditional Taiwan sundeck trawler, so had similarities to our Trader 535. She felt homely to Jane, her daughter P.K. and me.
The following year, 2011, we would embark on the major journey from Falmouth to the Med on our Trader yacht and have no time to visit Croatia. In 2012 the journey would end in Croatia, and then began the "Tarilian years" of Croatian cruises.
