Dancing through the Dalmatian Islands

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			Boat: Bavaria 42 (13m) launched in 2006 Where? Dalmatian Islands Croatia When? 30th July - 6th August 2016 Crew: 8 (age 25-35) Experience: 2 Day Skippers, 3 casual sailors, 3 novices. Max Wind Force: Force 5 Mooring Fees: Around £60/night (+4 free nights)

Kastela to magnificent Milna

Checking in was exceptionally easy. Our local team gave Ben and I the lowdown on everything there was to know about the boat whilst the rest of the crew went off in search of food. Boat papers done, beer on board, it was time to set off. Picnic lunch in a bay here we come! We found a stunning bay, all to ourselves (in the middle of August!) – Resident water baby Alice was the first off the boat - Snorkels out, swim o’clock!

A short afternoon sail took us straight into Milna, where the local port authority chaps were there, ready and waiting to help moor us up. This was unexpected and pretty dreamy – never had any of us ever experienced so much help with mooring (perhaps we looked more incapable than most...but we like to think not!). The first day concluded with the most fantastic, freshly caught, tuna steak washed down with the local wine – delicious! All whilst we watched the sunset...what more could you want from the first day of holiday?

Morning in Milna to the beaches of Bol

Another calm morning meant an easy motor down to Bol. We stopped off for lunch and a swim at Zlatni Rat Beach – a stunning pebble beach with beautifully clear water also known as the ‘Golden Cape’. We headed into Bol, where we were easily able to get a spot on the town quay, just feet from the nearest restaurant – in August - hoorah! We recommend this for anyone looking to avoid marina fees and still enjoy the comforts of quayside electricity and water. Note: If you are on a boat with a deep keel just keep an eye on the depth!

It was Emma’s birthday, and so we headed out for a walk to Balero Cocktail Bar, set in a stunning beach side pine forest (we decided there are worse places to spend a birthday). After a delicious dinner in town, we headed to Vara Dero Cocktail Bar, where there was live local music until the early hours! A birthday well spent...

Sailing to stunning Stari Grad

A wonderful North West wind swiftly blew away the cob webs and meant a brilliant sail up to Stari Grad – the oldest town in Europe! Set in a deep bay there were ample options for lunch time swim stops – decisions, decisions...

The stunning sunset visible from the harbour entrance is a sight not to be missed and a wander through the ancient back streets of this historic town is a must! We ended up having dinner in a stunning little courtyard, covered in vines, well off the beaten track.

Heading to Hvar!

After a quick coffee (Croatians, perhaps because of the proximity to Italy, do a great cappuccino!) it was time to head off to Hvar! We arrived in Hvar Town at around midday where the harbour masters helped us squeeze into, what felt like a very exclusive raft of about 15 boats, in Hvar Town itself. Excellent!

Following brunch in the main square we headed up to the famous fort. The views of historic Hvar and the perfectly placed Pakleni Islands are astounding! An afternoon relaxing (it’s hard work this holidaying business!) gave way to an evening watching the sunset from the rocks, before heading into town for dinner. As we were moored in the town, within cork popping distance of some of Hvar's most famous bars, we decided it would be rude not to investigate!

From Hvar to serene Sesoula Bay

After a lazy start (following the aforementioned bars), the South Easterly wind (locally known as Jugo or Sirocco) was with us, which made for a fantastic broad reach the whole way. Once we got to the top of Solta Island it was time for a much needed swim in the archipelago of islands around Maslinica.

We headed into Sesoula Bay fairly late. After another delightful evening of drinks on board (you might be noticing a common theme here...) we went to shore for dinner. We had a delicious meal at Sismis Restaurant that evening. The steak was to die for...even if it did break the bank slightly!

One Day...Five Bays!

From Sesoula Bay we headed around to Maslinica for an explore before heading off to refuel in Rogac. A cheeky tactic if there is a long queue for the fuel quay (and there certainly was in August) is to simply moor up on the village quay – where there is plenty of space – and refuel with a jerry can or two. This saved us at least an hour and meant time for an extra last day swim!

We went for one final swim stop in Stomorska (the fourth bay we had visited on Sesoula Island that day!) before heading back to Kastela. Because four places wasn’t enough in one day, we headed into Trogir town for dinner. A terrific place and one not to be missed when sailing in this area!

Fancy checking out Croatia?

View our One Week and Two Week Rough Guides for more information on Yacht Charter in Croatia. Or feel free to call the Bareboat team on 020 8438 1133 and ask us for our top tips!