Guides, cruise reports, and trivia from the sailing world.
In the morning, bathe in turquoise water. Breakfast in the cockpit. Sails up. A few hours at sea. And in the evening, dinner in a small cove, where instead of a hotel pool, you have the entire Adriatic in front of you... only on the other side of the Atlantic. The Caribbean is not one body of water. It is a huge mosaic of islands, states and territories stretching over a thousand nautical miles – from the British Virgin Islands to Grenada. And that's why everyone he can find his way to sail here.
One indication of the barometer can dull the alertness of even an experienced helmsman. 1013 hPa sounds safe, but does it really mean calm on the water? Nothing could be more wrong. This is not the current reading, and the barometric tendency — that is, the direction and dynamics of pressure changes in the key 3-hour window — is a real early warning system for the skipper against storms, sudden squalls and aura breakdown.
Do you really need to train before taking a sailing course? I decided not to wait for the first day of class and spent a year building my knowledge step by step – from traditional navigation and chart work to SRC and radio communication. Because you can earn a certificate, but confident and safe sailing starts long before that.
There is no single ideal route. For one crew, it might be a leisurely 70-mile sail through the Kornati Islands. For another, it might be a 190-mile voyage through the Kornati Islands, Šibenik, Primošten, Brač and Hvar. Yet another might opt for a two-week trip along the Dalmatia–Vis–Lastovo–Mljet route. And that is precisely Croatia’s greatest asset.
Things don’t always go according to plan on a yacht. That is why, before casting off, it is worth explaining to the crew what to do in an emergency, how to respond to a fire, flooding or engine failure, and when and how to call for help. A few simple rules and a clear division of responsibilities can help everyone remain calm when it matters most.
Before casting off, it is worth taking a few minutes to get to know the yacht. What may seem obvious to the skipper can be completely new to the crew – from using the toilet and galley to locating valves, electrical systems, and safety equipment. A few simple pointers at the beginning can prevent many problems during the voyage.
You can start with a relaxing week between Lefkada and Kefalonia. You can explore the Dodecanese from Kos. You can set out from Athens via Hydra and the Cyclades. Finally, you can plan a challenging voyage through Rhodes and Crete. Each of these routes will be different. But they all have one thing in common: Greece tastes better from the deck of a yacht.
A good sailing trip starts with getting to know the people you are going to sail with. Before casting off, the skipper should know who is on board, what to expect, and what to pay particular attention to. Because safety on a yacht starts not with a life jacket, but with knowing your crew well.
The patent was the goal, but I didn't go to the course for it. I wanted real knowledge, demanding training and people who would teach me sailing so that one day I could safely lead my own crew. Seven days on the Bay of Gdańsk showed me that a good school is only the beginning of the journey.
Check ratings and reviews from other sailors before choosing a charter.
