FAQ

Below you can read our frequently asked questions and find an answer that will help you inb your search for a vessel. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

1. Which vessel type and size should I choose?

The choice of the vessel depends entirely on your wishes andv preferences. Our offer includesthe following vessel types:

  • Sailing boats – excellent for both family and active vacation ( if you never sailed and you have licence, we recommend that for the first time you rent a skipper)
  • Catamarans – very stable and comfortable, it is quite popular now because it has a lot of space and it is like apartment at sea
  • Gulets – use the power of engine(more) and sails(less) to move, rented exclusively with the crew (captain, sailor, cook, hostess)
  • Motor boats – for speed sailing enthusiasts

Before choosing a vessel, please bear in mind the following details:

  • What do you expect from your holiday ( relaxation, active holiday, experience)?
  • Do you require a skipper or not? If you need skipper's services, please bear in mind
    that the skipper sleeps on board as well, so one of the berths (either in the saloon area
    or in a cabin) should be reserved for him.
  • How many people will be on board?
  • Does your group consist of pairs who can share the same cabin, or do some crew
    members require a separate cabin?
  • Do you prefer comfort?

2. How do I book a vessel?

You can consult with us through our Contact Button about the vessel choice – we will prepare
an offer for you based upon your request. We are here so you do not need to worry about
anything just advise us on your wishes and we will meet your need.

After having chosen a vessel, we can reserve it for you for several days with no obligation,
giving you time to organize your travel plans (buying plane tickets, etc.) and arrange
everything with your crew members.

The vessel is considered booked by you as soon as you pay the first instalment, 50% of the
total price, or the whole charter fee for bookings within 30 days before the departure. You can
pay by either a credit card or by bank transfer.

3. Can I charter a vessel for less than a week?

Sailing yacht charters usually begin and end on Saturdays. During the high season (from May
until September), we stick to our weekly charter system (Saturday-Saturday charter) since
these are the busiest months for charter companies, and most weeks are sold out well in
advance (the price is unlikely to be flexible, and you would usually be charged for a full
week).

Although sometimes when boats are not rented it is a good opportunity to find charters that
are not Saturday-Saturday, so it is always good to ask us and we will try to find this
“opportunities” for you.

Sailing trips lasting less than a week are generally arranged in the off-season (October-
April/May), and the price is then calculated according to the number of days spent on board.

4. Do I have to hire a professional skipper?

If you have no sailing experience at all, or if you do not possess an officially recognized
sailing licence, you are obliged to hire a skipper.

On this link you can check licences that are recognized in Croatia territorial waters, or you
can send us your licence and we will check it for you.

Even if you have experience in sailing, but are not sure in your manoeuvring skills, it is
strongly recommended to hire a professional skipper for at least several days, in order to make
your sailing more relaxing. You can also benefit from the local skippers' knowledge – they are
well acquainted with sailing conditions in the region you choose to sail in, and will be able to
suggest the most interesting places for swimming and fun, as well as numerous restaurants.

In most cases a skipper sleeps in the salon area. However, it is strongly recommended to
charter a bigger boat and provide the skipper with his own cabin, because guests will have
more comfort and a free salon area to hang out, and skipper will be well rested to do his job
even better.

This is something that you also need to be careful of – every vessel is registered for a certain
number of people (the law does not allow this number to be exceeded).

We can always reserve a skipper for you, because we are part of the skipper association in
Croatia.

5. What qualifications do I need for a bareboat charter?

In bareboat charter, the client, who is also a skipper, must be in possession of a certificate of
competence in order to charter a boat in most countries. Also, in Croatia, there is a legal
requirement for one member of the crew to be qualified for the operation with the VHF
station (possessing the VHF licence).

6. Are skipper's services included in price?

Skipper's services are paid separately from the charter fee. The guests are obliged to pay them
(also those of a hostess or a cook), as well as food and drink for the skipper and other crew
members.

On gulets, the crew expenses (those of a captain, a sailor and a cook) are already included in
the charter fee.

Mega yachts and sailing boats exceeding certain length are chartered exclusively with the
crew (provided by the vessel owner), in which case the crew expenses are included in the
charter fee.

7. Besides a charter fee, are there additional costs I should budget for?

Please check the additional costs for a sailing vacation at our Yacht Explorer price list.

8. Is there a parking area within the marina?

Most marinas have a secured parking area for cars – the price of a parking lot depends upon
the marina itself, and most of the marinas do not accept up front reservations.

9. What should I bring with me?

This article on National Geographic is interesting list of items you should consider bringing
with you on the boat, just keep in mind to be simple and everything else you can buy. There is
a store on every bigger island in Croatia.

10. Where should I berth - in a marina or in bays?

If you have enough electricity, water and food, you can spend the night in one of the well
secluded bays. When using the services of a skipper, you will not have any problems finding
the most secure bays, since the skippers are well acquainted with the chosen sailing region. If
navigating a vessel on your own, you can browse internet and prepare yourself upfront
intinerary for 7 days, but also you have on our website possible route suggestions that you can
check and use.

11. Technical equipment on board?

If having reserved a vessel through our website, please check the additional information on
the vessel equipment for every single boat in our offer. Should you need any further
assistance, just contact us and we will send you a document quoting all the equipment on your
chosen boat, and if something is not on the list we can contact base directly and ask for more
info about the boat. All bareboats will have a 12V outlet. Gulets and land based facilities are 220V. so you can use
it normally like in home.

12. Are bed linen, kitchen galley , etc. provided on board?

When booking a boat, make sure you check if your boat is equipped with towels and linen, or
if you can rent it on the boat. If not, you should take your own towels (both beach towels and
those for personal hygiene) and linen, most of them are equipped but we certainly check that
before you book a boat.

A kitchen is equipped with stove, oven, fridge, sink, cooking utensils and cutlery.

Cleaning agents, dish cloths, etc. are not provided on board, but can be bought in stores in the
marinas before boarding.

13. What places should I visit?

If you do not know what places to visit, please check some of our suggested routes and info
on departure points of the vessels in our offer.

14. Children on board?

Children can go sailing with you from an early age – there is no age limit. However, their stay
on board should be closely monitored by adults. Be sure to choose the safest cabin for a child
(e.g. the front cabin) and a place for them to play (cockpit is a relatively safe place). You can
also put a safety net ( this is highly recommended) along the sides of the boat, and children
should by all means wear life vests (suitable for their size).

You should bring baby food along (powder milk if baby is small), since it cannot be bought in
every supermarket within the marina. You should also consider choosing shorter routes and
visiting marinas, and check weather more frequently in case of storms so you are sure that you
have secured place in marina.

15. When should I return the vessel to the marina?

The vessels are returned to the base on Friday afternoon/evening with an overnight stay on
board until Saturday morning between 8 am and 9 am when the check-out procedure is done.
At that time the guests need to leave the boat, so that it can be cleaned and prepared for new
guests. In special circumstances, in agreement with the base manager, the vessel can be
returned to the base at non-standard time.

16. Is it possible for some people to leave and other to join the crew during a sailing trip?

Changes of the crew are possible. However, this changes needs to be announced upfront so
the charter company can issue crew lists with all the changes . Before taking over the vessel,
the charter agency will provide the guests with a verified crew list with data both before and
after the change, which the guests need to have during the sailing trip.

17. Can I take over the vessel before the time determined for check-in?

If you are arriving before the time determined for taking over the vessel, let us know the
approximate time of your arrival, and we will try to deliver the vessel to you earlier in
agreement with the charter agency. This is possible if the marina is not too crowded at that
time. In case you are arriving on Friday or earlier, and need some help in finding suitable
accommodation, please feel free to contact us.

18. What we can do for you that you do not have to deal with?

  • Airport Transfers
    We can arrange all transfers as requested. Please let us know your arrival and departure
    details.
  • Boarding and Return Times
    Ask about early boarding time that is usually on Saturday at 17:00, but you need to know that
    in some company this is charged separately, and on gullets this is impossible.
  • Cancellations and Trip Insurance
    Please refer to our charter contracts for details.
  • Cellular Phones
    Cellular signals reach most all the islands and we are now in EU so roaming cost nothing, but
    if you want a local SIM card we can purchase one and send it before you come in Croatia.
  • Credit Cards
    Credit cards -Visa, Master Card, Diners and American Express are commonly accepted
    throughout Croatia, but please do not give anyone your credit card without supervision and
    ask for the prices before you pay something.
  • Currency
    We cannot help you here but we can find the nearest Exchange office where you can
    exchange your money in local currency-Croatian Kunas. Also you can exchanged it at the
    airport, banks and you will pick kunas in any ATM across the Croatia.Just for the information 1 euro is app. 7,3 kunas, so keep in mind that when someone is
    charging you.
  • Diving and Snorkel Gear
    For diving you need a diver license, but course can be organised from our side. Tanks and
    Snorkel gear can be organized through a local dive shop close to the marina. Please provide us
    your wishes prior to your charter to fulfil any requests.
  • Hotel Accommodations
    We can help organize any of your shore-side requests. We are working with several own
    hotels and villas throughout Croatia and the islands, so this is not a problem.
  • Learn to Sail
    Hire a skipper for a day or a week to help teach you the ropes! Please request this service well
    ahead of your charter.
  • Provisioning
    Please complete your provisioning requests a couple of weeks ahead of you charter dates, so
    your groceries can wait you on the boat when you get there( for this you pay provisioning fee
    +invoice from supermarket). This is not applicable for gullets, because for gullets you can
    choose from their menu what would you like to eat and they set it all up for you.
  • Sailing Requirements
    A valid Sailing certificate and radio operators certificate is requested for bareboat charters,
    but we can help you obtain valid certificates valid for Croatia.
  • Skippers and Cooks
    One or both are available at extra cost for any number of days.