With a coastline meandering along the Adriatic for some 1,200 miles and an equal number of islands to explore, Croatia seems tailor-made for a sailing holiday. And a seafaring trip here need not be the sole preserve of those with the deep pockets of a rock star or the nautical prowess of a professional sailor. Throughout the summer, The Yacht Week company lets non-boaties live the dream for a reasonable price tag. The company offers a range of cruises in countries from Turkey to Thailand, but the famed shores of Croatia are the plum choice. Hired by the cabin or booked out entirely by groups of friends, the catamarans and monohulls set sail from Split, Croatia’s second city where the old town is burrowed into the arches of Diocletian’s Palace, one of the most impressive Roman ruins in existence. From there, a typical route takes in natural bays and fshing villages as well as beach bars on fashionable Hvar Island and an open-air club in a crumbling fort on Vis. The week culminates in a regatta with other boats – expect plenty of BBQs, partying and diving off deck as the sun lowers languidly over the sea, and tans are set off with white linen and oversized sunglasses.
A group of friends takes a break from skippering with a swim in the Adriatic Sea
PHOTOGRAPHS: UTRAKS.COM, HENRI JUVONEN
free skipper hire, worth up to £890