Since there are many vessels and master port all over the Adriatic, we have
taken care to offer you numerous practical advices.
We hope that, thanks to
them, your summer adventure will go by more pleasant, with less unpredicted
problems and with more beautiful moments that will be engraved into your memory
eternally.
Due to the same reasons, the already-mentioned advices are
offered to the sea-lovers to whom this summer will be their first sailing
experience. We also believe that even the "old sea wolves" will find something
useful in them.
Composing the yacht crew The charter yachts in Croatia most often have three or four cabins with six to eight beds. Bearing in mind the capacity of the vessel, in most cases the people themselves form two groups which cuts down the renting cost so that the separate price per crew person would be the least possible. When doing that, one must have in mind that sea life is much more different from the life we all are accustomed to, there is a new environment, unknown temptations, quite narrow space, the lack of intimacy, etc. Therefore, when composing the crew that will be confined to coexistence and previously defined conditions, one must be very careful because his vacation may quickly turn into a real nightmare that he will wish to forget before it ends.
The basic condition of every successful cruise is for the group to be compact, i.e., with close desires and attitudes about what the charter should look like, and especially concerning the plan of sailing. The attitudes concerning the fact how to create the cruise may vary from one extreme to another. For instance, some people prefer sleeping, other active vacation (fishing or other underwater activities). Some prefer going to nature and withdrawal into solitude as a means of efficient escape from the daily life, while others in cruising sea a good chance to try out different forms of fun that the Adriatic Croatian coast offers and therefore they prefer continual dockings in the marinas and getting out on land. Some prefer an anchored resting in some quiet inlet, swimming and sun-bathing, waiting for the vacation to pass; others prefer constant moving with the purpose of making more miles and getting acquainted with the Adriatic as much as possible. You can always make suggestions but you should also respect the opinions of the others.  It is especially important not to force the others to accept "Your" challenge.
When composing the crew, try to avoid people with pessimistic characters who see unsolvable and terrible problems in everything. Being at sea for such people is surely a wrong choice because with their negative complaints and attitudes they will present a potential source of full unbalance of the complete energetic mutual human relationships.
In case that you want to rent a vessel without a skipper, you should previously define who will be in charge and make important decisions in disputable and dangerous situations.
The person who undertakes the wheel, on the basis of his former experiences and skills, must enjoy the full trust and respect of all crew members.
In order that all members of the group are certain that they can function as a whole at sea, they need to talk about all questions openly and in time. Such conversations have double function; as one, to confirm the compatibility of the group and, as second, recalling they previous agreement, to support every subsequent skipper's dissatisfaction with the sudden whims of any crew member.
If the members of your group see the future cruising in a diametrically-opposite ways, it is our advice that you do not spend your time on useless disputes in vain, but to split the group into two because, in the opposite, your cruising will divide you.
Choice of Croatian aqual waters City of Hvar
If you are a beginner and are renting a yacht
without a skipper, make sure you sail in tested and known routes with less windy
areas whose shore exhilaration will offer you the ability of safe shelter
(marinas, harbors or any inlets) in case of a sudden weather change. Such places
should be reachable maximum within 2 hours.
If your expedition is
predominantly of researching and diving character, or of sport fishing
intentions, please pay attention to the fact whether you posses all necessary
permits, and to the fact what part of the Croatian Adriatic may offer you these
activities. Pay special attention to the forbidden fishing and diving zones, and
to the zones where any disputable activities are performed only with special
permissions.
We can also mention a factor of almost insignificant
influence, which is the distance of the potential aquatic territory from your
check-in place. To the real sea lovers this is no excuse, since even the
furthest distances present no problem to them.
Choosing the right yacht Captains view
If you want a
fast and dynamic annual vacation where you want to cover lots of distance and
see as much as possible, the motorboat is surely the right choice for you. On
the other hand, if you want a slow floating on the waves and enjoying the charm
of sailing and the latent proving of your navigation knowledge and craft, go for
the sailboat. In case that this summer will be your first encounter with a
sailboat, please do not allow your previous inexperience to create some
problems, since the simplicity of the charter sailboats makes it easy for
everyone to mange them.
If you financial budget is intended for a summer
vacation with limited and modest framework, then do not even think about the
motorboats because they are gas eaters.
When it comes to making
reservations, we want to warn you that all quality vessels requested for renting
in July and August will be already sold out by April. The more you wait for your
reservation, the bigger is the possibility that you will enjoy less comfort,
live in not so excellent conditions, and there is no guarantee that you may not
experience unpleasant surprises during sailing because the best boats will be
already rented out. Therefore, without any reserves we recommend you to make
your reservation by the month of April, even earlier, if possible.
Concerning the quality of the reserved vessel, we want to emphasize
especially that between two vessels of the same type and maker, you should
always go for the newer, particularly if this summer will be your first
encounter with the sea. The newer vessel offers a better quality warranty for an
untroubled vacation.
Yacht equipmentWhen taking over the yacht, it is always necessary to check the equipment that
is an essential part of the boat and to verify its soundness. In the
continuation, we quote the obligatory equipment that every charter vessel must
have, according to the nautical regulations. The equipment we present would come
handy at any moment:
Navigation expedients
- sea charts
- navigation guides
- list of lighthouses
- tourist guides or any other prospects of the areas you are about to visit
- GPS, or if possible, GPS with a plotter
Yacht equipment
- main and subsidiary anchors with about 50m chain
- three berth ropes
- emergency tiller (spare shaft)
- cleats
- rows
- boat hook
- compass with illuminated background
- regulated lights
- flashlight
- siren
- VHF radio
Safety and rescue equipment
- life-belts (their number depends on the vessel's capacity)
- junior life jackets
- life-belt with a floating light and a 25 m rope
- signal torches (minimum six red ones)
- radar reflector
- scoop or a bilge pump
- fire extinguisher
- life craft
First aid
The law regulates that all yachts longer than 5
meters must have first aid kit that contains:
- bandages
- sterile compresses and gazes
- cotton
- patches
- safety needles
- tri-angled scarf
- alcohol
- liquid ammonia that helps neutralize jellyfish burnings or poisonous fish
stinging
- anesthetic spray for local wounds
- cod-liver oil against sun burns or burns as a result from carelessness or
incompetent managing hot machines
- medicine against temperature
- sea sickness medicine
If it is established that the yacht does not possess the regulated first aid
box, or if the box does not have all requested content, then you are breaking
the laws and there are corresponding penalties for that.
Toolbox,
spare parts, and other equipment
If possible, all tools should be
found in one place and the box should contain:
- pliers
- set of keys
- toolbox for fixing the sails
- silica gel
- insulating tape
Spare parts:
- impeller
- oil and gas filters
- alternator belt
- spare sparking-plugs for the outboard engine motor
- engine oil
- fuses
- adapters
- plugs
Among the rest of the equipment, we especially emphasize:
- font (vessel for collecting the waste oil)
- sow or cable/steal cutter (if there is ever a need for cutting the mast
cable)
- axe or a sea knife
Sailing datesEvery season brings its special face to the Adriatic and tells its own story. If
you have the chance to listen to every one of them, it would be a pity not to do
so. If you decide to realize the offered variant, we advise you to take the
following steps.
When choosing the period, define to which of the following
factors you give most attention and then make cruising adaptations:
Navigation experience
If during this season you will
plunge into your first charter adventure, then the summer is your only
alternative because the probability of any unpleasant surprises requiring
special experiences and skills are minimal. You had better leave the winter
period to the already-experienced sailors who will see their real challenge in
their talk to the sea and their circumvention with the
wind.
Jams
If you care about participating in the different
accompanying activities that the Adriatic offers, in terms of sports, cultural
and artistic performances, or the different types of fun that in the summer
months raise up the quality of the social life, then the summer is the right
choice for you. The spring and autumn are ideal periods for nautical people who,
besides swimming in the warm sea, want to avoid the summer jams in the places
and harbors, as well as on the beaches themselves.
Sunny and Nice
Weather
If you want to make sure that you will use the greatest
number of days lying on the deck or swimming in the sea, i.e., your priority is
to get a ten thanks to whom you can speechlessly let your colleagues and
neighbors know that you have spent your summer on the Adriatic, then the summer
season is the right choice for you.
Prices
If the price is
the crucial factor that will guide you when making a choice for the renting
period, then try to skip the months of July and August.
Planning the daily routesHaving made a decision about the Croatian aquatic territory you will research, you need
to define the cruising plan, i.e., your daily routes. In order that you can make
the most of the aquatic area where you will sail, when defining the daily
routes, it would be useful to ask for an advice from someone who has already
sailed in your intended area. If advices from such person are not available to
you, do not worry too much because you can always count on us.
When
planning your daily route, the fundamental rule you should never forget is that
sailing to your further destination cannot take you more than one third of your
available renting time. The rest of the time is your guarantee that, besides
sailing back untroubled to the master port, you can see a lot of what is out
there. When it comes to your coming back to the master port, we want to remind
you that it is always better for you to return a day earlier than an hour later.
The time between returning into the master port and checking-out always can be
spent for getting to know the closest aquatic territory, while intended
penalties for breaking the check-out deadline are great, and bad weather
conditions are not justifiable excuses whatsoever.
When defining the
cruising rout, as a way of useful help, we suggest that you take a look at our
suggested daily routes.
What to takeHere is a detailed list of "things" you may need during sailing, i.e., "things"
that may come handy in time of need. We want to mention that some vessels
already include some of the already-mentioned items in their standard price of
renting. However, most suggested items are of personal nature. We consider it
our duty to point them out to you but the final decision rests with
you.
Documents, telephone address book and means of payment
- voucher or a contract for renting the vessel
- personal ID documents (passport, personal ID card, driver's license and a
health ID card)
- skipper's license
- personal insurance policy
- other ID documents (diving, fishing, etc.)
- personal telephone address book with a special emphasis of the numbers you
can contact in case of need, independently of the working hours. These numbers
should include the port authorities and your charter agency.
- money (credit cards, checks, cash)
- voucher or the renting contract
Wearing items and shoes
surfing suit
winter jacket
- set of warm clothes
- set of light clothes
- training suit
- sailing gloves
- sailing hat with a hat brim
- winter hat
- rubber boots
- light boat shoes or sports shoes
- mainland shoes
- swimming suit
Personal belongings
- personal life jacket
- sun-glasses
- spare contact lenses, if you wear them
- mask
- fins
Personal hygiene
- set for personal hygiene
- towels for personal hygiene
- swimming towels
- paper handkerchiefs
- toilet paper
- sun-lotions or oils with a high factor of protection
- sprays, or other means, for insect protection
First aid and
medical supplies
- bandages and gauzes
- patches
- disinfection equipment
Along with the medications you take on
daily bases, it would be useful to have onboard medications against:
- nausea
- stomach sicknesses
- intestine problems
- throat inflammation
- coughing
- high temperature
- allergies
Food ad drinks
Independently of the way of
feeding you settle for (coast restaurants or preparing meals on the boat) we
recommend that you take enough quantity of food, drinks and spices, i.e., some
food that will always come handy, which includes:
- sugar
- salt
- paper
- vinegar
- oil
- paste
- soup packages
- flower
- eggs
- milk
- coffee
- long-lasting bred
In addition, of course, for the world do not
forget to take the necessary quantity of drink water!
Other
- personal set of nautical equipment and sea charts (if you have them)
- brachial GPS (if you have it)
- personal compass (if you have it)
- binoculars
- equipment for sports fishing (you need a permit for your underwater gun)
- nautical guides, tourist prospect or any other literature that can give you
useful information about the aqua territory you have chosen
- dish cleaning accessories
- hygiene cleaning accessories
- boat cleaning accessories
- water filter for disinfecting the water
- set of useful tools
- set of sharp knives
- scissors
- sewing accessories
- rubber gloves (for easier work with the anchors)
- flashlight
- matches (lighter)
- candles
- alarm clock
- cell phone with a 12V charger
- camera or a video-camera
- small radio-cassette player
- cassettes or CDs with your preferred music
- if one of the crew members is a musician, you may want to take a music
instrument
- different social games
- fun and relaxing literature
Checking-inIn order that during cruising safety of the people and the vessel would be on as
high level as possible, it is desirable that when taking over the vessel you pay
attention to the following:
Outward appearance
- whether there are any visible damages, such as scratches or bumps on the
body, the sides and on the deck
- check whether the fender pillars are bent or if their bases are complete
- check the side and bow fenders
- check the tightness of the fenders cables
- check the anchors and their chains and pay special attention whether the
other end of the chain is connected to the anchor's store. Write down the length
of the anchor's chain; test the anchor winches; get informed whether there is a
spare anchor and what is its location
- if you are renting a dinghy, check it out and pay special attention whether
the outboard engine is properly functioning; check its rows too
Deck equipment
- test the winches in a way that you spin each one of them by hand. The
winches must spin smoothly. Write down how many winch handles you received!
- check the tackles around the mast, the side sliders for the roller genoa and
the slider for the main sails
- check the stoppers
- stand by the mast and look up to the mast and the gaffs; afterwards pay
attention whether the mast is straight and whether the mast gaffs are vertical
in relation with the mast
- check whether the sail cables are too loose
- for the sake of vessel's passing under bridges, get to know what is the
height of the mast from sea level
- raise up the sails and check whether they are damaged or not
Stern stores
- count the mooring ropes and estimate whether you have enough of them
- count the additional fenders and write them down
- check the boat hook
- check whether you have a plastic backet for water
- check the cleaning equipment of the boat
- check whether there is a water hose and if the pan lang="en-us"> co
- do not forget the AC cable for connecting to the electricity network, in
case that the vessel has the possibility of charging batteries
- check the bilge pumps
Engine and batteries
- when it comes to the engine, sure enough you should check the technical
instructions of the boat in its checkout book and if you have any unclearness,
ask for clarification or for a demonstration. Independently of the technical
instructions, you should take the following action at the very spot:
- turn the engine's key in so that you can verify whether the engine starts at
once and easily
- test the gas handle (onwards and backwards). It has to go smoothly.
- ask to see the engine; get informed about the process of air exhaustion
(scavenging), the change of the cooling impeller, the existence of decompression
vents, and what is the location of the extra oil
- check whether the gas tank is full, as it should be, according to the
contract. We remind you that it is highly recommendable to avoid situations when
you gas tank's level will fall bellow 1/3 of its capacity
- learn the location of the batteries, what is their capacity and how to use
them
Safety equipment
- check whether there is a self-extracting life-craft and what its latest date
of its inspection
- is there a distress flares box; you should have at least six red flares
- learn the location of the fire extinguisher and check what the latest date
of its inspection is. It should be written out on it.
- whether the life belts respond to the number of the crew. If you bring small
children with you, ask for junior life jackets and a floating light
- in case that you have rented the vessel, check whether there are safety
belts with hooks on the deck that make working in bad weather conditions secure
- check whether the boat has a special chair, i.e., a belt for working on the
mast
Instruments
- turn on all navigation instruments so that you can check their correctness;
pay special attention to the compass, the radar, the GPS, the plotter and to the
VHF radio
- turn on and check all navigation lights; check the lights for sailing at
night and in bad weather conditions (red, green and white signal lights)
- get informed about the whereabouts of all electric devices and check whether
every fuse has a description
- check whether there is a cigarette-plug that, among the other purposes, it
serves for charging cell phones and as a source of electricity for all other
electric units
- check whether you have at your disposal a set of nautical maps and a drawing
set for defining your position on the map (triangle, dividers, pencil and
eraser)
- if the radio-cassette player comes with the boat, check whether it works
- learn which radio stations broadcast the weather-forecast and at what time
- turn on all navigation equipment and check whether they are properly working
Inward appearance
- check if there are any visible damages of the furniture of the equipment
found inside the boat
- learn where is the water reservoir and how to fill it up
- check the correctness of the gas cooker, learn how to turn it on and where
is the gas bottle
- check the soundness of the refrigerator
- check the sanitary nodes and the shower cabin
- check the sleeping cabins and see if there are enough sheets and blankets
for each crew member
- check if there are enough kitchen dishes and cutlery; pay special attention
to the can and bottler opener(s)
- test the inside illumination
- check the windows and the roof openings, especially profoundly study how
they are opened and closed and if the hatches function well. Pay special
attention to closing the cabin doors and the different closets so that any
banging during sailing, or in bad weather conditions, could be avoided.
Sailing in CroatiaIn order that sailing may pass in the best possible way, it is highly
recommended that you take care of the following details in time:
- Daily checking the engine oil level, especially if you are inclined to use
the sails and the engine at the same time. In such cases, the engine works in
tilted position, which means that it spends more oil. It is recommended that the
engine should not be used if the slant line is greater than 20 degrees.
- The level of the gas in the tank should not fall under 1/3 of its capacity.
- After starting the engine check whether the engine throws out water through
the exhaust pipe so that you can make sure the cooling system works properly.
- When anchoring into marinas and small harbours, pay attention to the lines.
It takes only a moment of carelessness for the line to tangle around the
propeller, and the untangling sometimes may take hours. If during tangling the
boat is moving, the damages will probably include the crank and the engine
bearers.
- Spend electricity rationally. When you are in shallow waters, for the
lighting the refrigerator use exclusively the service battery; avoid extra
lights and try to use the electricity "eaters" only in cases when the engine is
working. We want to remind you that in case of fully discharging the battery,
you will not be able to start the engine.
- Spend drinking water rationally; whenever possible, use seawater for your
needs.
- Always pay attention to the sea depth so that you may not damage the keel.
Stranding or hits in the bottom part of the boat cannot serve as justification
for the eventually resulted damage.
- Take down the sails as soon as you feel it should be done because later may
be too late.
- Discuss the rules of behavior before sailing, rules that all crewmembers
should keep without exceptions and step-backs.
- Close the doors of the closets and the boat or apply their breaks.
- Check whether all windows, especially the side ones, are well closed. Also,
check whether all toilet vents are closed.
- Never use the toilet when you are anchored in marinas and ports. This is
forbidden by law and for breaking it there are high penalties. When you drop
anchor in some inlet and want to use the toilet, make sure there are no swimmers
nearby.
- Pay special attention to the tidiness and the order of the vessel. Everyone
has to take care about the tidiness of his cabin but for the hygiene and the
order of the common places, you all should take care of. When on the boat, you
all should keep the simple rule that, after usage, one must return the taken
object to its original place. The boat on which dysfunction rules, simply does
not function. Take care of the vessel and it will take care of you.
Checking out
All you expected from the charter agency during checking-in, the agency expects
of you when checking-out. Therefore, you have to return the sailing yacht or motor yacht in time and
in the condition in which you found it, i.e., without any out and inward damages
with all corresponding and additional equipment and, of course, with a full tank
of gas.
As it was during checking-in, when returning the vessel you,
along with the agencyr epresentative, will go over all details and as soon
as you ascertain that everything is O.K., i.e., that the vessel is in the same
condition as it was when checking-in, you can freely say good-buy to the
Adriatic with a full heart and the hope that the next summer will come as soon
as possible.
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It is especially important not to force the others to accept "Your" challenge.
