- Sailing Croatia tips
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by Ultra Sailing Team
One of the most common issues we have is renting a skipper for a sailboat or catamaran. Our guests are usually left to our choice of the local skipper. Professional skippers are local people who:
- have a category C navigation license and a VHF license
- have many years of sailing experience in local Croatian sailing clubs
- have an open business or company and issue an invoice for their service
- have valid skipper insurance
- speak fluent English, German or Italian
- know Croatian coasts, winds, ports, restaurants and people
- Their duty is to protect you and make everything easier during your vacation on a yacht
Renting a yacht with a professional skipper gives you the advantage of choice, especially if you do not have a valid license:
- You can fully enjoy your vacation
- You don’t have to worry about the technical details of the boat
- You will avoid night duty at anchor
- The local skipper knows the anchorages and bays better
- The local skipper can always recommend a place or restaurant
- The local skipper is your guide
From experience we can say that skippers have a lot of lifelong friendships gained at sea. Connecting people at sea, professional distance and constant service of the skipper is something that usually results in friendship.
All our skippers have a lot of experience and knowledge about the sailing area and will take care of your perfect vacation – tailored to your needs. Adriatic sea (Jadran) is probably the best nautical offer in the world, so there are several categories of yacht rentals that we want to refer you to:
Bareboat rental – without skipper
Bareboat rental means that a person or group rents a yacht without the service of a skipper. This is a common form of boat rental. This means that you or someone in your crew must have a valid skipper license and VHF license. Lists of recognized permits can be found on a website of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of Croatia and you can always contact us if you want us to check it for you. Please note the licenses to operate smaller sailboats and catamarans are different from those with which you can rent larger boats (boats with larger tonnage).
Sailboat or catamaran rental with a skipper as an extra service
In this case, you sail only with a skipper and without an additional crew. Renting a yacht with a skipper is the right choice for you if you do not have the necessary documents to sail the yacht yourself, you want to sharpen your sailing skills or you just want a relaxing holiday.
When you hire a skipper, you will get a person who not only manages the sailboat, but also knows the area and can give you advice on where to eat, what to buy and see, as well as direct you to those perfect hidden coves which you would probably miss otherwise. Also, skipper gives you a chance to relax.
Ultimately, your skipper is there to protect you too! In addition, the skipper will also bear full responsibility for the boat, and you don’t have to have sailing experience. Our skippers will be happy to show you some basics of sailing if you are interested. And when you fall in love with sailing, you can join our sailing school in Croatia where you can arrange to take the exam for a boat skipper.
Crewed yachts (skipper, hostess and babysitter)
Renting a boat with a crew means hiring the boat with a skipper and hostess who will take care of sailing and preparing food. This is the most leisurely form of vacation. Skippers and hostesses went through the Ultra sailing charter school before being hired. These are usually people who speak several languages and are professionally oriented to their calling. But above all, they are true lovers of nautical, the sea and the freedom it provides.
When you hire our skipper for your vacation, berths and locations will be secured and his concern for your safety and comfort will be the most important factor.
Hostesses are key persons. They provide the purchase, the supply of food that can be a demanding task on the islands in the summer. The hostesses prepare two daily meals, breakfast and lunch, serve drinks, snacks and ensure that the boat is in order. A third meal can also be arranged with the hostess, but this is charged extra. Also, in case of sensitivity to any food or other eating habits, the hostess is there to adjust the menu to your preferences. Hostesses can temporarily babysit children so parents can have an evening for themselves, but most often another hostess is hired as a babysitter to animate and cook for the children.
Contact us today to find out the price for hiring skipper and hostess for an unforgettable sailing holiday in Croatia.
Attached are pictures from our last Charter education of hostesses and their engagement in the preparation of meals and charter week menus.
