The Client
A family of five with three teenage children were looking for a weeklong luxury sailing trip around the Croatian islands. Although they were experienced sailors, they wanted a crewed yacht to make their holiday extra special.
The Requirements
- Luxury accommodation
- Pretty towns for sightseeing and dining out
- Quiet bays to anchor in overnight
- Skipper and Hostess
- Air conditioning, water maker and ice maker
- Watersports such as wakeboarding and wind surfing
Where and when
As some of the children were still in school, the holiday needed to be during their summer holidays. With this in mind, we chose the first week of August as the weather in Croatia is very consistent at this time.
Due to its excellent flight connections, we selected Split as the starting point of the trip. An ideal yacht for the family could be chartered from here, allowing easy access to the many beautiful islands of the Dalmatian coast.
Budget
£30000 - 40000
Total
Lagoon 620 – S/Y OPAL
A high-end catamaran offering plenty of space and luxurious comfort, OPAL was perfectly suited to this family. Inside, the catamaran features five large double cabins – all with independent air-conditioning and satellite entertainment systems to keep the teenagers happy – a spacious living and saloon area for taking time out from the sun, and a well-equipped kitchen to allow the crew to prepare meals and drinks without distraction.
Out on deck is a social area for enjoying an aperitif or a pre-dinner snack, while the flybridge offers space for sunbathing, relaxing or taking a turn at sailing the yacht. OPAL also comes equipped with bikes, wakeboards, and paddle boards.
Below the mother takes up the story, in her own words:
Passengers Log Book
Day 1
First Impressions
We arrived at Split airport in the early afternoon. The 10-minute transfer to Trogir was effortless and we were greeted by our crew on arrival, who helped us with our luggage. On boarding the yacht, we were instantly impressed!
Once we’d settled in, we headed out to explore the beautiful old town of Trogir where we enjoyed a relaxing evening meal.
Day 2
Šolta Island
After a freshly-made breakfast on board and a chat with our crew about the week ahead, we set sail to Stomorska on Šolta island. Here we anchored in the stunning bay and enjoyed a fun afternoon of swimming and watersports, followed by a relaxing evening on board the yacht.
Day 3
Dining in Vis
Today we set sail for Vis, but not before an early morning wakeboarding session on the glassy sea. On reaching our destination, we took a berth in the main quay – allowing us to step straight into the vibrant town centre from the boat.
Our crew had made us dinner reservations at Roki’s – an authentic, family-run Croatian restaurant – where we were treated to a truly memorable evening of great food, fantastic wine and flawless service.
Day 4
Picturesque Lastovo
This morning we explored Vis’ vibrant markets before sailing to Lastovo, another picturesque island. A lazy afternoon of sunbathing, swimming and watersports helped us work up an appetite for our onboard dinner: a feast of fresh seafood handpicked by our cook from the market in Vis.
Day 5
Marco Polo
Today’s destination was Korcula, historic birthplace of the legendary explorer, Marco Polo. We took a berth in the marina and explored the town – known for its classic Venetian architecture and fantastic restaurants.
Day 6
Hvar Sunset
A short trip early this morning brought us to Hvar, which is famous for glamorous bars and seductive sunsets. We luckily secured a spot on the town quay, from which we trekked up the steep hill to the town’s famous fort. On reaching the top, we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the sun setting over the sea.
Day 7
Aquatic Adrenalin
On our seventh day, we anchored off the impressive sand spit of Bol – another classic Croatian town. Enjoying the envious glances from those stuck on the beach, we indulged in afternoon of jet skiing, wakeboarding and soaking up the sun’s rays.
After sunset, our captain dropped us off at the town quay in the yacht’s tender. Spoilt for choice by the restaurants, we chose Vagabundo – and were once again welcomed with warm Croatian hospitality.
Day 8
One Last Swim...
Today our crew rose early so we could enjoy another stop on our way back to Trogir. One last swim and a leisurely brunch, all while anchored in a secluded cove, marked the end of a truly remarkable week on the Croatian coast.
Cost breakdown
Yacht and crew: £28,400
Fuel: £800
Marina costs: £800
Provisioning, food and wine: £2,500
Gratuity (discretional): £2,000
£34,500
Total
