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Please feel free to ask anything that you are not sure about – there is no such thing as too many questions, especially if this is your first time sailing with us. This way, you are making this whole experience easier for both yourselves and us! Here is a list of questions that our new guests usually ask, but if anything else comes to your mind – we are here for you.
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What do I need to do to reserve the boat?Now that you have selected a date and a boat – all we need is for you to send us your full name and address so that we can prepare all the booking documents and email them to you with everything explained. The reservation payment is 50% of the boat price and it is due within 7 days of receiving the booking documents. In the meantime, the boat/week is blocked for you, so no worries if it takes some time. And for season 2021 we have SPECIAL COVID19 PAYMENT CONDITIONS: The reservation payment is 25% of boat price due within 7 days of booking confirmation, the second payment is 25% of boat price due 8 weeks before the check-in, and the final payment - 50% of boat price due 4 weeks before the check-in.
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Can we pay by credit card?The majority of our guests decide to pay via bank transfers, since it is the most straightforward and safe way and it also seems to turn out a bit cheaper for them. Otherwise, we also accept major credit cards (Visa, Master, Maestro) – you would just have to cover the credit card fees (depending on which card you use, this is usually around 2-3%), in cash, at the check-in.
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What currency can I use during my sailing week and will most places accept credit cards?Our local currency is the Croatian Kuna, and although we are a part of the European Union, the Euro is still not officially used. Just like our strange language, the Kuna is something used only in our little country. For the official rate, check here https://www.hnb.hr/en/web/guest/core-functions/monetary-policy/exchange-rate-list/exchange-rate-list There are exchange offices everywhere, just note that touristy places on islands, banks and airports are not very favorable with their rates. Credit cards are also widely accepted – especially in towns and bigger villages along the coast and on the islands. However, you will probably find many smaller places on the islands, like tiny ports for moorings, wild bays with little family run taverns, handmade souvenir stands, fish markets, green markets etc. that don’t accept credit cards. This is all part of our islands’ charm, and we highly recommend checking them out- you will feel like you went back in time- talking to old grandmas selling their local products, eating food grown in little gardens just behind their taverns, tasting the local olive oil that the owner produced himself... The amount of money needed for this depends on where you want to go and what you want to do, but for a start make sure you have at least couple of thousands of Kunas, and then you’ll be able to get more along the way. For the costs that are due to us, in cash at the check-in (final cleaning, residence taxes, skipper’s fee…) you can pay in Euros, Kunas, Dollars… whatever is easier for you (we use the middle rate of Croatian National Bank).
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What can I expect regarding the costs that are not included in the price (fuel, marinas and moorings)?"It is difficult to give an exact answer to this question since it depends on different factors such as where you would like to go, the wind direction, the weather, the size of the boat… but I can give you an estimate of these costs: For fuel, just like with rent a car, you pay as much as you spend at the end of your trip– with smaller boats the average is around 100-200€/week, and with bigger boats it can be from 150-250€/week, depending mostly on your route and how much you can use the sails. You can stop by a fuel station on your return to ACI marina Split. Regarding marinas and moorings, it is even harder to estimate since every place has different prices. The most expensive, big and fancy marinas (like ACI Palmizana, marina Martinis Marchi in Maslinica, ACI Milna etc) are quite expensive- depending on the size of the boat the price can be from 100-160€ per night. Then there are less expensive village ports, that can be anywhere from 50-100€. Then there are buoys, some of them are charged 30-50€, and some are free of charge if you eat in their restaurant. Anchorages are also free of charge or up to 30-40€. Just keep in mind that touristy, popular places, like Hvar, Korcula… will have marinas, port places, buoys and anchorage possibilities, but they will all be higher on the scale (everybody wants to go to Hvar, so the prices are quite high). So actually, this will depend on your wishes and plans that you make- meaning you’ll have the control of the costs. I always suggest choosing different things every night, so you get the most of it.
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What about food provisioning?Our boats are equipped with everything needed for cooking (stove, oven, dishes…) but just like with renting apartments, you need to bring your own food. You can get almost everything on the islands, as you go, but the selection is usually not as good as in Split, and the prices are somewhat higher. So it is a good idea to get the basics before you set sail, and to help with this, we usually take our guests to a big local supermarket (with our car, free of charge). Ideally, you can come to our marina (ACI Split) a few hours before the check-in, we store your luggage in our office, then you do the shopping and by the time you are back, your boat is ready for you. Regarding the prices, just count that prices in supermarkets are similar as anywhere else- you can get a bottle of wine for 4€ or for 24€. Bread is cheap here, also fruit and dairy products. A bottle of Smirnoff vodka is around 15€. A pack of Marlboro is 4€. A liter of milk is around 1€, 1 liter of yogurt is less than 2€, a can of beer (half a liter), depending on the brand, is 1-2€. Apart from cooking and eating on the boat, most of our guests decide to have some meals out, usually dinners. This way you try some local delicacies and experience some traditional ways of food preparation. As for the choice of restaurants, there are so many different places everywhere. Some, especially those in touristy places that serve fancy food can be quite expensive, but there are also cheaper, simpler places, so you can combine…
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Should I get a hostess or a cook to help with food?If you would like to have a completely carefree and relaxing holiday, not having to cook, do the dishes, think about food provisioning and tidying up your boat, you might want to consider getting some extra help. A hostess prepares and serves breakfasts, snacks, light lunches, does the washing up, keeps the boat tidy, does the shopping for you… Then in the evenings, most of our guests decide to go out and explore some of the amazing, local taverns and restaurants, so a hostess is the best choice for this combination. However, if you would like all the meals- breakfast, lunch and dinner on the boat, and having someone who keeps the kitchen tidy – than a cook is what you are looking for.
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Does the skipper stay with us at all times?The skipper is there to handle the boat, take care of your safety and help you with route ideas. The skippers we work with are all nice, easygoing local people, very passionate about their jobs and they have been with us for a while now - so they are like a part of our family. They are out on the sea every year, season after season so they know the secrets and the hidden places, the secluded bays, the local people, the amazing domestic food and wine, the historical little villages; they know where to go, what to do... and so much more! They are very professional, so they know how to be there when you need them and give you space and private family time too. But from our experience up to now – by the end of the week, our skippers and guests become friends who exchange numbers and addresses and keep in touch for a long long… or until the next time 😊
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Where does the skipper sleep?With Lana, Vana, our three Bavarias 46 and Katrin 2 – he sleeps in one of the cabins (they are ok with any one you choose for them). Our Bavarias 56 have a separate skipper’s cabin, with entrance from the deck, so you have even more privacy inside the boat. And if you hire a hostess too – then the skipper and hostess can share a cabin.
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How does food for the skipper work?This is easier than it sounds – all our skippers are easygoing, with no special eating requirements (only to be happy, nobody wants a hungry captain). So, when you eat on the boat, he eats whatever you eat and when you go out for dinners, you can invite him to join you, or you can pay for his dinner (200Kn should cover a decent meal). Or, if you would prefer to get this completely off your mind, you can give him a daily allowance of 300Kn, some space in the fridge, and that’s it.
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Are your skippers insured?Yes – all skippers that work with us are insured and they are responsible for everything that has to do with boat operating, so you could potentially only be responsible for things that you might do - like if you set the kitchen on fire or sail and sink the boat while your skipper is sleeping. And even with that, the maximum you would need to pay is the amount of the security deposit (for Lana and Vana - 1.000€, for the Bavarias 46 and Katrin 2 – 1.500€ and for our Bavarias 56 – 2.000€). Everything above is covered by our insurance.
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What languages does the skipper speak?Well, they all speak Croatian as a mother tongue, a language that is quite complicated to learn and is used only in our little country, so nobody here expects you to understand our gibberish. With the whole world visiting Croatia – we easily adapted and you will see yourselves that most locals are pretty good with English, so are our skippers. And for all other languages, we can try to make a match.
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What is included in the final cleaning?The final cleaning includes much more than the name stands for. To start with, the boat with all its equipment- the thorough cleaning, full bed linen, towels (a big and small showering towel per person, a towel in the bathroom, a beach towel per person), tablecloths, kitchen towels, sponges, dishwashing liquid, hand soap. Unlimited wi-fi, a mobile phone with a Croatian pre-paid card which you can use to call us or different numbers in Croatia. Then we take you shopping to a bigger supermarket before the check-in, with our car. Underwater inspection of the hull, 5 liters of fuel for the dinghy, gas for cooking…
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Can we start/end our sailing week in Dubrovnik?Our base is in ACI marina in Split, and most of our guests start and end in Split, since this area is very rich in interesting places, both cultural, and natural. But we also offer one way sailing weeks starting or ending in Dubrovnik, but with this option you lose some time needed to sail the boat in one direction. With Split – Dubrovnik, the check-in is in Split, on Saturday at 4.00pm and the check-out is in Dubrovnik, on Friday by 11.00am. With Dubrovnik – Split, the check-in is in Dubrovnik, on Sunday from 2.00pm and the check-out is in Split, on Saturday at 9.00am. There is also an extra one-way fee of 320€ that includes an extra fee for the skipper since he has to sail the boat 18 hours straight to transfer the boat in time, and it includes the fuel used to transfer the boat.
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How will we find you and our boat?Our marina is called 'ACI SPLIT'. The address is UVALA BALUNI 8. It is the big ACI marina west of the main harbor, one of the most beautiful marinas in the world overlooking the town of Split – just a 10 minute walk to the UNESCO listed Diocletian’s Palace. If you need help with organizing a transfer from the airport or any other place – just let us know.
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Is there a fixed route/itinerary?No – and in my opinion – this is one of the best things about your sailing week; everything is tailored to your wishes, feelings, and the wind. You are the writers of your sailing adventure! What most of our guests do is talk to their skipper at the check-in, let him know what kind of vacation they are looking for, what places they maybe already have their eye on, and he knows exactly where to take them, giving different options to choose from, always keeping the weather (wind direction) in mind. Our skippers are out on the sea all summer, season after season, so they know all the hidden places, the secluded bays, the local people, where to eat, what to see, and so much more! And for bareboat charters, you can always talk to Ozren – we can organize a skype meeting before you arrive, or even better, you can talk to him at the check-in and ask whatever comes to your mind, and there is also a phone on the boat that you can use to call us anytime for anything (literally 24/7).
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When is the best time to do a sailing trip in Croatia?Every season has its highlights – so the best time to come depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for. If you want long, hot days in the sun, lots of swimming, if you enjoy the crowds, events, nightlife… then end of June, July and August are great. If you would like the summer experience but with little bit less crowds and not such high temperatures, end of May, beginning of June and September are also a great time to come. However, if you are looking for some peace and quiet, to experience more of what our country really is, April, May and October are also a nice time to come, and some years, the beginning of May and the end of October are warm enough for swimming… at least for the brave ones! Otherwise, if you want a really quiet time – with no crowds, just a few, local restaurants working, some nice winds for sailing, winter sailing is something you should think about.
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I am worried I might have problems with sea sickness…Our guests are often concerned with this, but I cannot recall anyone coming back from their sailing week and mentioning they had serious issues. Our sea is normally very calm, our islands are close to one another and have many well protected bays and harbors, and if you have one of our skippers – he will always choose the most comfortable route, making sure the distances are not too long. There are also sea sickness tablets on all our boats and some tricks and secrets your skipper can share with you.
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Is it safe?This is one of the reasons why we feel so lucky to live in this little part of the world. It isn’t unusual to see a girl walking her small dog at 2.00am, as teenagers, after a night out of partying, we would just walk home (Split is not a very big town)... As for safety at sea, we don’t have open sea – we have 1.244 islands, islets and reefs that are all close by, so the sea is protected and calm, with no big waves, no sharks, no restricted areas… Just ask Juli – she grew up in South Africa – so she can give you the best comparison.
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What equipment is there in the kitchen?Oz looooves to cook (lucky us 😊) and we ourselves spend a lot of time sailing on our boats out of the high season, so we always think of extra details to add to our boats to make sure you feel like home. The kitchen has refrigerators (only Lana and Vana have one, the rest have two), a gas stove with oven, plates (big, small, soup), bowls, water glasses, wine glasses, plastic cups, mugs, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, sponges, dishwashing liquid, tablecloths, kitchen cloths, pots, pans, bowls, cutting boards, strainer, cutlery, a lighter, a grater, knives, a can opener, and a very important – bottle opener… also a small hand held vacuum cleaner and so many other little details.
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What kind of coffee can we have on board?For us, coffee is much more than just coffee – it is our way of living, deeply embedded in our culture. Being very close to both Italy and Turkey, we equally enjoy our strong and thick morning Turkish coffee, and easy going afternoon espresso in bars on promenades overlooking the sea. A normal coffee time in Croatia doesn’t last less than half an hour- if you just swallow it in three gulps – it is basically considered as coffee-to-go. That’s why we made sure you are all set regarding coffee on board – there is a Turkish pot, an Italian Moka pot and a French press. We have some extra filter coffee machines, please just tell us in advance.
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Do you think we can organize a birthday cake on the boat / on one of the islands?No problem, that is why you have us here; although some things are difficult to find on the islands, we’ll find a way. Just tell us in advance, give us the date and the island you plan to be on, and we will organize everything. A cake, balloons, flowers, champagne… We are always happy when we can help you with anything, especially with any kind of special occasions. We’ve had so many different celebrations on our boats, from weddings, honeymoons, hen and stag parties, birthdays, anniversaries…
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Can I charge my phone while sailing?Yes, there is an electricity inverter, so you can charge mobiles, computers, cameras etc, even when you are not connected to the shore power.
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How do I pack?This varies depending mostly on what time of year you are coming, but also on the kind of sailing adventure you want, what kind of places you are mostly interested in, and your personal preferences. For your time on the boat, apart from your personal travel supplies, you’ll need everything to be comfortable, and if you decide to go out, there are some fancy places on the islands, so you can choose whether to dress more casually or smart. If your holiday is in high season, you won't need a lot for your time on the boat! Your swimsuits, a favourite summer dress/shirt, shorts, t-shirts, sandals, flip-flops… And don’t forget a hat and sunglasses; anything that protects you from the strong summer sun. But regardless of the time of year, it’s a good idea to include a light windproof jacket for times spent under sails. You can also bring sailing gloves if you plan to pull the ropes, just to protect your hands. For early and late season sailing; layers are the key, a fleece/sweater and some warm trousers may be necessary and it’s wise to include wet weather gear too - just in case! Soft bags (duffel bags, soft bags with wheels or a collapsible trolley for ease of transport) are much better than hard suitcases – they are easier to stow away in many hidden lockers onboard. However, if you can’t imagine your travels without your favourite suitcase, you can take out your things upon arrival, and leave the empty suitcase with us, in the marina.
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