July 5, 2021 - It seems like the perfect Instagram shot. Stretched out on the deck of a beautiful sailing yacht, the stunning Croatian islands and the Adriatic Sea in the background and a snazzy laptop laid out on the lounging cushions.

The Digital Nomad dream, right?! YES!

And, you’re not alone if you think so. There is an ever-increasing number of digital nomads, taking their laptops and heading out onto the seas for that get-away from it all, creating a remote working holiday like no other. Yet does the reality and the dream match?

Maybe for a moment. AND the reality of it all may be a little bit different, especially if you aren’t clear on what you need on board and why it’s important. 

Not All Are Created Equal

So, here’s what we mean by that. Just like not all Airbnb’s a created equal. Not all yachts are created equal. And just as the most seasoned digital nomads will have a carefully crafted list for what they need in an Airbnb. Jumping on-board a yacht for an extended period will require the exact same thing, a carefully crafted list to ensure that all you require is supplied or if not, you know about it and there are no nasty surprises.

Most Common Questions

Does the yacht you are sailing on have an adequate WIFI connection? This is the most commonly asked question one most will answer yes. And yet being on the see in an unknown option to most and the implications of this one question, is a lot broader than a simple yes.

There are three other things that are important to consider on your checklist:

• How will I keep my devices sufficiently charged?
• Are there sufficiently comfortable workspaces to sit?
• Especially in summer, is there shaded space available on board?

As lovely as lounging around on the deck with your laptop looks on Instagram, it doesn’t make for a very comfortable working position for more than ten minutes add to that working with minimum shade or downstairs with no air con and the thrill of a remote working holiday on the sea, can soon wear thin.

So, for anyone considering such an adventure, here are the top four must-haves to ensure your remote working holiday experience on board is amazing!

WIFI

As we said earlier, WIFI is always the first question that comes up in a conversation about working remotely on a boat.

Which makes sense. It’s right there in the title, Digital Nomad. Digital! It’s a tad difficult to be digital if there’s no WIFI connection! And one of the great things about the Dalmatian islands is that the reception for the most part is fantastic.

And there are amazing places you will want to visit, with no reception and that doesn't mean you need to miss out or settle for less. That is why along with WIFI connection, it is important to be sailing with a skipper and/or a crew that understands the importance of being connected.

Because, while there isn’t reception in every nook and cranny, good, ongoing communication amongst everyone on board, will ensure that you can still have the best of both worlds. That is, being able to be in good reception to connect with your clients and complete your commitments online, as well as experiencing some of the incredible hidden treasures that Croatia has to offer tucked in away from the reach of the digital world.

Yes, it will take a bit of juggling which is why it is important to be working alongside the crew on-board who can help you manage this juggle and really work hard to help you get the most out of your time on board without sacrificing any of your work commitments.

TIP ONE: Check WIFI and even more important, choose a skipper and/or crew who truly understands what it means to be a traveling, working Digital Nomad.

POWER

Another big consideration when you’re thinking about working from a yacht is power. Boats carry their own power, in the form of batteries. Different boats have different capacities to store and hold power, and if the boat is older and ‘well-loved', these batteries can often be working at much less than 100%. Now, this is something that many sailors are totally ok with. Traditionally, going sailing has been about disconnecting and putting away technology in favour of reconnecting with nature, the stars and revelling in the quiet.

And sailing has changed over the years. We now have sailing boats, both monohull and catamarans, that have increased power bank capacities, enabling those of us who need to, to stay connected to the outside world whilst still enjoying all the beauty and serenity that comes with spending time on a yacht in the Adriatic.

Even for the older boats that aren’t as power-endowed, there are tricks and tips for making sure you can power up when the batteries are low or unreliable. You can choose to pay and dock in a marina or port where you can hook up to shore power. Or your skipper can run the motor if you are at anchor or on a mooring ball to help charge the batteries. Although this does very much lessen the serenity of being anchored or moored in a picturesque Croatian bay!

TIP TWO: Check with your skipper and/or crew the electricity capacity and availability on the yacht you are looking to be on for the week.

ITINERARY

The itinerary is also something that needs thinking about when you are a working Digital Nomad on board a sea-going vessel. Your work schedule and the work schedule of other Digital Nomads on-board need to be discussed and made known so that the Skipper is aware of what times a strong WIFI connection is imperative, perhaps for a webinar, to dial into a staff meeting or to take a client call.

This information then needs to be juggled with sightseeing, managing any weather systems that may be moving through the area, as well as making sure that everyone is aware of the plan for the week, including how it can so easily change during the week. Plans need to be made to ensure that time is allowed for comfortable working conditions each day.

TIP THREE: Communication and planning is key to smooth sailing and being able to meet the variety of needs of all on board.

SHADE/AIRCON

The peak of the summer season in Croatia means temperatures of close to 40 degrees in the Mediterranean sun. The sea breeze takes the harshness away from the sun and it’s still important to be extra careful when spending time onboard in the sun, especially during the hottest times of the day. Enquire about the cover and shaded areas on board. Working directly in the sun isn’t that much fun after 10 minutes or so.

And while you will welcome air conditioning like your best friend, note that your air conditioner can only operate while your yacht is connected to external power, or while in the marina. If you are spending the night anchored in an enchanting bay, you’ll need a generator or go air-con-free!

All of these things that we so often take for granted on-land, you need to ask about and feel comfortable with the arrangements right from the start, when booking your remote working holiday.

TIP FOUR: Enquire about the onboard bimini sunshade and other cover provided on your chosen yacht, just to be sure.

We hope you find these top 4 must-haves helpful when planning your remote working holiday on the Adriatic.

If you have questions, feel free to ask below in the comments or check out Total Croatia, Sailing in Croatia: Your One-Stop-Shop for everything sailing.

If you’re looking to experience that remote working holiday that keeps you wanting more, find more details here about an amazing Digital Nomad Sailing Week.

For more about Digital Nomads and Travel in Croatia follow TCN's dedicated pages - Digital Nomads | Travel.

November 5, 2020 - Made in Split, the incredibly luxurious Golden Horizon is the largest traditional sail ship in the world. Take a look at her before her maiden voyage in spring 2021

Croatia is no stranger to the biggest and most luxurious yachts in the world. But, none of them look like the Golden Horizon. Built in Split to the template of a square-rigged sailing vessel called France II from the year 1913, she is the largest traditional sail ship in the world.

British cruise company Tradewind Voyages is offering places on the first voyage of the ship. The first cruise the world's largest traditional sail ship will undertake will see her sail around the coast and islands of Scotland and England. For the moment, the Golden Horizon is still moored in Split, where she was built.

The ship has 140 cabins and all face outwards, offering views of the sea. The refined but casual interior of the ship's shared spaces are intended to offer all the luxury of a modern cruise ship, but with the romantic ambiance of a traditional sailing vessel.

The largest traditional sail ship in the world is 162 meters long and 18.5 meters wide. It has five steel masts, 35 sails and can accommodate 300 passengers and 150 crew members. It holds a two-floored restaurant that can seat all passengers simultaneously and a glass-bottomed swimming pool.

The design of the ship might be regarded as retro, but its considered construction was specifically undertaken in order to facilitate sustainable holidaymaking. The ship will use its sails and sea currents for around 70% of its propulsion throughout any season.

Accommodation on board varies in size, standard and cost. The premium offer is four apartments of 45 square metres, each with two bathrooms, two showers and a jacuzzi. 34 smaller rooms have balconies and jacuzzis, while the other passenger rooms with windows are located on the lower decks.

The first passengers are expected to board for the debut two-week cruise on 1 May 2021. After its maiden voyage, it will spend the rest of the season touring Iceland, England and Ireland, the Arctic, the Baltic Sea, Norway, Denmark, Spain and Portugal, with each cruise usually lasting seven or fourteen days.

All images © Tradewind Voyages

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June the 3rd, 2020 - The coronavirus crisis has wreaked havoc with the global travel industry. With many questions surrounding border closers, re-openings, flights and accommodation, the pandemic has caused many issues. As Croatia's formerly stringent anti-epidemic measures are now loosened, just how can seafarers cross Croatian maritime borders and what must they ensure is done?

Let's take a look at the official Decision/Decree (Odluka) on what needs to be done when crossing Croatian maritime borders which has now been entered into the Official Gazette (Narodne Novine), which I have translated into English in full:

Regarding the application of the Decision on the temporary prohibition of crossing the border crossings of the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette No. 32/20 and 48/20), and the Decision on the amendments [made] to the same decision on the 9th of May, 2020, and following the previously published recommendations by the Croatian Institute of Public Health, we will provide additional clarifications and instructions:

Crossing the state border for foreign and Croatian sailors/seafarers:

Croatian sailors/seafarers who are returning to the Republic of Croatia after having been docked in any country in the world no longer have to go into mandatory self-isolation, but they still must respect epidemiological controls, and have an obligation to comply with both the general and special recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

The latest changes enable the embarkation of all foreign nationals on ships of the merchant navy and yachts that are in berths in the Republic of Croatia.

After boarding a vessel, foreign nationals and crew members of a vessel or a yacht also don't have to go into self-isolation when aboard the vessel, but they still must respect epidemiological controls, and have an obligation to comply with both the general and special recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

Foreign nationals who are members of the crews of ships and yachts already in the ports of the Republic of Croatia will be allowed to cross Croatian maritime borders in accordance with the regulations governing state border surveillance.

Maritime agents, who, after disembarking in the Republic of Croatia, are organising the return of sailors/seafarers from third countries back to their respective homelands, are recommended to ensure the needs surrounding longer-term visas in advance. When organising travel, they are obliged to take into account possible restrictions in all transit countries so that the return is completed in the shortest possible time.

The Decree amending the Decree on Border Crossings of the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette 38/2020) of the 30th of March, 2020, which, for the protection of the health of the population of the Republic of Croatia during the epidemic of the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, closed permanent border crossings for international passenger traffic (maritime) remains in force.

These include: Umag, Porec, Rovinj, Mali Losinj , Korcula and Ubli. The opening of seasonal border crossings for international maritime passenger traffic referred to in Article 27 of the Regulation, has been temporarily postponed. In this sense, and while this Regulation remains in force, border control in seaports cannot be carried out at the aforementioned border crossings.

The arrival of foreign citizens who own yachts and boats located in the Republic of Croatia:

This instruction applies to yachts and boats on which accommodation and multi-day stays are possible.

Foreign nationals who own yachts and boats in the Republic of Croatia, except for citizens who are exempted from the obligation to prove the reason for their entry (Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Germany and Slovakia) in accordance with the amendment to the Decision on the temporary prohibition of crossing the borders of the Republic of Croatia of the 28th of April, 2020, foreign nationals can cross the Croatian maritime border with the presentation of documentation proving the ownership of a vessel and documentation proving that they are the user of the vessel (a lease agreement).

Along with documentation proving the ownership of the vessel, it is necessary to submit a berth contract and/or a confirmation of the nautical tourism port at which the vessel is located.
 
For vessels owned by a legal entity, foreign nationals who can prove that they are the owners or that they are the persons made responsible for the vessel shall be considered the owners of such vessels in regard to the above instructions.

In addition to the owner of the vessel, members of their immediate family may also cross the state border. When, in addition to the owner, members of the vessel owner's immediate family are on board the vessel, in addition to presenting the documents listed above, it is necessary to present the completed list of crew and passengers of the yacht or personal boat attached to this instruction.

The arrival of other foreign nationals:

Renting a charter boat, ie using accommodation services provided on ships, yachts and boats is considered an important economic reason for entering Croatia. This can be proved by presenting the list of names of the crew and passengers entered into the eNautika system by the charter company or the owner of the vessel themselves.

Entry and navigation in the Republic of Croatia:

All Croatian and foreign boats and yachts are allowed to enter the Republic of Croatia. In order to avoid unplanned crowds, the owner or user of a foreign boat or yacht is recommended to submit their data before entering Croatian territory on the appropriate website. You must enter your planned sailing route, planned berths, a mobile phone number and an e-mail address via which you can be contacted.

International cruisers carrying more than forty (40) passengers are prohibited from entering Croatian seaports and inland ports.

When the vessel is docked in a Croatian port which is open to public traffic and/or in nautical tourism ports, it is necessary to prevent the transfer of guests and crew members from one vessel to another.

Upon entering the Republic of Croatia, all Croatian and foreign citizens are obliged to follow the general and special recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health issued for Croatian and foreign citizens crossing the state border and entering the Republic of Croatia from the 9th of May 2020.

More information on coronavirus and the measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease can be found on the CNIPH's website, or by making contact with selected a physician and/or the epidemiologist responsible for the area of Croatia you're in.

For all vessels that do not have built-in automatic identification systems (AIS) or some other electronic navigation tracking system, it is recommended that records of all landings from the beginning of navigation to the end of navigation are kept.

All Croatian and foreign citizens in Croatia are obliged to comply with all of the epidemiological measures published by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

Croatian nautical tourism ports, charter companies and boat owners organising multi-day maritime travel are obliged to adjust their work and their provision of services to the specific recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

For more on Croatian maritime borders, land borders and all other types of travel, follow this page.

Sailing in Croatia is of course popular, and there's no better way to get to know the country's 1000+ islands, both inhabited and otherwise, than on board a boat.

While yachts are aplenty along the Croatian coast, particularly in Dalmatia, there is a growing number of luxury super yachts emerging along with Croatia's attempts to successfully brand itself as a nautical tourism destination.

It seems that the country's attempts have more than paid off, as Novac/Filip Pavic writes on the 22nd of July, 2019, an expensive fleet of luxury super-yachts have entered Croatia during the month of July, as Bloomberg reports. According to their calculations, in the last five days there were 55 of them along the Croatian coast, which is double the number when compared to last month.

When looking at comparisons, in the same month last year in Croatia, 42 super-yachts dropped their anchors, meaning there were thirteen less than have been recorded in July 2019. These are luxury motor boats between 24 and 180 metres in length, most of which are equipped with swimming pools, smaller speedboats, and some even with helicopters.

Of the 55 mega yachts we can currently count floating on the Croatian Adriatic, most of them are located in the Split and Dubrovnik areas.

According to Bloomberg, with this figure, Croatia has successfully jumped into the elite society of European nautical destinations.

Croatia has even managed to cut past the famous Monaco, which in recorded only 32 such yachts in July, seeing it end up in fifth place behind Italy, France, Greece, and Spain. Neighbouring Italy is difficult to overtake indeed because in July, it attracted as many as 203 super yachts in its waters. Over the Atlantic in the United States, 142 such yachts have been recorded.

Greece, which is experiencing a major tourism reconstruction, has also grown in the segment of nautical tourism and in July it recorded 134 super yachts in the Ionian and Aegean seas, marking twenty more than there were in June. Rather unexpectedly, the number of such vessels in Spain declined. Of the 123 luxury yachts recorded in Spanish waters in June, their number fell to 92 this month.

Follow our dedicated travel page for much more. Interested in sailing in Croatia yourself? Check out Total Croatia Sailing.

As Morski writes on the 2nd of June, 2019, the City of Šibenik, D-Marin, and Sailing Club Val (JK Val) announced the start of the biggest sporting event taking place today in Šibenik - the D-Marin ORC World Championship.

113 sailboats and more than 1,000 sailors from all over the world are expected to participate in this six-day international regatta, and the D-Marin Mandalina marina, Sailing Club Val and City of Šibenik are the joint hosts of this sailing event.

''This world championship is an event of special importance for Šibenik because it connects sailing, our beautiful sea, and Šibenik's rich heritage, in addition, it also positions us as an important destination on the world's nautical chart. This sailing spectacle is an excellent promotion of Šibenik as a tourist destination,'' stated Željko Burić, mayor of the City of Šibenik.

''We're confident that the D-Marin ORC World Championship will be a spectacular competition organised at the highest possible level. The organisation, which lasted exactly one year, was dealt with by the members of JK Val, all of whom were volunteers, who should be praised for the huge amount of work that was done. These are valued people who love this city, their club, and sailing. For us, it was a large and demanding project, whose importance to the local environment is the only thing which surpasses the sporting aspect,'' stated Marin Paić, president of JK Val.

''Croatian Sailing should be grateful to the Dogus Group, not only for their efforts in investing in the development of sailing and bringing some of the world's top races to Croatia, but also through the sponsorship of our most successful Olympic team. The logistics of the City of Šibenik and above all, of Sailing Club Val, are also important, without which the realisation of this great sporting event wouldn't be possible,'' said Zlatko Taritaš, president of the Croatian Sailing Association.

The official opening of the regatta begins today, on Sunday, June the 2nd, on the Šibenik square between the cathedral of St. Jacob and the City Hall.

All those interested will have a chance to see the sailing boats close up because they will be tied to the Šibenik waterfront (riva), as well as at the D-Marin Mandalina marina. The sporting part of the competition will last for six days.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just sailing in Croatia you're interested in, give Total Croatia Sailing a follow.

As Morski writes on the 27th of March, 2019, as the beginning of 2019's tourist season draws ever closer, Croatian nautical tourism is in great demand. When it comes to chartering however, the Republic of Croatia appears to have lost its grip on its former leading position.

Most of the interest, after a great many years, has been attracted by one of Europe long-standing tourism kings - Greece, which has made it to the top in terms of nautical tourism owing to various state incentives. Croatian marinas, on the other hand, are expecting this summer season to remain more or less at last year's level.

Just about a month separates us from now and the traditionally accepted ''start of the season'', which is typically around Easter, but the first signs of nautical tourism have already started to blossom. 17,000 berths in Croatian marinas have so far been highly sought after commodities, and there is no subsiding in the search for free spaces in Betina, according to a report from HRT. However, alongside a healthy dose of optimism, there are also warnings to be listened to.

The announcement of the tourist season says: the most desirable destination is no longer Croatia but Greece. The secret of turning that back around lies in... you guessed it... state incentives. They might not be so easy to come by, however. With the knowledge that Greece managed to take first place thanks to incentives from the Greek state, a long list of wishes addressed to the Croatian Government should now begin.

Legislative acrobatics tend to cause great damage, and Croatia certainly has a knack for that, but in spite of that, Croatia's numerous comparative advantages continue to compensate for its usually bad politics.

Croatian marina's expect results at the level of last year's, which were indeed record-breaking. In order to restore the leading position when it comes to charters, the experts say - it is necessary to activate the so far totally unused markets - North and South America, as well as up north in Scandinavia.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle and travel pages for much more. If it's just nautical tourism and sailing in Croatia you're interested in, give Total Croatia Sailing a follow.

Click here for the original article by Hrvoje Gunjaca/HRT

Split-Dalmatia County is getting ready to make the most out of nautical tourism.

Nautical tourism boasts a plethora of potential opportunities for Croatia, with more and more tourists from across the planet arriving in the sparkling Croatian Adriatic with their various vessels, eager to explore the country of 1000+ islands in the most authentic way, Croatia has started to step up its game in terms of opening its arms more to nautical tourism and the economic fruits that is likely to bring.

As Morski writes on the 14th of March, 2019, this autumn is set to bring work on Croatia's blossoming nautical tourism sector as central Dalmatia will see the opening of as many as nine construction sites designed for nautical tourism ports, as was announced by Split-Dalmatia County's tourist board.

The planned investments of the County Port Authority in the area of ​​Central Dalmatia, with the support of the appropriate ministry, amount to approximately 300 million kuna this year, which will significantly improve the entire area's maritime infrastructure, according to a report from Dalmatinski portal.

''The construction of a port with a waterfront and accompanying facilities in Omiš is being prepared. Throughout 2019, preparations will be being made for the beginning of the construction of the harbour and breakwater for all types of vessels except for the ferryboat in Bol on the island of Brač.

The Rogač port project on Šolta was realised, Stomorska port in the east of Šolta and Splitska on the island of Brač will be done up. In Sućuraj, on the eastern point of the island of Hvar, this autumn works on the re-doing of the harbour, which will result in completely new look for Sućuraj, are set to take place. The same will take place in Kaštel Stari, where a port project with all of the accompanying amenities is being implemented,'' added the Split-Dalmatia County tourist board.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for more information on what's going on in Central Dalmatia, Split-Dalmatia County, and much further afield.

Click here for the original article by Dalmatinski portal

As Morski writes on the 24th of November, 2018, a meeting of the technical working group in the framework of the ECO-NautiNET web project was held in Dubrovnik on November the 20th and 21st, in which the needs of the website's users were discussed. Through the ECO-NautiNET project, activities are being carried out to improve the competitiveness and innovation of small and medium-sized companies in the nautical sector, as well as acting as a means to support their internationalisation and networking abilities.

The meeting saw the presentation of the results of the research conducted so far between the four target groups - the small and medium-sized companies from within nautical sector, broker project partners, and supporting institutions and scientific institutions. Based on the results and conversations with platform developers, the technical working group has managed to define the simplest in which way to include future users, and which tools are needed for the most efficient presentation of the project's products and services, technical and technological achievements, and innovations.

The goal of the ECO-NautiNET web platform is to motivate and involve as many business entities, support institutions, and other innovations in order to take advantage of the opportunity to place themselves on new markets, and to develop the competitiveness and innovation of the nautical sector of the Adriatic-Ionian region as a whole, through easy access to all news and high quality information in just one place.

This goal is highlighted as the desire to become the most important development driver of contact with more than 500 businessmen from the nautical sector from across Croatia, Albania, Italy, Greece and Slovenia, and most entrepreneurs in this field continue to face the same or very similar problems irrespective of the country they come from.

As a result, most of these companies have up to ten employees, and as far as typical issues and problems are concerned, poor cooperation within the nautical sector, a lack of clear nautical sector development policy, and the fact that cooperation with research and science centres is either non-existent or very small stand out as the most common and indeed the most pressing.

Over 80 percent of the respondents are primarily interested in improving competitiveness and innovation by linking small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the Adriatic-Ionian region's nautical sector with supporting institutions and research and scientific centres through the ECO-NautiNET web platform.

ECO-NautiNET is otherwise project number 398 which is part of the INTERREG ADRION transnational cooperation program co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and IPA funds (IPA II).

Make sure to stay up to date with all things sailing by following Total Croatia Sailing and our dedicated lifestyle page.

Click here for the original article by Jasna Jaklin Majetic on Morski

Exploring Croatia by sea is an amazing experience, here are a few important pointers.

Šibenik Sailing Arena is set to begin next weekend!