Flotilla sailing vacations in Croatia

In flotilla sailing, you get to sail your own boat, but you’re sailing as part of a fleet. This means that you’re looked after by a lead boat and will moor in the same spot as the rest of the group in the evenings. However, you’ll have the freedom to sail pretty much as you please during the day. Flotilla sailing is great for intermediate sailors who want some support, but still want to spread their wings.

You’ll need to have one qualified sailor in your group who holds an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or similar, but the rest of the crew can be completely new to the sport. You can also hire a skipper to accompany you on board if you haven’t got your skipper certificate yourself. Lots of people choose to sail in flotilla because of the social element – you’ll be able to mingle in the evenings with the other crews at a traditional Croatian konoba (restaurant), swapping tips and tales of your newfound life at sea over a chilled bottle of posip – the local white wine.

One of the first things that happens when you join your flotilla is that you’ll need to provision your boat. In Croatia this is a simple process. The large marinas have supermarkets close by – swing by Tommy Supermarket at Marina Agana and you’ll find most things you need. The best way to provision is to buy Croatian ingredients. In Croatia you can get some lovely olives, cheeses, honey, fruit and vegetables and bread, and build a nice basis for fresh, cold lunches and breakfasts on board. You can top up your stores throughout the week, as nearly all the ports of call on your trip will have some form of supermarket. You might want to buy some killer ingredients for the ‘cocktail’ contest your flotilla may run later in the week. You’ll usually eat with your fleet in small, family-run restaurants in the evenings.

Once you’ve become familiar with your boat, the next morning you’ll get a ‘skipper’s briefing’ with your lead boat on the route and the weather, and then you can cast off. In Croatia, this usually means that you’ll leave the mainland behind and start aiming for the islands. Croatia has over 1,000 of them to choose between.

In Croatia, unlike some other places in the world, you’ll have to pay mooring and anchoring fees nearly all of the time. A lot of your evening berths will be on town quays, which are generally cheaper than marinas. You’ll normally berth right on the esplanade, near all the restaurants and shops. A little crowd might be around to watch you maneuver, but your lead boat will be on hand to help you out and keep you looking swish as you sidle in. Learn to say thank you in Croatian (‘H’vala’) to the people on the dock who help you with your lines.

Can’t sail, but love the idea of a sociable flotilla? You can actually learn to sail on flotilla by hiring a skipper to sail on board with you. You can still participate in all the fun evening socialising, and spend a few hours every day doing a little bit of learning – whilst having a lot of laughs along the way as you crank the winches or let the anchor chain run. This option is great for families or groups of friends who all want to learn together, and you don’t need any qualifications to get started.

Lucy Wade, from specialist sailing vacation company Sunsail, has this advice on learning to sail on flotilla: “The ‘learn to sail on a flotilla’ (also known as the flotilla starter/hero) is booked by the whole yacht rather than just the cabin, so more suitable for families. They are part of a flotilla on a set route with up to 11 other yachts doing the same itinerary however they will have an instructor on their yacht teaching them how to sail.”