Sailing
The find art of getting wet and becoming ill while slowly going nowhere at great expense.

Regatta
Organised sailing competition that pits yours against your opponents’ luck.

Ocean racing
Demanding form of sailing practised by sportsman whose idea of a good time is standing under an ice cold shower, fully clothed while re examining there last meal.

Cabin
A cramped, closet like compartment below decks where crew members may be stored – on their sides if large or on end if small – until needed.

Calm
Sea condition characterised by the simultaneous disappearance of the wind and the last cold beer

Galley
Ancient: Aspect of seafaring associated with slavery.
Modern: Aspect of seafaring associated with slavery

Gear
Generic term for any pieces of boating equipment that can be forgotten in the back-seat or boot of a car, left behind on a pontoon, soaked in the bottom of a dinghy or lost over the side of the boat.

Grounding
Embarrassing situation in which a sailor returns to shore without leaving his boat.

Hull speed
The maximum theoretical velocity of a given boat through the water, which is 1.5 times the square root of its waterline length in feet, divided by the distance to port in miles, minus the time in hours to sunset cubed.

Life jacket
Any personal floatation device that will keep an individual who has fallen off a vessel, above water long enough to be run over by it or another rescue craft.

Moon
Earth’s natural satellite. During periods when it displays a vivid blue colour, sailing conditions are generally favourable.

Passage
Basically a voyage from point A to point B, interrupted by unexpected landfalls or stopovers at point K, point Q, and point Z.

Pontoon
Harbour landing place that goes crack, crunch when hit

Single handed sailing
The only situation in which the skipper does not immediately blame the crew for every single thing that goes wrong

Spinnaker
Large beautiful balloon shaped sail used in powerful downwind sailing, collapses at the sides to make control difficult and when lowered stores neatly into the galley and main cabin and heads all at the same time.

As a country, we have a very proud and successful history in sport, and our athletes continue to compete admirably on the world stage today. From individual undertakings, such as boxing and other martial arts, swimming, table tennis, free diving, skiing, rowing, weightlifting, athletics, canoeing, chess, and tennis, to team sports like football, handball, basketball, water polo and volleyball.

Here are a few achievements worthy of note:

• Janica Kostelić dominated the world of alpine skiing during her career. She won three overall World Cup titles, and was narrowly beaten into 2^nd place on one other occasion.  She is the only woman to win 4 gold medals in alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics, including 3 at the 2002 Olympics, and has 5 gold World Championship medals to her name.

• Blanka Vlašić is the current world champion at the high jump, both indoors and outdoors, and has won each of these events twice. She also picked up a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Matija Ljubek won 4 World Championships and 2 Olympic gold medals in canoeing.
• Table Tennis player Dragutin Šurbek won 37 medals from European and World Championships, including 2 World and 5 European golds.
• Croatian swimmers have competed internationally with great success and have various world records to their names.  Đurđica Bjedov became the first Croatian woman to win an Olympic medal with her gold and silver haul in breaststroke in 1968.
• Tennis is another sport that Croatia competes in at a high level, having won the Davis Cup and the World Team Cup.  Top results in individual competition include Goran Ivanišević winning Wimbledon in 2001 and Iva Majoli’s success in the French Open in 1997.

• Football is considered by many to be the most popular sport in the world, and Croatia is very competative considering the size of its population, having achieved 3^rd place at the 1998 World Cup.
• In basketball Croatia has a 3^rd place at the World Championship to its name, and many Croatian born players have achieved success in the NBA and other competitions around the world.
• Croatia is currently one of the top Water polo playing nations, having won gold at the 2007 World Championships and bronze in 2009.
• Handball has also been a successful sport, with 2 Olympic gold medals, and a gold and 3 silvers from World Championships, which includes the silver won in front of their home crowd in 2009.

Now, the reason why I though this topic is suitable for Sail Croatia Blog….

While considering these modern day achievements, it is worth noting that the earliest known description of a sporting event in Croatia is from the 16th century: a sailing regatta of 74 wooden fishing boats (called falkuša) in 1593.  The race took place from the harbour of the town of Komiža on the island of Vis to the islet of Palagruža , and is the oldest known race of its type in Europe.  The falkuša is a traditional Croatian boat designed by Komiža fishermen to aid them on long fishing expeditions in the open sea. It is 7-8m in length, with a mast typically as high as the boat is long, and is powered by a 120m² lateen sail and by 5 long oars operated by standing oarsmen.  The race was an annual event, last held in 1936, with the top finishers winning the rights to the best fishing areas around Palagruža for the coming season. It took place over 42 nautical miles (78km), a trip which would take about 5 hours of sailing with a good wind, or 13 to 16 hours of arduous rowing when conditions were poor.

Now that you know all about falkuša, you might have another reason to sail in Croatia. You never know if you will meet her somewhere on the big blue Adriatic!

Šolta has a mainly mountainous terrain, although the interior houses a 15 square kilometre field, and most of its coastline consists of steep cliffs, especially on the side open to the sea.  Although originally covered in holm-oakwood, the influence of people has caused the vegetation of Šolta to change to evergreen underbrush, bushes, and pastures, as well as patches of aromatic, kitchen and medicinal herbs – Šolta’s honey made from rosemary is famous in Europe.

The economy of the island is mainly based on vineyards, olives, fruit, fishing and tourism. 

Šolta has a population of around 1500, with the main settlements situated inland:

• Grohote, the oldest and largest village;
• Gornje Selo, at the foot of the highest peak;
• Srednje Selo, which offers rural tourism; and
• Donje Selo, which has a strong fishing tradition as it is located close to Maslinica. 

Costal settlements include

• the aforementioned Maslinica , located at the western end of the island and the main fishing centre;
• Rogač, the main port and also a tourist village;
• Stomorska, the oldest port and famous for its fleet of big wooden ships, that used to carry Šolta ‘s wine and olive oil to markets on the mainland and in Italy; and
• Necujam, the youngest village on Šolta and centre of the island’s tourism. Marko Marulic, the father of Croatian literature, and Petar Hektorovic, a poet and a writer, were among the first to feel the beauty of Necujam, while emperor Diocletian knew about the quality of the local seas of Solta and had his fishery in Necujam.

Preparing this blog I had lots of fun reading Interesting Facts abot this island from its official web site www.solta.hr 
I chose few out for you:

„The funny one“ – According to a legend on the mount above the bay of Senj there was Teuta’s castle. According to this legend fishermen would throw a part of the caught fish to all four parts of the world in order to have the favor and mercy of the queen Teuta for further fishing

„The-not-funny-one“ – In the graveyard in Gornje Selo there is a grave with an inscription FOR TRAVELERS. It was made for every unknown traveler who dies on the island. (Please remeber this is a very, very old graveyard and does not reflect the current state of mind of the islanders.

„The interesting one“ -In the time of French rule in Dalmatia a special commission declared that Šolta’s honey was the best not only in that district but also in the whole Europe. On the international exhibitions in Tetschen, Bratislava, Steyr and Paris Šolta’s honey wins medals. The most famous honey is the one made of self-grown rosemary.

Croatia is beautiful! (but you probably know that already) What you may not know is that Dalmatia is the most beautiful part of it (you have to trust a statement like this coming from a true Dalmatian girl ) To back up this (totally) unbiased claim, I’ve decided to start a series of posts about the islands that speckle the Adriatic off the Dalmatian coast.

Actually Brač, the first island I will feature, is more than a speckle.  With an area of 395 square kilometres it’s the largest island in Dalmatia (and the 3^rd largest in the Adriatic), and it’s the tallest island in the Adriatic, with Mount St. Vid (Vidova Gora) standing at 778m. The landscape is dominated by a karst limestone relief, with numerous gullies, crevices, cavities, round valleys and coves, and the most fertile soil is found in the interior of the island.  Higher parts of the island are covered with black and Aleppo pine forests in some places, and smaller forests of Aleppo pine are found around the coastal towns and villages, however dense evergreen underbrush (macchia) and rocky ground is the norm.

Evidence suggests that human communities have been on Brač since the Stone Age, and that Illyrian tribes had villages there during the Bronze and Iron Ages.  When the Greeks colonised much of the surrounding areas in the 4^th century BC, they traded with the Illyrian tribes, but didn’t settle there, and when the Romans conquered Dalmatia in 9 AD, they only built the odd villa here and there, as the capital of the province, Salona, was nearby on the mainland.  The Romans did leave their mark on the island, however, by quarrying the beautiful white limestone of Brač and using it for construction all over Dalmatia, including Diocletian’s palace in Split.  The rule of Brač has changed hands many more times since then, but it’s been part of Croatia since the Croatian Banate was created in 1939, and now boasts a population of over 13,000.

The economy of Brač is mainly based on tourism, and the population swells over the summer months, but fishing (canneries are present on the island) and agriculture are important too. Brač is well known for its wine, olive oil, sour cherries, almonds, cheese, and goats.  The largest settlements are Supetar and Pučišća, and the town of Bol is a popular destination, due to its famous beach, Zlatni Rat (Golden cape), and access to some sensational diving spots.

Supetar

Pučišća

Bol

Zlatni Rat

Brač is the closest island to Split, and more specifically, to Marina Kastela where the Sail Croatia fleet is based. This means it is a perfect destination to start off your sailing holiday.

In a very short time, you can be on Brač experiencing everything this island has to offer. If you close your eyes (other then not being able to read any further) you can try to imagine the crystal clear water, chirping of crickets and smell of lavenda. This is Brač and it’s waiting for you. And this sort of special beauty of Dalmatia is what makes selling sailing invigorating, interesting and somewhat rewarding job!

All the signs are there.  You can see (and envy) all of the yachts sailing along the distant blue, beaches are being readied, winter-white skin is being bared, it even sounds and smells like summer, and it’s hot.  Not “middle of summer” hot, but an extremely pleasant heat that feels good all the way to the bone. It’s a wonderful time to be in Dalmatia. There’s a buzz around the place as everyone gears up for another season, but not as hectic as when the tourist numbers peak in August.  There’s plenty of room on the beaches and the water temperature is high enough to easily tempt those visiting from cooler climes.

The locals are back in the sea as well, especially the Picigin players, and Bačvice beach, in Split, where the game originated, rings with the sound of happy men in tight speedos. Picigin is a true participation sport. There is no opposition, no scoring, no winners and no losers, just the satisfaction of playing and trying to pull off the coolest moves possible.

Picigin is played by a group of people (usually 5) standing in the water (ankle deep is best) on a (preferably) sandy beach.  Sounds easy so far?  Well, the twist is that the object of the game is to keep a tennis ball sized ‘Balun’ in the air by volleying it between players using the palm of the hand.  As the game heats up, lots of running, splashing, diving and acrobatic moves result from trying to keep the ball in play, the more artistic the better.

So summer is upon us, and in true Croatian style it’s bound to be a cracker.

Still thinking about holidaying in Croatia? Well, stop thinking….We are waiting for you!

Sveti Duje was the bishop of Salona (modern day Solin, just outside the city of Split) during the third century and was martyred during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian. His relics were later moved to the one-time mausoleum of Diocletian in Split, which is now known as Sveti Duje Cathedral.

As part of the celebrations, the Sveti Duje rowing regatta for eights is held. Historical documents indicate that a rowing race took place between Hvar, Makarska, Split and five other towns on Sveti Duje day way back in 1825. In 2000 the Sveti Duje regatta was re-established as an international event featuring Croatian and foreign universities and attracting the best known names in university rowing, the Oxford and Cambridge Blue Boats.  A Legends race, that takes place in front of the Riva, Split’s famous waterfront promenade, was added to the regatta in 2005 and features crews representing the legends of Oxford, Cambridge and Split.

The university racing took place on Saturday 8 May at the 1000m long racing course in Spinut, and was a successful event despite the heavy rain. Croatian teams from Split, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb competed with international crews from Belgrade, Novi Sad, Koper, Budapest, Belgrade, Oxford and Cambridge.  Split won on the day, followed closely by Oxford and Rijeka.

On Sunday the rain stayed away, and, with the sun making a welcome appearance through the clouds, 10,000 people lined the Riva to enjoy the spectacle of the Legends race.  The racing took place over a short 220m course, with the first crew to win 2 races being crowned champions. 

I was fortunate to be watching from one of the best seats in the house… on the deck of the Adriatic Queen, a beautiful 40m motor yacht, which is usually found cruising the Adriatic.  The racing was very tight, and after each team managed to win one of the first three races, a ‘winner-takes-all’ fourth race saw the Split Legends achieve overall honours.

It was an enjoyable and entertaining event, with special thanks to Sailcroatia for their part in organising the event and for their hospitality on board the Adriatic Queen.

If that is the only truth about sailing, than why do we sail, why did he sail for almost thirty years?

There’s something almost universally appealing about sailing boats. Even if you don’t actually like sailing, they are beautiful to see. They have a tall elegance and somehow capture the idea of freedom, pleasure and travel. So we are back at the beginning. Humans are seeking freedom and adventures, and if that is slightly combined with travelling and pleasure, I believe we have answered above question. At least half of it.

1979, Ted Turner (www.tedturner.com) CNN owner won Fastnet regatta. This fact wouldn’t be that odd, if there was not there another fact. When he got to the finish line he said:

„You can let the damn boat sink“. Why he said that?

During whole regatta he and his crew pumped the water from cranked boat. But they won.

Two months ago, SailCroatia company director, Luka Grubor, threaded us (company team) with sailing around Split area. As there are many of us who joined this team recently, it was very important for him to gather us together and not because he wanted to  socialize us, but to experience what we are offering our clients to experience. Adventure of Sailing.

After we got to the shore, he told us what the biggest reason he enjoys sailing. The silence. Beautiful whisper of silence once engines are turned off. Just sea, waves and the wind.

Why do we sail if we are getting wet and cold. Well, there is no thrill in easy sailing, in merely doing things which any one can do. There is even some satisfaction in all of that, when you are reaching points you never thought you could.

Nothing makes a person feel good like having a good adventure or mastering a new skill. Just helping to cast off or even making it through a bout of seasickness can build self-esteem.

Of course, having a beer in beautiful bay like Stomorska (Šolta) under sunny sky is also a pleasure, don’t get me wrong.

Yes, we do get wet. Yes, sometimes wind is not on our side. Yes, sometimes we would like to say as Ted, let the boat go sink, but mostly we just feel like the lyrics below:

A strong north-wester is blowing, Bill!

Hark! Don’t ye hear it roar now?

Lord help ‘em, how I pities them

Unhappy folks on shore now!

Written by Jelena Jakus