Life on a Sailing Yacht

Most cruising yachts used for sailing weeks are between about 12 and 15 metres long. Inside, a central saloon with a table and galley is surrounded by cabins, usually doubles with a fixed berth, a little hanging space and a few lockers. Outside, the cockpit is where most of the day happens: meals, conversation and watching the coast go by. Catamarans have more deck and living space and keep the cabins further apart.

Privacy is limited and sound carries. Most people adjust quickly, helped by the fact that so much time is spent on deck, in the water or ashore. Cabins, bathrooms and space on board describes typical layouts, and the yacht pages show the yachts used on Croatia Sailing Week trips.

A day often starts with a swim and breakfast in the cockpit, followed by a short briefing on the plan. The yacht then sails for a few hours, often with a stop in a bay for lunch and more swimming. By late afternoon you reach the evening's harbour, buoy field or anchorage, with time to explore a village, walk up to a viewpoint or eat in a local konoba.

Timings change with the wind. In summer the maestral usually fills in around late morning, so skippers often make passages in the afternoon breeze and keep mornings for swimming. A typical day on a sailing week walks through a sample day.

On many sailing trips, breakfast and lunch are prepared on board from food bought at the start of the week, and dinners are eaten ashore. Groceries are often paid for through a shared kitty, which everyone pays into and which also covers items such as fuel and mooring fees on some trips. The galley is small, with a gas hob, an oven on larger yachts and a fridge with limited space.

Fresh water is carried in tanks and refilled when the yacht stops in a marina or on a town quay with a water supply. A full tank can run low quickly if everyone takes long showers, so most crews rinse briefly after swimming and use marina showers when they can.

Electricity on board comes from batteries charged by the engine or by shore power in marinas. USB and 12V sockets cover phones and cameras, while 230V devices such as hairdryers usually work only when connected to shore power. Mobile coverage is good along most of the coast and patchy in some remote bays. Visitors with an EU mobile contract can generally roam at domestic rates; others should check their roaming charges. Water, power and Wi-Fi on a yacht has more detail.

The skipper is in charge of the yacht and everyone on it. That covers navigation, mooring, weather decisions and safety, including the briefing at the start of the week on lifejackets, moving on deck, the toilets, the gas and what to do in an emergency. The skipper decides when to leave, where to stop and when to change the plan, and guests are expected to follow safety instructions.

Skippers also know the coast well, and most are happy to teach anyone who wants to learn ropes, steering or sail trim. What the skipper does explains the role and what is reasonable to expect.

Every yacht has a few rules that keep it safe and comfortable. Common ones include soft-soled or bare feet on deck, nothing in the toilet except what the briefing allows, short showers, no smoking below deck, and keeping noise down in harbours late at night. Wet swimwear stays outside, and personal belongings are stowed before the yacht moves.

House rules on board lists the usual rules and the reasons behind them. Specific rules for your yacht will be explained at the briefing.

Most people settle in within a day. It suits travellers who enjoy the outdoors, are comfortable sharing space and can go with a changing plan. If you have concerns about motion sickness, mobility, sleeping in a small cabin or dietary needs, ask before booking. The planning guide and the safety information cover the practical questions, and how it works explains the format of Croatia Sailing Week trips.