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Where to go, best places to stay, travel tips and best holiday destinations – inspiration from the experts at Yacht-Challenge!
1. Sailing areas for beginners-shorts passages, many good marinas and anchorages
Yachting in Croatia – paradise for beginners – many good marinas with all facilities, numerous bays for good anchorages, small old beautiful towns. Very clean water. Disadvantages – very high prices in marinas. Yacht season May-October.
Yachting in Greece –Ionian islands – many closed beautiful bays, cheep prices, very nice nature and very clean water. Season for yachting in Greece: April – November.
Yachting in Naples Bay – short passages, enough numbers of marinas, very beautiful towns and islands, good food and wines, thermal springs. Disadvantages-very high prices in marinas, the most of marinas don`t have facilities. Yacht season April-November.
Yachting in Turkey– short passages, a lot of marinas, beautiful bays and good anchorages, very clean water. Perfect place to rest with children. Yacht season -all year round.
Yachting in Montenegro – many good marinas with all facilities, a lot of bays for good anchorages, old beautiful towns. Very clean water. Yacht season March-November.
Pula / Veruda –40 miles. Losinj –30 miles -Rab- 22 miles. Krk –25 miles- Opatija- 25 miles- Cres – 40 miles -Brioni –10 mi- Pula / Veruda
The magnificent medieval towns of Rab, Krk, Cres with ancient city walls, city towers, Cathedrals with belfries (XII century).
Opatija – a famous resort, a beautiful green place with chic villas and a beautiful promenade
Brioni, one of the most beautiful national parks in Croatia. Wildlife Safari Park
Pula / Veruda – 20 miles – Vrsar – 5 miles – Porec – 14 miles-Umag – 10 miles -Novigrad- 15 miles -Rovinj -16 miles – Pula / Veruda
Rovinj is the “Croatian Venice”, the most romantic city in Croatia, the fabulous old town with narrow streets.
Vrsar is a beautiful medieval town on a hill. St. Mary’s Church, medieval city gate.
Porec is one of the most interesting cities, a magnificent promenade, an old town in the classical Roman style with a Roman square, many cathedrals.
Trogir – 25 miles- Vis.island-30 miles- Vrboska (Hvar Island) – 15 miles- Starigrad (Hvar Island) – 15 miles- Milna (Brac island)- 15 miles -Trogir
Museum cities founded by the ancient Greeks in the 3rd century BC. The remains of the powerful old fortress walls (XIII-XV centuries) gates, fortresses, Cathedrals, high belfries, Romanesque architecture, Dominican monasteries, City Boxes, clock towers, palaces.Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Winemaking Centers
Biograd — 25 miles-Tribuni -15 miles-Skraden 10 miles- – Sibenik –10 miles- Primosten -20 miles-Vodice- 25 miles- Biograd
Cathedrals, churches, monasteries, clock belfries, Renaissance buildings of City Lodges, Princely palaces, fortresses, a huge number of ancient patrician houses, a variety of ancient style buildings from Romanesque to Baroque, forts.
Krka National Park. A cascade of waterfalls from Lake Visovac, 45 m high, Skradinsky Buk waterfall, one of the most beautiful in Croatia, 36 m high and 500 m wide
Dubrovnik- 20 miles- Mljet – 29 miles- Korcula-27 miles- Veli Lago –-31 miles-Mletska Jezera — 30 miles — Stone — 34 miles — Dubrovnik
Dubrovnk and Korcula – monumental cities, “pearls of the Adriatic”: massive city walls with towers (XIV-XV century), forts, palaces with Gothic windows with delicate carvings (XIV-XV century), clock towers, Cathedrals, churches.
Mletska Jezera – two sea lakes in the western part of the island of Mljet – Big Lake and Small Lake, connected by a narrow channel. The lakes are part of the Mljet National Park.
Corfu – 60 miles- Preveza-10 miles-Lefkada- 30 miles-Ithaca –25 miles-Fiskardo (Kefalonia island) –50 miles –
Gayos (Paxi Island) –33 miles to Corfu
The Ionian Islands are rich in amazing landscapes and historical monuments. The old city of Kerkyra is one of the most beautiful Greek cities. Italian, French and British architecture are mixed here. Old Byzantine fortresses, churches, bell towers, palaces, temples. The islands are very green, the coast is indented like lace.
Salerno –25 nm –. Capri-20 nm- Forio –10 nm-Prochida – 20 nm – Sorrento-20 nms-Amalfi –20 nm- Salerno
Capri is one of the most famous islands in the world. The cliffs and the caves, sea grottoes, beautiful panorama.
Ischia is a fabulous island with pine and citrus groves and generous thermal springs. The famous thermal park “Poseidon Gardens” is a delightful place, where you can swim in the warm mineral springs amid a magnificent landscape.
Sorrento is a real gem on the terrace, breaking off to the sea.
Amalfi is a beautiful historical town, the famous Cathedral of the 9th century, a unique combination of historical monuments with the beauty of nature.
Fethiye – 15 nm -Gemilier Island -3 nm-Oludeniz- 3 nm- Batterfly Valley -15 nm-Aga Limani – 6 nm-Cleopatra Bay – 15 nm- Fethiye
Clean water, nice bays, swimming, snorkeling, trekking, antic ruins.
Kotor- 15 miles- Rose – 17 miles- Budva-12 miles- Bigovo -10 miles-Herzeg Novi — 10 miles — Perast — 5 miles — Kotor
Kotor, Budva, and Perast – towns with medieval churches, cathedrals, Venetian palaces, and pillars.
Herceg Novi – Old Town (Stari Grad), fortified by Herceg (Duke) Stjepan Vukčić in the 15th century. Fortress Spanjola (1538) and Fortress Forte Mare (1687). The Savina monastery has three beautiful Orthodox churches and splendid views.
2. Sailing areas for advanced sailors- crossings of open parts of sea, may be strong sea and wind conditions.
ITALY – all routes included passages with crossing of open sea areas. Marinas are not everywhere and as usual without any facilities. Prices in marinas are quite high. Weather conditions may be very strong and you will need to stay at one place for 2 days.
GREECE– the most of points don`t have marinas and moorings. Route from Athens is strongly not recommended in July-September due constant and very strong wind “Meltemi”.Prices are very low.
FRANCE-Mediterranean – a lot of marinas with facilities, however there may be strong sea and wind conditions. Water is clear no everywhere. May be problems with English language. Prices in marinas are medium.
MALLORCA – may be very strong sea and wind conditions and you will need to wait the weather in same place and then to do a very long passage. Prices are medium.
Portorosa –25 miles – Vulcano 3 miles – Lipari – 12 miles– Panarea 10 miles– Salina – 30 miles– Milazzo 16 miles– Portorosa
Vulcano Island was the home of the God of the Wind – Aeolus and the forge of the God of Fire Volcano. The island – this is the active volcano, which you can climb and even walk around the crater among the crystals and fumes of sulfur
So you can see citadels and fortresses in Lipari and Milazzo, medieval fishers village on Salina and have a good restaurants on celebrity`s island Panarea
Canignone – 10 miles. La Maddalena- 16 miles- Bonifacio (Corsica) –10 miles -Santa Teresa Gallura -8 miles Porto Pollo – 5 miles -Palau -10 miles -Canynone
Snow-white sandy beaches with incredibly clear and crystal clear waters, flowers and the scent of lush Mediterranean vegetation and the unique beauty of the coastline created by time and wind
Bonifacio is the most colorful Corsican city with beautiful snow-white cliffs above the sea. The Old City hovering over the sea.
Marina Etrusca- 20 miles-Portoferraio (Elba) -25 miles- Capraia – 18 miles-Masinaggio (Corsica) – 18 miles-Bastia (Corsica) – 50 miles-Porto Azurro (Elba) – 20 miles-marina Etrusca
Portoferraio – Forte del Falcone, a fortress 16th century. Nearby is the Palazzina dei Mulini – the house in which Napoleon lived in exile in 1814-1815. The coast of the island is indented with picturesque bays.
Bastia is Corsica’s largest port. The quarter of Terra Nova with the citadel of the 15th century with the church of St. Mary and the palace of the Genoese governors, the Terra Vecchia quarter with the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the market square.
Rhodes – 20 nm- Panormitis – 35 nm- Nisyros- 20 nm-Kos-30 nm-Tilos- 30 nm – Symi – 22 nm -Rhodes
Rhodes is a medieval city, which is surrounded by ancient fortress walls. Some streets have retained their medieval appearance. The Palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of the Ioannites are the real gates of the past centuries.
Panormitis has the miraculous icon of the archangel Michael Panormitis, a spiritual magnet that helps in many troubles, heals incurable diseases, finds a way out of a hopeless situation and shows the way to the sea.
Athens – 26 miles- Poros – 15 miles- Hydra – 40 miles-Nafplion – 25 miles-Spetses – 45 miles-Aegina -20 miles- Athens
Hydra – the unique island of Greece – all mechanical vehicles, even bicycles, are completely forbidden here! Only two modes of transport are available: sea and donkeys
Spetses is a picturesque green island. Horse carriages, which are one of the means of transportation around the island, white houses and mansions with courtyards decorated with exotic red flowers hanging over white fences give a special flavor to it.
Golf Juan- 26 nm Saint-Tropez-30 nm-Antibes-20 nm Menton-5 nm-Monaco-10 nm-Nice-15 nm-Golf Juan
Menton is the most aristocratic tourist center of the region. The picturesque Promenade du Soleil in the old part of the city, cathedrals, chapels, churches.
Monaco is a small independent state. Beautiful views, Princely Palace, a small and cozy old town, the Cousteau Museum.
Nice -Promenade des Anglais, charming old town streets, Roman circuses and thermae
Antibes – Grimaldi Castle and the Picasso Museum , Vauban fortifications, Napoleon Museum, Maritime Museum.
Saint-Tropez is a picturesque town, next to which are the villas of famous actors
Palma –50 nm-Port Soller – 40 nm-Alcudia – 35 nm-Porto Cristo – 12 nm-Cala de Or –20 nm- La Salina– 20 nm- Palma
Palma de Mallorca is the capital and most beautiful city of the Balearic archipelago. Belver Castle, the Cathedral, Almudine Palace, a beautiful exchange building with tall windows and openwork stone carvings of the 14th century, noble houses, palaces, churches and monasteries,
Alcudia is a typical old town with narrow streets, surrounded by a fortress wall, which you can walk through, looking at the city.
Porto Cristo is famous for its karst caves
In Soller you can see the old station and buildings that are remembered for a long time. The “House of the Moon”, 800-year-old age, with its perfectly preserved facade decoration – a full-bodied image of the night luminary.
3. Sailing areas for experienced sailors- many shoals, difficult enters into the ports, may be strong weather conditions.
NETHERLANDS – all routes included passages throw locks and drawbridges. A lot of marinas with full service. Prices in marinas are low.
ESTONIA– many shoals, difficult entrances into the marinas, crossings of open part of the sea, may be very strong sea and wind conditions, Anywhere a lot of marinas with facilities,prices in marinas are low.
NORWAY– many rocks, may be strong sea and wind conditions. a lot of marinas with facilities, Prices in marinas are low.
VENETIAN BAY – many shoals, may be very strong sea and wind conditions. Marinas with facilities. Prices are medium.
SEYCHELLES, THAILAND– many shoals, reefs, tides, a few marinas,the most of anchorages.
Lemmer – 20 miles – Hindelopen – 26 miles – Horn – 12 miles – Monnickendam – 8 miles – Maiden-10 miles – Volendam -15 miles – Endhaisen – 18 miles – Lemmer
Historic towns, many ancient buildings of the XV-XVII centuries. Facades of buildings are made in a wide variety of forms – necks, bells, stairs. Many different museums.
Old houses and mills, a labyrinth of fishing houses built on stilts, workshops for the production of wooden shoes “Clompen” , well, tasting cheeses and herring.
Pärnu-Kihnu -Ruhnu – Saaremaa -Abruka-Muhu – Pärnu
Pärnu – founded in the 13th century, was part of the Hansa Union, a beautiful cozy old city, many parks, a long beach
Kihnu – island of fishermen and seafarers. The historical culture of Kihnu – costumes, language, music and crafts – are included in the list of the heritage of UNESCO.
Ruhnu is the most sparsely populated island of Estonia. Here is the oldest wooden church in the Baltic states. Old Swedish cemetery with runic symbols, a lighthouse designed by Eiffel.
Kuressaare – the capital of the island of Saaremaa, a cozy medieval town, perfectly preserved bishop’s castle and Town Hall of the 17th century.
In the fjords you can meet a lot of fish – coastal cod, haddock, red sea bass, saithe, flounder, delicious Norwegian herring, sea trout and molva (sea pike), as well as monkfish, catfish and, of course, halibut. Also here a lot of waterfalls and small cozy villages.
Caorle- 20 nm- Grado –12 nm- Piran -55 nm – Chioggia 15 nm–Venice- 25 nms- Caorle
Venice is one of the most unusual and beautiful cities in the world. There are about 200 magnificent palaces in the city, among them the most famous is Doge’s Palace. The famous St. Mark’s Cathedral on the eponymous, no less famous square
Chioggia is the oldest lagoon city, 500 years older than Venice. Canals, squeezed by the walls of old pile houses, low bridges with lanterns, boats at the quays.
Piran is one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic.
Praslin- St. Pierre -Curieuse-Cousin -La Digue-Coco-Grande Soeur – Mahe
Marine National Parks, giant turtles, beautiful beaches rounded rocks, tall palms, beautiful landscapes. Great fishing and many spots for snorkeling.
La Digue is a tiny emerald land with the most beautiful beach in the archipelago. The visiting card of the island is bizarre granite boulders. Great fishing.
Praslin. The mythical May Valley, which is under the protection of UNESCO.
Phuket – Phang Nga Bay – Ko Poda and Chicken – Krabi – Phi Phi – Phuket
Unforgettable impressions are made by picturesque reserves and parks, small islands and ancient temples.
Phang Nga is an amazingly beautiful place with countless sheer cliffs and caves with growths of stalactites and stalagmites.
Phi Phi Lei is a national park with white beaches, coconut groves and lagoons hidden among the sheer cliffs
4. Sailing areas for very experienced sailors- many dangers at sea, high tides and strong currents, big traffic,crossings of open parts of sea, may be very strong storms, high waves, very strong wind.
GIBRALTAR AREA– area with strong currents, wind and sea traffic. Good marinas with full service.Prices in marinas are low. Customs-immigration in Morocco takes a lot of time. Rout completely depends on weather and tides conditions.
BRITTANY– very high tides and very strong currents, very strong winds and very big waves, many shoals, very difficult entrances into the marinas. A lot of marinas, all with facilities,prices in marinas are low. Route completely depends on tides schedule.
SWEDEN– very many rocks, may be strong sea and wind conditions. a lot of marinas with facilities, Prices in marinas are low.
Scotland – very high tides and very strong currents, very strong winds, many shoals, difficult navigation. A few marinas.
Gotenburg archipelago + Norway
Beautiful small Swedish islands with the same beautiful small towns. Stone canyons, bewitching landscapes.Here, one of the most active Swedish rescue stations at sea, founded in 1920, free trainings on survival at sea are constantly held for everyone with the use of helicopters and life rafts.
The old Norwegian city of Gamlebien, built in the XII century as a fortress. Narrow streets, beautiful colorful houses, the best-preserved fort city in Scandinavia
Trinité – Vannes – Belle Iles – Grua – Port Louis – Arzon – La Roche Bernard – Quiberon- Trinité
Brittany is a mecca for yachtsmen. Here are the majority of giant trimarans – participants of the famous Rum Regatta. Buildings of the XIV-XVI centuries. City walls with gates. The full history of military architecture from the Gallo-Roman era to the towers of the XV century. Classic French parks. Half-timbered buildings of the XV-XVI centuries. Castles, cathedrals. Fine wine and cider, the freshest oysters. Mussels cooked with different sauces and equipped with all kinds of delicious seasonings.
Sotogrande- 15 nm-Gibraltar- 15 nm-Ceuta- 25 nm-Tangier (Morocco) – 50 nm-Cadiz – 35 nm-Barbate-45 nm – Sotogrande
Rock Gibraltar is a lighthouse that signals the location of the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe from Africa and provides the only connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Tangier is the meeting place of three cultures: African, Moroccan and European. The main attraction of the city is the medina area with a fortress located there.
Cadiz – the most ancient city of the West. The cathedral is made in the Baroque and neoclassical style.
Around Sky Island
Scotland is a land of forests, mountains and foggy lakes. The breathtaking beauty of the wild mountain scenery. It believes in the existence of wizards and fairies, mermaids and dragons. According to the latest census, a significant part of the population ranked themselves as druids or fairies
Distilleries, castles, whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, great fishing
