Croatia - It's just beautiful!

So here we are in Croatia - we've been away for 135 days and sailed over 4000 miles, we could have crossed the Atlantic and half way back ... Another time!

The Croatian Islands are spectacular: crystal clear sea, clear blue skies (with a few notable exceptions) and gentle sailing conditions.

After the ferocious storm the day we arrived, we went on to join the Harrison family in Split - they were chartering a yacht for a week and we tagged along, it was great to follow someone else's lead and have a rest from passage planning.  Thanks, Peter - you did a great job!

We have now visited Brac, Hvar, Vis, Lastovo, Korcula and Mljet.  A picture really does paint one thousand words ...

Split Town - we had dinner there with the Harrisons

ACI Marina, Split - not a lot of spare space! Maybe we should have had bow thrusters, after all.

Rob, Clare and Lily taking it easy 

First stop on the Harrison Tour: Vis island

Not sure why the Police were so interested in us!  Vis Town quay

And on to Lastovo, an anchorage this time - this area is designated a Natural Park, and very unspoilt. It was well hidden, more of an inland sea than a bay.

Lastovo, Mali Lago anchorage

Next stop: Mljet island, Polace anchorage - away from the crowds, another very well sheltered anchorage

Complete with castle ruins

Anyone for a BBQ?

With a musical accompaniment?

Enough Nature for now - we went on to the ACI Marina, Korcula - another study in how to maximise boats per square metre of marina space!

Korcula City Walls

  

The Old Town, most of these streets turned into restaurants at night, mostly called Marco Polo.  Alledgedly he was born here.

And there was also extensive stone carving

And finally - Hvar Island, allegedly one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world - not sure how they are judged, as they've all been beautiful!

Hvar Island.  €50 will get you a shared mooring buoy and you swim your other lines ashore - unless Peter's there to do it for you!

Hvar town square - plenty of room for the sale of Tourist Tat here!

Tat to suit all budgets and tastes!

The old Fishing Boat Harbour, Hvar

The view from the castle - at the top of a hill.  Our mooring clearly visible on the right of the picture, the old harbour on the left.  We parted company with our friends here as they had to return their boat to Split. We went on to the islands opposite where we have now spent just over a week in a delightful anchorage - our longest stay in any one place so far this trip.

Our anchorage - Hvar just visible in the distance, we're using a restaurant buoy, a bargain at dinner for two, for €30!

The snorkelling is fabulous - is this part of the Top 10 Island criteria?  

Who needs the Great Barrier Reef?   Nothing deadly in the water here, visit Croatia instead!

Although, when it rains, it really does rain!!!

But at least you get a good sunset afterwards

And the next excitement - back to Split to pick up our next guests, Nick and Sally Newell