Part Two: What to know before you get OFF the boat
The first few days of your sailing holiday feel like this vacation might last forever! Everyone is so relaxed, visiting the Croatian islands is exciting and it is amazing how quickly eating, swimming and sun-napping can fill up the day! Many holiday goers don’t want to think about the last night of their sailing trip.. That dreaded night when you have to be back in the marina. The night that directly precedes the morning when you all have to leave the boat.
And yet putting a little forethought into that last night and the following morning-that-no-one-wants-to-speak-about can make a big difference to how your trip wraps up.
Here are our tips for how to make sure your last night on the boat doesn’t leave a disappointing dent in your sailing holiday buzz.
Just like a rental car, a charter boat needs to be returned with full fuel tanks. There is no refueling station at Marina Kaštela. However due to the large amount of boats returning on Friday needing refueling, they bring a large fuel truck out to help with the refueling situation. And like everything, there will be queues. The nearest fuel station is in Split, near the entrance to the ACI Marina, and you will be waiting in a queue there too with all the boats returning to the Split marina’s, which can take a very long time. Our recommendation is to fill up out on the islands before you begin the sail back to home base. Rogač, on Šolta island, has a fuel station, as does Milna, on island Brač. And enjoy a farewell sail back to Kaštela!
Make sure you dump your holding tanks BEFORE you approach the marina!!! This often get overlooked and makes things very uncomfortable when it comes to changeover of the boat black to the charter company. Be an awesome boat charterer and dump the tanks.
Don't forget to lighten your load!
Make sure you dump your holding tanks BEFORE you approach the marina!!! This often get overlooked and makes things very uncomfortable when it comes to changeover of the boat black to the charter company.
Be an awesome boat charterer and dump the tanks.
Coming back into the marina in a timely fashion will help to avoid unnecessary frustration and stress. Remember, a whole marina full of boats will be returning at the same time. It is a lot of fun to ‘race’ other vessels through the Split Gates (the gap between islands Brač and Šolta on your way back into Kaštela Bay) and there will highly likely be aa queue of yachts waiting to enter Marina Kaštela upon your return. Please be patient and show seamanship to your fellow vessels. One of the marina staff will be on the outer pier. Just shout to him which charter company you are with and he will direct you to which pier you will be docking on. It is important to note that it is probably the same pier you began on, but not necessarily. So its good to pay attention to where you are being directed to.
Click here to go to Marina Kaštela’s website where you can download the above map as a pdf for your own personal reference.
Book a table at a local Kaštela restaurant. You have a whole marina FULL of hungry sailors who will be looking for sustenance at the same time. To avoid having to fight with everyone else for a table, book something during the week and breeze into the restaurant. A few of our favourite local restaurants here in Kaštela are:
This restaurant is part of the fabric of Kaštela. Serving hearty Croatian fare, we warn you that the portions are very VERY generous! You know you’re onto a winner when you’re rubbing shoulders with locals. Sit inside and appreciate the very Croatian decor or sit out on the terrance and soak up the sea view across the road. Either way, you win!
Another local gem, this Croatian restaurant prides itself on not offering pizza or fries. Just good old fashioned Croatian food to enjoy under the shade of the vine leaves.
Formerly known as Caffe Bar Twister, this spot right on the waters’ edge was revamped in 2020 and boy does it look posh now! Choose to sit outside and dine alfresco by the water, or inside with very simple, stylish decor.
A more up-market choice for dinner, the resident chef loves to take traditional ingredients and add his own creative flair. With a beautiful sea view, what’s not to love about ending a wonderful sailing holiday in style?!
Please make check-out an easier job for the charter company staff. A technician will be coming on board your boat to check the condition of the boat and that you have emptied the holding tanks and filled the fuel tanks. Please ensure that you are ready in the morning to unload all of your luggage and personal items from the boat at a reasonable hour. It all helps the charter world tick over nicely, and helps the charter company to turn over their boats
Book your transfers from the marina in advance. Whether you are heading back to Split, to the airport or are going to pick up a rental car, make sure that you don’t leave booking a taxi or transfer to the last minute.
Just like at the beginning of your sailing holiday, there will be a big crowd at the marina and half of them will be trying to find someone to take them into Split. If you book your transfer earlier in the week (or even earlier than that!), you are entitled to feel a little smug as you walk through the waiting crowds to your car and driver!
If you have chartered a boat from Marina Kaštela recently, we would LOVE to hear from you! Is there anything that you think is useful that we may have missed out? What things do you know now, that you wish you had known before your charter? Let us know in the comments!
