Sailing your dream yacht in Croatia – Exclusive well planned yacht charters, quality boats, first class service, care, and technical back up. We offer you the perfect setup on boats  and crew for a dreamholiday you would not forget.

Our holidays are tailor-made to your requirements and are perfect for families, couples and groups looking for a true Croatian sailing adventure!

Ocean Stockholm offers a brand new Hanse 540 in the crystal clear adriatic waters this summer. A perfect size for a 2-family group. Our aim is simply to make sure that you have a holiday to remember!

found on oceanstockholm.se

Located in St. Tropez, France, this stunning SWAN56 is preperd for a sailing vacation of your lifetime. Perfectly set for a two-family-set up, with double owners cabins.

Skipper and a chef is included.

Contact us on oceanstockholm.com

found on oceanstockholm.com

Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples.

The roughly trapezoidal island lies about 30 km from Naples and measures around 10 km east to west and 7 km north to south with a 34 kilometres coastline and a surface area of 46.3 square kilometres (17.9 sq mi).

It is almost entirely mountainous, with the highest peak being Mount Epomeo at 788 meters. The island has a population of over 60,000 people.

It´s probably the most beatiful island in the whole mediterranean..

photography by Giovanni Mattera

found on albertoischia.it

Fantastic, fabulous Santorini deserves all the superlatives. Even the most jaded traveller succumbs to the awesome drama of this surreal landscape, relic of what was probably the biggest eruption in recorded history. That you share the experience with hordes of other visitors is inevitable. Embrace it all.

The caldera and its vast curtain wall of multicoloured cliffs is truly awesome. If you want to experience the full dramatic impact it’s worth arriving by a slower ferry with open decks, rather than by enclosed catamaran or hydrofoil.

Ponza and Gavi are the remains of a caldera rim of an extinct volcano, with a surface area of 7.3 square kilometers. Ponza is approximately 5.5 Miles long by 1.5 miles (2.4 km) at its widest. It is a crescent shaped island with one large beach called Spiaggia di Chiaia di Luna (Half Moon Beach) and a few small beaches and has a mostly rocky coast made of kaolin and tuff rock.
The island has layers of Kaolinite and Bentonite which used to be mined. It has many odd natural rock formations, one looks like a monk, another looks like a giant pair of work pants, Spaccapurpo (Arco Naturale O Spaccapolpi), another looks like a patch of flowers and another one looks like mushrooms, another looks like a horseman. It has the Fantasy Rock Castle and several natural bridges and arches.

It also has Faragliones or giant sea stacks made of solid rock. It has several small villages, among them are Commune di Ponza, Santa Maria and Le Forna. Ponza is often confused with nearby islands like Ischia and Capri, except Ponza has no active volcanism.

The island was inhabited from neolithic through Roman times. According to local legends, Ponza was named after Pontius Pilate, Roman governor of Judea who tried Jesus of Nazareth for heresy. Pontius Pilate’s family owned a grotto on Ponza, which is still named after him.
The Pontius Pilate legend of Ponza’s name has recently come into dispute amongst historians, because the name “Pontia” appears in Strabo’s Geography. This pre-dates the birth of Pilate. It is not known if this is the same name as Ponza or a similar name. “Pontia” means “Land of Bridges” in Latin and Ponza has many natural arches and natural bridges, so that may be the origin of the name Pontia.

found on wikipedia.org

The Maxi Dolphin boatyard was established in 1987 in Erbusco, near Brescia, thanks to businessman Vittorio Moretti’s passion for the sea, nature and racing.
The first boat launched was the Carmen di Bellavista, a 73-foot maxi-yacht designed by Bruce Farr for racing in the demanding ICAYA circuit – a one-off design of great prestige designed for Vittorio Moretti himself.
Maxi Dolphin went on to develop numerous one-offs that were very different, yet all featuring indisputable excellence in terms of technology and personality, including the 118’ Viriella designed by German Frers, five 65-footers designed by Luca Brenta and the 75’ Bella Pita designed by Bill Tripp.

In over two decades of activity – and more than 300 boats – in parallel with the one-offs Maxi Dolphin has been involved in one-design yachts, strictly standard mono-types governed by class rules – enthusiasts will undoubtedly recall Joker and Dolphin 81.

In 2007 the boatyard launched the production of powerboats, a different way to experience the sea, while still enjoying the same freedom and a ifestyle with a difference. Thus came about the MD 51’ Power, a megatender that capitalized on Maxi Dolphin’s expertise with sailing boats.

The hull design is based on the same hydrodynamic principles as the hulls of sailing boats, where the shapes are optimised to achieve the utmost efficiency. Composite materials (the same as those used to make hulls for the America’s Cup) are used in the construction to maximize rigidity, robustness and lightness.

found on maxidolphin.it

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an amazing rendezvous of yachts. First run twenty-six years ago as La Nioulargue, the regatta gathers together the most extraordinary modern sailing boats alongside the most beautiful traditional yachts in the early autumn. A host of racers and sailing enthusiasts come from all the corners of the globe to do battle in the bay of Saint-Tropez. The Trophée Rolex is awarded to the winner of the Classic Division over 16 metres.

found on regattanews.com

Audi MedCup – Cagliari

21 September 2010

Today was the first day of the Audi Med Cup – Cagliari. Three races were held in 8-18 knots for the fleet of ten TP52s.

Onboard Artemis our first and second races were good with a 3,6 and we were 2nd overall at that point. Then a bad start and going the wrong way on the first windward leg of the third race put us way behind the fleet. We fought back to battle on the last run with Bribon and Luna Rossa, but we failed to pass them at the finish.

After light to moderate Southeasterly winds for three-quarters of the day the wind really piped up for that last race. The water was very choppy.

Emirates Team New Zealand came out of the day in first, with Matador in second.

photography by Sander van der Borch/Artemis
found on artemisracing.com

Porto Cervo becomes the centre of the Nautor’s Swan world in September 2010 with upwards of 100 Swan yachts competing in this weeklong regatta.
Recognized worldwide as one of the preeminent designers/ builders of luxury sailing yachts, this biennial event attracts both racing and racer/cruiser yachts.
A draw for top sailors, the Rolex Swan Cup provides a spirited week of racing and gala social events for which Rolex and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda are renowned.

With the measurement controls half complete, the fleet of Swan 45s will head out on the water on Monday afternoon for a practice session with coach and jury member Juerg Kaufmann on the eve of the start of the 5th Swan 45 Worlds.

Organized at the world’s most prestigious locations these regattas give Swan owners the opportunity for top class competition combined with glamorous social programs shoreside.
Well known in the sailing community, Swan events are now notorious for attracting crowds of thousands from across the globe to enjoy the “Spirit of Swan”.

The 2010 racing calendar will provide a spirited year of racing culminating in the spectacular Rolex Swan Cup, Porto Cervo, 13 – 19 September. The Rolex Swan Cup will host the Swan 45 World Championship, Swan Maxi Class and Club Swan 42’s as well as being open to all Swans for competitive racing.

found on regattanews.com & nautorswan.com

© Sander van der Borch / Artemis

25 August 2010

Two races were held today in 14 knot, Easterly winds off the South coast of Spain. Artemis had an ok day….middlle of the fleet in both races.

We made a strategic decision this morning to not get in any close situations, no possible fouls, to just sail clean and see where the chips would fall. It is the first day of a five day event and a 5, 6 are both keepers in this fleet. Where we want to be on Sunday is in a position to win.

Today, the right hand side of the course was very favored upwind due to the Easterly flowing current offshore. The committee did not bias the line to the left so the fleet was bunched up at the committee boat end of the line at the starts. Emirates Team New Zealand is being protested by Matador for an infraction at the start of the second race.

We have the same good boat speed that we had at Barcelona and that is very valuable for the coming days.

We did make a few mistakes, mostly downwind on the first run of each race, that probably cost us two places in each race.

My son Danny is here with me this week. Today he sailed at the “guest” onboard. Most days he gives the guys a hand on the tender. We work out together in the mornings, eat together with the team, sleep in the same room, even watched the movie “Hangover” together last night. It is nice for me to have him around!

It is still 34C or about 94F right now a 1800. Going for a swim.

To watch the racing live, go to www.artemisracing.com and for results go to www.medcup.org

Paul Cayard
Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy

TP52 Series official practice race
1. Artemis (SWE)
2. Bigamist 7 (POR), +00:41
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), +00:53
4. Quantum Racing (USA), +01:13
5. Matador (ARG), +01:38
6. Synergy (RUS), +02:12
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), +02:21
8. Bribón (ESP), +02:43
9. TeamOrigin (GBR), DNF
10. Cristabella (GBR), DNF
11. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), DNF

found on artemisracing.com

The island of Cavallo has been uninhabited for many thousands years. Romans sent colonies of prisoners to cut the granit destinated to roman monuments; it was impossible to flee as the island was surrounded by dangerous depths.

The “Cursed Siren”, this is the island’s nickname, as its beauty hid snares, which all navigators feared. In 1855, during a stormy night, the bigger and tragic shipwreck of the Mediterranean Sea happened: the ship Semillante, which transported more then 600 French soldiers to Crimea, sank in the Lavezzi Archipelago. Their bodies were buried in Lavezzi into the 2 cemeteries built for them. The legend recognizes in the shouts of the gulls the voices of their souls, who are even now looking for peace in the blue sea.

The island of Cavallo was abandoned during Augusto’s empire and was left at its destiny for many centuries. It was rediscovered later in 1800 when the shepherd Terrazzoni went to live there alone with his sheeps and goats.

Cavallo is the only habited island of the Archipelago and is the most exclusive paradise of Mediterranean Sea.
Ten years ago an harbour was built, surrounded by a village and one hundred apartments.
Cavallo is not an island for a normal tourism; it must remain an oasis with few buildings in order to not disturb the pleasure of holidays.
It is a separate world, closed and privileged, where residents can find everything, surrounded by a magic environment, which represents the most elegant corner of Mediterranean Sea.
found on hoteldespecheurs.com

The Audi MedCup Circuit has continuously built on five years of real, solid racing history. Last year the GP42 Series joined the TP52 Series to continue the evolution of the world?s leading regatta circuit.
This year two more top level America’s Cup teams join the action, and there are many new features which will ensure the racing, the unique atmosphere and all the core information is much more widely accessible.
Originally, back in 2004, the TP52 class and then the GP42 class grew from the dissatisfaction with the complex handicapping system which prevailed in the Mediterranean.

It was overly technical, and required complex mathematics after the race finished to compute the winner, revealed only after handicaps had been taken into account.
With a simple box rule, development classes cut away all of that and immediately produced simple, exciting, enthralling racing which found favour with owners, competing crews, organizers, sponsors and venues.
The classes and the circuits grew year after year and since 2005 have consistently drawn the best sailors in the world to compete on an equal footing.

photography © Ainhoa Sanchez/Audi MedCup
found on medcup.org