Croatia’s 200-mile Dalmatian coastline offers an unbeatable combination of reliable sailing winds and fabulous scenery. Historic ports testify to the region’s rich trading traditions, and beautifully preserved medieval walled towns with cobbled streets, harbourside restaurants and cosmopolitan street cafes perfectly complement the deserted coves and peaceful beaches of the string of hundreds of unspoilt, pine-clad offshore islands.

South of Pula, overlooked by its 1st Century AD Roman amphitheatre, Croatia’s beautiful offshore islands stretch endlessly southwards along her coastline, like a necklace of precious stones, shimmering in the midday sunshine reflected from the impossibly blue waters. This is prime sailing territory, with challenging runs on the longer reaches between groups of islands, and more leisurely opportunities to explore archipelagos such as Kornati, a designated national park that’s home to the spectacular Krka waterfalls. To the south lie the historic walled town of Split, and the beautiful medieval city of Dubrovnik, known as the ‘Jewel of the Adriatic’.