Outside of Greece and Spain, Croatia is perhaps the next most popular area for people to go on holiday within Europe to take an RYA training course to improve their sailing skills. Read on and you'll hear why. Both schools listed below offer structured courses as well as pure and simple learn to sail holidays where you do just that, but at the speed and pace you dictate.

"Croatia has been happily re-discovered by the cruising yachtsman after many settled years since becoming an independent country. Always a popular place to sail, it has now come of age as one of the real unspoilt gems. With some of the sunniest places to be and the cleanest water you will ever see I guarantee you a great sailing experience.

There are well over a thousand Islands to sail around and between, as well as the coastline, with small quiet hamlets in deep bays to bustling active large towns with much history, nightlife and shopping. National Park Status in several places and restrictive development laws indicates the Croatians determination to protect their heritage and the environment.

For the beginner sailor there is sheltered water everywhere with light to medium breezes close to shore and between the islands, and for the more advanced sailor offshore islands and stronger winds to complete challenging but rewarding passages. With times between the islands never more than a couple of hours there is time to enjoy the sailing and the shore life to. The olde worlde harbour towns are always individual with cultural events right through the season."

Written by: Nigel Turnbull, Sailing School Croatia.