Hope I

A DAY ON THE YACHT

Arriving in Dubrovnik via airplane, you will be immediately welcomed by sunny weather and the faint scent of sea salt and pine, a perfect greeting from one of the sunniest countries in the entire Mediterranean. Dubrovnik is one of the most famous cities in the Adriatic, boasting centuries of history, as well as fine art, incredible architecture, mighty walls and towers, but also exclusive clubs and top-notch restaurants.

You can choose to have a quick look around Dubrovnik before you board HOPE I, but you can also return to this magnificent city in the evening, so you could enjoy all that it has to offer to travellers. Both choices are valid, but it is more attractive to return as the sun sets, avoiding the worst of the summer heat and the tourist crowds during the day.

When you arrive at the dock, start off your holiday the right way, by your charter crew welcoming you with a glass of premium champagne as you step on aboard HOPE I yacht charter and begin the tour of the yacht. Your bags will be carried as you board and left at your designated cabins. Since there are 2 crew members aboard, the stewardess will take you on a quick tour of the vessel, while the captain prepares HOPE I for departure.

Once HOPE I is underway and you are familiar with her layout, it is time to relax on the main deck aft alfresco area with a cocktail, as you cruise to your first location on your Croatian holiday itinerary: the island of Šipan.

This nearby island is part of the Elefiti island group and is yet an undiscovered gem in the global yachting community, which makes it an ideal target for your yacht holiday. Šipan island will offer plenty of opportunities for swimming in the crystal-clear sea in one of many private bays you can discover on the island.

Ask your local charter crew about some recommendations of the best beaches in the vicinity or decide for yourself; stand on the HOPE I`s flybridge and pick what seems like a perfect anchorage for a nice private yacht lunch and some water toys in the afternoon.

While your crew handles the anchoring, you can rest on the flybridge and look for the perfect indentation in the coastline, where you will surely enjoy playing with HOPE I`s water toys.
The largest island in the Elaphite archipelago, also known as “Dubrovnik`s islands”, Šipan is also the nearest island to Dubrovnik. Because it is only 8 miles (12 kilometres) from Dubrovnik, you could enjoy day trips to this island or visit Dubrovnik in style, during the evening.

The essence of Šipan is its past, and the strong roots it has in tradition and religion. Because of that, time passes slower on this island; by harmonising with Šipan, you will get in sync with a more relaxed pace of life. You can anchor in one of many secluded coves or go to Šipanska Luka harbour and enjoy traditional cuisine, made by following ancient recipes and using only local ingredients. Let your local crew recommend a restaurant or choose a perfect bay where you can enjoy a quaint lunch in a picture-perfect atmosphere.

Start with a pan-seared tuna steak with sweet potato, haricon beans and Dutch carrot puree or a braised pork cheeks with grill stuffed portabella mushrooms and rainbow orzo salad with a vanilla-scented orange cheesecake for dessert.

As you enjoy the last bites of dessert, stay seated at the dining table and relax in the soothing Adriatic atmosphere. Search your feelings and decide on what to do in the afternoon. The island of Šipan is full of secrets you can discover with the help of HOPE I`s water toys or just enjoy the aquamarine waters by swimming and snorkelling in the surrounding coves.

On the other hand, if you want to work on your tan, take full advantage of HOPE I`s front sun deck and soak in the sun`s warm rays, as your crew serve refreshing cocktails, tasty snacks and interesting reading material. If the glare from the sun inhibits you from seeing the screen of your phone, move from the bow onto the sundeck and enjoy the shade provided by the bimini.

After enjoying the comfortable atmosphere of your yacht and Šipan island, blissfully watch as daylight starts slowly fading away, accompanied by some of the most gorgeous sunsets in the Adriatic.

Return to your cabins and dress according to your plans for the evening; stay on the yacht or return to Dubrovnik, for an incredible night out. As the most famous city in the Adriatic, Dubrovnik offers plenty of content for all types of travellers and visitors. Some may enjoy strolling the main cobblestone promenade and enjoying the atmosphere of historic architecture, while also having the option of touring Dubrovnik`s impressive fortification system at night.

Others may want to skip the sightseeing and go straight into an exclusive nightclub, a relaxing beach bar or dine in 360°, Dubrovnik`s Michelin restaurant, located on the battlements of its mighty walls. Afterwards, return to HOPE I yacht charter and enjoy the afterparty on the flybridge while observing Dubrovnik`s flickering lights.

YACHT CHARTER DINING

Since HOPE I yacht charter has only two members of the crew, there will be no designated chef to prepare the kinds of dishes you would come to expect on a yacht vacation. Instead, your dedicated stewardess will prepare meals, often more simple than intricate, but this is because she will also have other duties on the yacht, besides cooking.

Nonetheless, you will enjoy the taste of dishes such as seared cod with marinated chargrilled vegetables parmesan, shrimp risotto and sweet ricotta and strawberry parfaits for dessert.

When you do decide that you would like more complexity in your dining experience, simply inform your captain and he will take you to one of 10 Michelin restaurants in Croatia, or to one of the countless family-owned establishments, that are hidden from the public eye and only accessible to yachts or locals who know their exact location.

Thanks to the local know-how of your crew, you will get to enjoy restaurants that will prepare freshly caught seafood by following centuries-old recipes or traditional pastry and different kinds of meats, cooked in the most imaginative ways possible.

YACHT MAIN DECK

The exterior profile of HOPE I yacht charter is both aerodynamically efficient and aesthetically correct. From afar, she looks like a seagull that is readying to soar; from up close, like the tip of Poseidon`s trident – sharp, piercing and commanding respect.

The classical all-white choice for the colour of the exterior makes HOPE I gravitate towards conventionality, but this is a good thing because it is balanced with the contemporary design of the interior.

Starting from the main deck aft, guests can enjoy the alfresco dining option, in form of a stern-placed bench, a big table and several movable chairs. Before stepping into the main deck salon, guests can use the side decks to arrive at the bow sundeck. This quaint area provides the perfect means of escaping prying eyes, while also basking in the warmth of the summer sun. Return to the main deck aft and step inside.

Yacht charter accommodation: main salon & dining area

Once you step into the salon of HOPE I yacht charter, take in the modern and stylized curves that dominate the interior. Gentle curves mimic the profile of the sea, making HOPE I truly a yacht that emulates her environment and brings nature inside her interior. Different shades of brown (chestnut, burgundy-brown, classic) match very well with the beige upholstery and white wall panels.

This choice of colours creates a natural, but elevated atmosphere, helped by the harmonious interior arrangement. All in all, the interior salon looks like a charming box of chocolates, but you know exactly what you are going to get, and are happy about it.

There is a big lounge setting on the portside of the salon, with benches that run in continuation all the way across the entire salon. In the middle are coffee tables and hide-away stools, perfect for enjoying an aperitif before dinner. Opposite the lounge is some cabinetry, housing the pop-up Tv, which transforms the potential of this lounge into a full-fledged entertainment centre.

Forward from the lounge, the interior dining table area is also dominated by gentle curves, which subtly bring the outside in, due to the curved nature of both the interior salon and the gentle waves of the Croatian Adriatic sea.

The dining area and the helm station are both located forward in the main deck, with the helm being placed to port and the dining area to starboard, right across it. In between the dining area and the helm station is a gently-curved staircase that can lead guests to the flybridge.

YACHT FLYBRIDGE

The stern of the flybridge is designated as the second sunbathing area on HOPE I yacht charter, with modular sun furniture, which can transform into a comfortable stern bench or low-laying sunmatrasses. When not in use as a sunbathing or a lounge area, this part of the flybridge could also be used for some awesome yoga asanas; the Croatian Adriatic sea has some of the best sunsets in the entire Mediterranean, which are perfect backgrounds for yoga and meditation.

On the portside, an L-shaped sofa bench circles around a coffee table; this comfortable nook is ideal for eating canapes and drinking champagne, while HOPE I yacht charter is underway.

Across this charming placement is a refrigeration unit with a sink and an icemaker, so everything can be prepared without the need of travelling down to the galley. A large bimini hangs over the entire front section of the flybridge, ensuring that guests pick and choose how much sunlight they want to be exposed to.

Finally, the exterior helm station is placed on the portside of the flybridge, with a staircase leading to the main deck located on the starboard side.

YACHT LOWER DECK

The lower deck of HOPE I yacht charter is where guests will find their accommodations, in the form of a master cabin, 2 double cabins and 1 twin cabin.

Yacht charter accommodation: master cabin

The full-beam master cabin aboard HOPE I yacht charter exudes a faint orange glow with white and dark brown details, creating a homey atmosphere. Decorational white leather ceiling panels add a dash of luxury to the overall atmosphere. The cabin is equipped with portholes on both sides as well as a spacious closet, a vanity table and a flat-screen TV in front of the berth.

Resting beside the berth are two nightstands and lamps, with a mirror behind them, reflecting light and creating an illusion of depth. Also, a nearby vanity table will enable guests to fix their make-up or check something on their laptops before dinner.

Yacht charter accommodation: twin cabin

The twin aboard HOPE I yacht charter is best used as a children`s room; the design and the décor are meant primarily for children, with toys, colourful linens and cute art pieces above the berths.

A single nightstand between the berths creates plenty of leg room, while a wide porthole provides natural light from dawn until dusk. Light beige faux wood panels adorn most of the surface in the twin, creating a warm and minimalistic vibe. Finally, the ensuite bathroom provides everything a guest needs during a holiday – a sink, a shower cabin and a head.

Yacht charter accommodation: double cabin

There are two identical double cabins, right next to each other, designed and decorated in the same manner. That is, a single nightstand on one side of the queen-sized berth, while the other side gently snugs the hull wall. Above the headspace is some shelving, with a porthole on one side of the cabin, which keeps the cabin bright and airy.

Light beige dominates as a primary colour, emulating woodwork and wooden finishes, while the framing of the berth is done in dark brown leather. There are plenty of LED lights, smartly integrated throughout the cabins, that provide light in the evening, but during the day, the portholes illuminate the double cabins with lots of sunshine.

YACHT BEACH CLUB & SWIMMING PLATFORM

The swimming platform on HOPE I yacht charter will enable easy swapping between different water toys when you decide to have some fun in the sea.

Stairs on both sides of the swimming platform connect the sea to the main deck aft, enabling good traffic and communication; this effectively transforms the entire stern into one large beach club. Finally, you can use the stairs to lean as you sit on the swimming platform, with your feet in the sea, while a crew member passes you a refreshing cocktail.

YACHT WATER TOYS & WATER SPORTS

HOPE I is equipped with water toys that will satisfy different aspects of having fun in the sea.

A Sea bob will be your ticket into the beautiful secrets of the azure Adriatic. Move like an aquatic creature through the water and observe the colourful seabed, filled with oceanic flora and fauna, diverse and numerous beyond counting. You will definitely spot sea urchins, which are a clear sign that the Croatian Adriatic sea is clean and healthy. Be careful of their spikes while you look out for shiny clams known as abalones, but also starfish and many different fish schools, alongside, sea cucumbers and crabs of different sizes.

Enjoy being in your private aquarium, made possible by the water toys aboard HOPE I yacht charter. And remember, do not disturb plant and animal life, because the Croatian Adriatic is worth preserving, so you have a place to come back to next year.

When it comes to towables, 2 donuts and a wakeboard will be on offer to those guests who want to feel what it is like to splash through waves or bounce on water, while being towed by a tender operated by your competent captain.

Lastly, two standup paddleboards will provide those guests in search of serenity and peace with a chance to be gently carried away by the Adriatic or to explore the nearest coastline by paddling into every cove, nook and cranny. Holding your balance on the paddleboard will not be an easy feat, especially if you try some balancing poses. You can also you the SUP as a sunbathing platform, so you could enjoy both being close to the sea and working on your perfect bronze tan.