Mooring in Tivat & Kotor

"Ok, today I changed my plans – one of the perks of solo travelling – and at the last minute I decided to check out Montenegro, which is just about an hour’s drive south from Dubrovnik. Since this is my first time in the area, I was wavering over whether to do it at breakfast. But the warm, sunny weather and really good atmosphere convinced me that a road trip was in order!

My first stop was Tivat, a tiny town which lies on the quiet waters of the Bay of Kotor, a beautiful,lush region celebrated by many for its Mediterranean climate and lush green surroundings. I have to say, I was charmed. The particularity of this coastline makes it great for sailing, as the waters never get rough even under strong winds. I visited a brand new marina called Porto Montenegro, which I found charming, well-organized and inviting. There I met with Damir, who talked me through the two principal one-week itineraries they offer, and described the incredibly pristine inlets of this incredible fjord. I have to say, I was ready to take this detour to another level and jump on board one of their boats (all of which looked to be top quality, by the way). After gladly giving them the Sail Hunter’s Certification – and making a mental note to come back one day – I hopped back in the car and headed to Kotor, about 15 minutes away.

Kotor is a tiny medieval town, much of it in limestone, located at the very southern tip of the bay. My smartphone tells me it’s a World Heritage Site, my instinct tells me it’s really special. At theharbor, I wasn’t able to meet up with the charter manager, Sanja (that’ll teach me to make last minute detours!) but I was able to look at their fleet in any case. The boats were ingood condition and I am happy to report that my sail hunting today was very productive: I awardedtwo certificates in Montenegro – a first for Sailogy!

Tomorrow, I continue my journey in Croatia. Again, for any readers out there who knowMontenegro well and have sailed or travelled here before, I’m happy to hear your suggestions andideas. This is definitely a place I’d like to explore…when I’m off the clock."