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When LBW Travel asked if I wanted to go on their YachtLife trip, island hopping in Croatia for a week, I’d basically already packed before they finished the sentence. I’ve got this thing with boats you see (here’s a list of six reasons why your next holiday should be on a boat), plus I’ve never been to Croatia and ‘life before work’ is an ethos I can really get behind.[dt_gap height=”10″ /] [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1511″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1510″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1517″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1527″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1512″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1513″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]The premise is simple, a group of like minded individuals (at least 30% are literally there by themselves) from all over the world (but on my week it was mainly Australians, Canadians and Americans – I’m surprised I didn’t come back with a weird twang, eh? Oh.) come together for a week of sun, sailing and er, sambucca along the Dalmatian Coast. Lots are backpacking in Europe for the summer, but some come just for the trip. Ages varied between 18-35, but the average is early twenties…although some of the older ones of the crowd (me included) liked to think we’d built up some stamina over the years and were able to pace ourselves. Let us just have that one, okay? But if you can’t get into a ‘zero fucks’ mind frame, no matter what your age, this might not be for you.
DJs set the scene from early afternoon on the boats and the music and drinks continue all day, every day. Oh and did I mention the trip wrapped up with the 3-day long Ultra Music Festival with 125k other party-goers raving from 6pm-6am? Sure.[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1522″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1582″ img_size=”large” onclick=”custom_link” link=”http://iwallyphoto.com/blog/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]The boats are big and spacious and the seas calm (but salty, just FYI)*, you’ve got all the mod cons like flushing toilets and air con…this isn’t serious sails-up-sailing on a 40ft yacht, so sea-sickness shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Hangovers though? Pack the Dioralyte![dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1516″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1500″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image alignment=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]We set sail from Split and visit the islands of Trogir, Makarska, Vis, Hvar, Korčula and to be honest…I lost count after that. Oh wait Lumbarda too, we had a white party there and bust open a bag of flour over ourselves and the dance floor (ok, admittedly the dance floor was a pebble beach)…not sure they’ll be able to use that footage of white powder all over people’s faces for the promo vid.
You’ll get to spend a bit of time on land too, lots there for the taking if you’re a culture vulture. Walk up to the fortress in Hvar for hun-real views, rent scooters in Vis to explore the island or wander through the market stalls in Split to pick up all kinds of nautical trinkets. Seriously, it was like pirate heaven…if you’re into that kind of thing, which obvs I am.[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1535″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1520″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1530″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1508″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]Every second person has a GoPro in their hand, tie-dye sarongs with a neck hole cut out for the lads are the general #ootd and you’ll be given dirty looks if you spend more than three minutes flat on your make up. You’ll just sweat it off on the dance floor anyway, so spend those three minutes recording new samples with the DJ instead, I recommend the name of your boat like we did for a healthy bit of rivalry between the ships…”Gold boat is the SHIT!!”. That’s DJ Sean Lamb down the front there, he really is the shit.[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1596″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]Mentally prepare yourself for about three hours sleep per 24-hour period, trust that the tap water is drinkable (I struggled with this but switched from bottled halfway through the week and I’m still here to tell the tale. Plus, you can chuck in some vodka and lime for hair of the dog while still hydrating…smart. Kinda. Thanks for the tip Wifey!) and make sure you’ve got a go with the flow attitude, or you’ll never survive LBW YachtLife. When you do though, you’ll feel a sense of achievement, masked behind cold sweats and unexplained bruises, and a new family of friends. There will be blood sweat and tears, but there will also be stories and snapchats and probably scars to remind you of the memories.
*And of course the sea is salty….it’s the bloody sea, what were you expecting, Evian?
Quick shout out to this adventurous girl being snapped at the top of Hvar Fortress when I was too wimpy to even sit on a ledge for a pic, fellow travel blogger Steph Be from TravelBreak.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1509″ img_size=”large” onclick=”custom_link” link=”http://www.travel-break.net/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]Check back for my photo diary with images from this absolute gent and shit-hot photog, Wally.[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1579″ img_size=”large” onclick=”custom_link” link=”http://iwallyphoto.com/blog/”][/vc_column][/vc_row]