Like having an experienced local skipper
in your pocket,
helping you sail easier, safer & cheaper
SKIPPER HOTLINE ASSISTANCE INCLUDES:
ROUTE GUIDANCE
Custom Route Plan
& Daily Adjustment
STORM WARNINGS
Timely Alerts on specific
local weather
BOOKING ADVICE
From experienced
independent local skipper
ON-CALL SUPPORT
Real-time Advice from
Local Skipper, 8–22h Daily
Book a Boat & Get Skipper Hotline
Assistance Included at no extra cost
or choose a 7-Day standalone pass
Assistance included
BENEFITS OF BOOKING A BOAT WITH OUR AGENCY
WELCOME GIFT
Pair of sailing gloves
PRICE MATCH
Lowest price guaranteed**
SKIPPER HOTLINE
Expert advice before
& during your sailing trip
User reviews
★ 4.9/5 Review score at Trust Pilot and Google
Me and my family had an amazing experience learning to sail with Philip. From the very beginning, he created a calm and supportive environment, which made a huge difference—especially as someone who was a bit nervous at first. He explained everything clearly, broke down complex techniques into simple steps, and always made sure we understood before moving on. What really stood out to me was his patience and attention to detail. He doesn’t just teach you how to sail—he makes sure you feel confident doing it. Whether it was handling the wind, steering, or understanding safety, I always felt like I was in very capable hands. At the same time, the lessons were fun and engaging. There was a great balance between learning and enjoying the experience out on the water. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and that energy is contagious. I would highly recommend him to anyone—whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to improve your skills. Easily one of the best learning experiences I’ve had!
We knew Filip from a sailing experience from three years ago, so we knew that the guy knows what he’s doing and talking about. This time it was our first time chartering a boat on our own. Skipper Hotline was very useful for our trip. He helped us with important decisions (also on the boat deal), sent us wheather updates and also checked in on us multiple times during the trip. As a local he knows where to get all the supplies (water, electricity, diesel) in the region. We got a lot of great recommendations for which islands, bays, marinas, towns and restaurants to visit ahead of our trip. Basically an itinerary for the whole week tailored to the weather conditions. We followed most of the recommended destinations and everything was great! Especially for first time skippers this service is very recommendable!
I hired Filip for online support during my sailing trip in Croatia at the end of August 2025. I had rented a sailboat and was in a leisure cruise with my family, with me as the skipper. Not being familiar with Croatia, Filip’s assistance was invaluable, helping to define the itinerary, identify and the best spots to visit and moor, and by givibg daily tips according to the wind and weather. Having Filip just a WhatsApp message away gave great peace of mind and I will definitely hire him again!
From the very first contact, Skipper Hotline’s service as my booking agent was professional, thorough, and reassuring. Skipper Hotline guided me extensively before, during, and after choosing the boat, making the whole process smooth and worry-free. Even though we were rather self-sufficient on board, the Skipper Hotline felt like having a guardian angel in the background – always ready with valuable information, from confirming up-to-date weather warnings along our actual route to suggesting anchorages and sharing personal insider tips you won’t find in any guidebook, and only rarely in any app. This combination of expertise, accessibility, and genuine care made all the difference, especially for someone like me, with sailing experience limited to recreational trips. It’s an affordable service I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone – particularly those new to sailing. I’m very satisfied and will definitely use Skipper Hotline’s services again in the future.
Skipperhotline has been a useful resource to find the right boat at the right price.
Then Filip helped us in finding a hostess when we were in emergency because our first hostess quitted just before the vacation.
Filip was our skipper during the week and he was always professional and safety driven. He gave us good option for our trip and brought us in fantastic places.
Recommended!
We was a little bit skeptical about how can someone help us online, will it be useful. But I think is really useful specially when someone is alone in the boat who knows about sailing, discuss the weather, locations, where is need to be go. Always gives us suggestions about where can we go, anchor. We have not the best weather in our holiday, but with the help, we always could sleep safe places.
Our boat were in a really tiny space, we tried go out by thrusters, but it had seemed impossible, skipper hotline sent some scratch how can we use spring lines to go out and we did it. It was also a big help I did not need spend half hour to plan the routes and check weather every day. We just sent our ideas and received detailed plans which was adjusted to weather conditions. It was our first chartering in Croatia and we could just enjoy instead of worry on all movement.
Obtaining a license to operate a sailboat is one thing – but finding an instructor who can teach the most important skills in a short time to safely go sailing with the family is another. When the instructor can also arrange a suitable sailboat on short notice during peak season and suggest routes perfectly adapted to wind and weather conditions, you have the best foundation for a dream sailing vacation. Filip offers all of this. I can only recommend using his Skipper Hotline. Thank you, Filip – until next time.
Filip has been accompanying me throughout the skipper licensing process as a teacher and continues to be my mentor for tough situations. Whenever I go sailing in Croatia, I first give a call to Filip. His insights and guidance to plan my trip are tremendously valuable. He is well connected with the charter companies and always helps us find the right boat for the right setting. But not only that, once I am at sea I continue being in touch with him and appreciate his guidance to avoid bad weather scenarios and pick beautiful anchorages. It makes me feel at peace during my vacation, knowing that I have a most experienced local skipper helping me making decisions for the safety of myself and my crew. And if that’s not enough, Filip is just a really nice guy and great to hang out with!
Our very first booking with Filip was such a success that we have kept going back to him for the last 4 years! Every trip was a marvelous experience of smooth sailing 🙂 and chock full of great memories!
Not only is Filip an excellent skipper, but his organizational skills are second to none and we would not dream of booking a boat or putting together a cruise without him!
Not only was the Booking via Skipper Hotline cheaper (and more comfortable) than any other offers I got on my own, especially as a skipper relatively new to sailingboats the 24/7 direct phone-connection to Filip – who was responsible for me and my crew during our one week trip from Pirovac to Veli Rat and back – was a huge plus in my confidence and therefor well-being on board, overall safety of our trip and of course the comfort. You sleep better, if you know that somebody grown up sailing would have chosen the same spot for anchoring and checks the weather reports with you, if you have any uncertainties. That’s just an example, as a one stop shop the support started when I made my first thoughts on where to go, which boat to choose, what to buy for the amount of people in the crew, what to think of before and during the trip, how to do certain manoveurs, put the sails, etc. etc…. Getting that level of service while saving money was a decission I have never regret during our trip. It felt like having somebody highly experienced as an additional member of the crew – without having to think of an extra bed 😁 I really am looking forward to my next trip with sailinghotline!!!
Welcome gift: Sailing gloves
Lowest price guaranteed**
BOOK ANY BOAT IN CROATIA
Advised by Independent Local Skipper
Skipper Hotline Assistance included
*As your booking agency, we receive a standard commission from the charter company, which allows us to include Skipper Hotline Assistance with every booking at no extra cost.
**If you find a lower boat price elsewhere, we will match it so you can use Skipper Hotline Assistance at no extra cost.
5 Key Assistance Features
ROUTE PLANNING WITH LIVE ADJUSTMENTS
Your route is designed & refined around your crew, boat, and preferences — then actively adjusted as weather and conditions evolve, so you’re never locked into a bad plan.
STORM & WIND WARNINGS
Timely alerts on storms, shifting winds, and local weather risks — interpreted by a local skipper who understands how these conditions actually affect your route and anchorages.
Booking Consulting
Independent advice on choosing the right boat, base, and charter company — helping you avoid narrow marinas, poorly maintained boats, and charters with a bad track record.
Local Insights & Recommendations
Practical local knowledge to help you choose the right bays, buoys, anchorages, restaurants, fuel stops, and water refill options — and avoid tourist traps that look good online but disappoint in reality.
On-Call Skipper Support
Call or message an experienced local skipper and sailing instructor whenever you need reassurance, a second opinion, or help resolving a situation — from docking doubts to last-minute plan changes. Available every day 8:00-22:00
Assistance included
Real client chat examples
BOOKING CONSULTING
ROUTE PLANING
LIVE HOTLINE ASSITANCE
BOOKING CONSULTING
ROUTE PLANING
LIVE HOTLINE ASSITANCE
Plans and pricing
FREE TRIAL
1-Day Whatsapp assitance
+ costom route design before the sailing trip
TRIAL
No credit card required
Most popular
INCLUDED WITH BOOKING
INCLUDED AT
NO EXTRA COST
when you book a boat through our agency
INCLUDED
7 DAY PASS
7-day standalone pass
for boats already booked elsewhere
120€/ 7 days
No auto renewal
*As your booking agency, we are paid a standard commission by the charter company, so Skipper Hotline Assistance is included with every booking at no extra cost.
**If you find a lower boat price elsewhere, we will match it so you can use Skipper Hotline Assistance at no extra cost.
Q&A - SKIPPER HOTLINE ASSISTANCE
What is Skipper Hotline Assistance
Can I get Skipper Hotline Assistance for free when booking a boat?
Yes. If you book your boat through our platform/agency, Skipper Hotline Assistance is included at no extra cost.
Is Skipper Hotline a booking agency? How is the assistance included at no extra cost?
Yes, Skipper Hotline is assistance service wraped around a boat booking agency. When a client books through Skipper Hotline, the agency earns a standard charter commission (typically around 6–12%) paid by the charter company. That commission is what funds Skipper Hotline Assistance, so it’s included at no extra cost for the client.
Can Skipper Hotline be used if the boat is already booked elsewhere?
Yes. Skipper Hotline can be purchased as a standalone 7-day pass for €120 per week. It includes the same full remote support as the assistance included with a Skipper Hotline booking: route guidance, weather/storm alerts, local stop recommendations, and day-to-day help (excluding boat booking advice).
What is “Price Match” and how does it work?
Price Match means Skipper Hotline matches any lower, comparable offer from another booking agency for the same boat and charter week. If a client shares the competing quote, Skipper Hotline checks that the conditions match (dates, boat model, marina/base, and included costs such as charter fee, extras, and payment terms). If all the conditions are comparable, Skipper Hotline matches the price – so the client can still book through Skipper Hotline and have Skipper Hotline Assistance included at no extra cost.
How does your Croatia sailing route planning work?
We start with a route concept based on your base marina, crew, preferences (nature vs villages, anchor vs marinas), and your preferred daily sailing distance. Then we refine it close to departure when the forecast becomes reliable.
Do you adjust the route during the week if the weather changes?
Yes. When conditions shift, we rework the plan to keep the trip realistic and comfortable (e.g., shorter legs, different islands, better shelter).
What information do you need from me to design a good route in Croatia?
Typically: base marina, crew size, water capacity, your preferred mix of anchor/buoys vs marinas, nature vs towns, cooking vs restaurants, target destinations (if any), and your ideal max hours underway per day.
Can you help me choose a safer departure marina (and avoid “problem” marinas)?
Yes. Base marina matters. Some marinas are narrow or have layouts that increase docking stress—especially in strong wind on changeover days—so we factor maneuvering space and local quirks into recommendations.
Do you help with choosing the right boat for Croatia (not just the cheapest)?
Yes. We filter for practical criteria that reduce risk and improve comfort—e.g., newer boats when budget allows, bow thruster where helpful, adequate water capacity for the region, and charters with better maintenance track records.
How do you handle water limitations in Croatia (especially islands / Split region)?
We plan routes with realistic refill opportunities and recommend boat specs accordingly (larger tanks or watermaker when it makes sense), because refills on islands can be limited depending on area and season.
How do mooring buoy reservations work in Croatia?
There’s no single standard system—each buoy field operator can do it differently. When possible, reserving one to two days ahead improves your chances; otherwise arriving earlier in the day can help. We’ll share reservation phone contacts where we have them and always keep a Plan B.
What kind of questions can I ask during the charter week?
You can ask anything. Typical topics include: “Is this bay safe tonight?”, “Should we switch islands due to forecast?”, “Which marina is easiest for tonight’s wind direction?”, “Is buoy field X worth it?”, “How do we reduce docking risk in crosswind?”, and “What’s the safest Plan B if we’re delayed?”
Is Skipper Hotline only for beginners?
No. It’s most popular with first-time Croatia skippers, but experienced crews also use it to reduce planning time, avoid local traps (buoys, refills, marina layouts), and double check their ideas with exprienced local skipper.
Have more questions?
Contact us directly at info@skipperhotline.eu
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