Croatia’s new regulations designed to stamp out “black chartering” are being widely interpreted by different harbour masters. In addition to draconianmeasures against charter companies, private owners are now limited in the number of visitors they are allowed. Earlier regulations required skippers to submit a crew list annually in advance. This clearly unworkable system has now been altered to allow a total number of visitors over the year of 2.3 times the number the boat can carry, but nowhere is it explicitly explained what this number represents. A superyacht declaring 6 double cabins could be allowed 14 visitors, while the Editor recently came across the owner of a RIB whose papers allowed him 28, even though his boat had no accommodation whatsoever and was never slept in. Boats caught with what a police control might consider incomplete paperwork can be subject to serious penalties.
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Welcome to this first edition of Cruising World. We hope you enjoy it and we welcome
your comments and contributions. You can also log onto our new website: www.cruisingworld.co.uk and post your views there.

Our aim is to entertain and inform, but not to instruct. We’re not going to cover racing, nor explain how to use a sextant. Destinations will be our bread and butter, with contributions from around the world, as well as regular features on charter bases. We’re also going to cover marina developments and include places where you can keep a boat, or just sit on the balcony and look at them. With Cruising World, you won’t need to “sell up and set sail” – you can experience it here instead.
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A limited edition of Steiner’s well-proven Commander binoculars is being offered to celebrate the company’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Such is the German company’s faith in their product’s rugged construction, that they back it up with a 30 year warranty. Using two-way valve technology to prevent internal condensation, the binoculars are waterproof to a depth of 5 metres – and even float if dropped accidentally overboard. Suggested retail price, a smidge under £400.00.

Following protests from visiting boaters, Croatia has backed down from requiring skippers of private boats to list in advance all visitors anticipated over the following year.
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Welcome to Cruising World.

Our new magazine will cover all facets of cruising by publishing features, articles and interviews on topics ranging from the mainstream to the unexpected. Whether readers own a boat or are just thinking about it; whether their preference is for sailing, motoring or simply observing; whether they aspire to visit destinations across the world, or whether they just enjoy daydreaming, Cruising World will have something for them to enjoy. A sample of the contents appears opposite; while on the back page we show examples of future articles currently in preparation.
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