Spot chaser #2: Blaca

"Bol is great!" - a wise skipper told some years ago.

I was inexperienced, new to the business, yet his sentence surprised me.

"Bol?" - I asked perplexed. "It's a tourist trap! It's one of those things that pop out when you google Top ten destinations in Croatia, it's for amateurs."

"Yes." - he continued. "But you need tourist traps. They attract boats. Have you ever checked all those bays just West from Bol? You can always find one and have it all to yourself."

Pretending to know what he's talking about, I asked him which one was his favourite.

"Any of them, as long as there's no one there! It's mostly sandy bottom, good holding for the anchor. Though guests seem to like Blaca. The monastery is something special. But I never stop there for the night: there's always a couple boats anchored inside, people know about it. So you anchor in one of the bays next to it, then go to Blaca in the morning. They hike to the monastery, have a swim, and off you go." - he concluded, satisfied.

That's how this stunning spot was revealed to me. It is situated on Brač, Croatia's third largest island. Marinas, a party city, bays with family owned restaurants, small villages carved up in the indented coast, stunning solitary bays, sandy beaches - you name it, you have it on Brač. You can spend a whole week touring this big island without a regret you haven't checked the other islands.

Today, I realize just how right my fellow skipper was. Luckily, Brač has Bol on its south side. This tourist trap attracts numerous boats, leaving plenty of other bays to choose from. You just cruise along the coast, pick the one that suits you best and enjoy a peaceful night in a bay for yourself. The next morning, you move to Blaca, where boats that were anchored during the night start to leave. Here, the crystal clear sea ends with a pebble beach and, from there, a half hour walk will stretch your legs after some days at sea and lead you to a majestic monastery built in stone!