A week at Sail Port Stephens 2010 could mean 2 weeks in Croatia....

2:12 AM Fri 4 Dec 2009 GMT

'Could win you a Mariner Boating Holiday to here ! - Sail Port Stephens' Mariner Boating Holidays &copy

The major prize at Sail Port Stephens 2010 is a fabulous Mariner Boating Holiday for 2 valued at $15,000.
Every race your boat enters gives you an entry - the more you race, the more chances to win.

Start with the Commodores Cup on Monday 12 April, move to the Port Stephens Trophy on Friday 16 April, & if you really want to boost your chances, do the 2 feeder races from Sydney and Newcastle !

So you're wondering what 2 weeks sailing in Croatia might be like.

Lynne Becker attended the 2009 Croatia Yacht Rally with her husband and four friends from South Australia and she paints a wonderful picture from Split to Sibenik, both on and off the water.

Split is the first stop off for Croatia Yacht Rally participants. The airport is situated about 20 minutes out of the city and after the long flight the thought of kicking back in a five star hotel is very attractive.

We are not disappointed - the pool is a great hit and the cocktails very inviting. We do however want to see the town. Some of the group arrived a day earlier to explore at a more leisurely pace but the hotel bus takes us into the old town centre while there is still light and we are not disappointed.

The precious UNESCO listed cultural monument of Diocletian's Palace has become interwoven through time with later city development. High walls, narrow cobbled passages, archways, old ornately carved doors leading into the buildings - all connected to the ancient stones of the original palace.

In Diocletian's time the palace itself was actually surrounded by high walls. Due to location the space has been inhabited almost continuously from that time, and is still the centre of life in Split.
The present-day cathedral of St Domnius, patron saint of Split, built in the 7th century, is located in Emperor Diocletian's Mausoleum.

After an initial meander with cameras snapping, a welcoming restaurateur lures us into a quiet square just off the main thoroughfare for light meal, after which we continue to explore the city.

Four gates lead into the area - the Iron Gate, Golden Gate, Silver Gate - lead towards the Split Pjaca (the main square), and the Brass Gate, takes us through the palace cellars to the Split waterfront.

It is here, by the sea, that the locals and tourists like to congregate. Ice-cream parlors and bands attract our attention as we meander and mingle with the locals in the cool evening beside the sea.

The fruit and flower market we are told operates daily just outside the walls and we arrange to meet for an early morning visit. Split is also famous for galleries and museums, including the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments - why did we not arrive one day earlier?!!!

The next UNESCO listed town is on our agenda for tomorrow and here we have the opportunity to visit another fresh food and flower market. (The jet lag caught us and we did not make our trip into the Split markets).

Trogir is a jewel !

Situated on a tiny isle between the mainland and the island of Jovo, and linked by bridges, it has retained an almost unchanged appearance since the Middle Ages.

What makes Trogir so special is the continuity of its existence that reaches back to the ancient Greeks. Side by side stand monuments from the Hellenistic period, Antiquity, the early Middle Ages and the late Middle Ages all accessible by pedestrian traffic via narrow cobbled grey stone streets.

Not to be missed!

After lunch in Trogir we continue on to Sibenik where the yachts, home for the next two weeks, await us.

We have stopped at a super market en-route and all scurry aboard to decide on cabins, unpack clothes and shopping and make ourselves at home with a cold drink.

Meanwhile the Mariner Boating Holidays team ensure all our needs are taken care of 'No Kettle? - no worries - we can sort that - by the way the taxis will arrive at the marina at 7.00pm to ferry us to dinner in the old town square'.

A newsletter with suggestions of to do options - the first of six which cover the rally destinations - is delivered to the yachts so we have a chance to plan our 'lay day' (tomorrow).

This is all looking rather good and the feeling is that a wonderful holiday is about to unfold !