Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

Sam Holmes sails his 8.5-meter yacht Pickled Herring 30 nautical miles from Montenegro to Dubrovnik, Croatia, navigating a forecast 15-knot tailwind that fades quickly and leaves the boat rolling downwind at 3 knots — possibly aided by a favorable current.0:48 Before entering Croatian waters, Holmes calls Dubrovnik Radio on channel 9 to report his arrival as required, having been warned by other sailors that Croatia imposes fines for skipping the VTS radio check-in, anchoring without clearing customs, or detouring before reaching the harbormaster.3:30 The check-in itself — police, harbormaster, and customs — takes under 15 minutes and the officials are courteous, contradicting the strict reputation he had heard.4:56 He moors stern-to at a marina in Dubrovnik using a long improvised line to reach the dock.4:27 The following morning he pays 35 dollars to walk the old city walls.7:24 The Croatian VTS radio-reporting requirement is real and enforced, but the actual check-in process at Dubrovnik is fast and straightforward for a single-handed sailor arriving from Montenegro.

More from Sam Holmes Sailing

Hundreds of miles of rough sailing only to be turned away from our dream destinationOct 2026Making big miles offshore sailing through IndonesiaSep 2026Orca sighting! we repair one daggerboard only to break another oneSep 2026Sailing to Maratua, a rarely visited Indonesian island Sep 2026

From Sam Holmes Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.