A new charter base near Grado makes it possible: cruises in the widely ramified and unique lagoons of Grado, Marano and, of course, Venice. We tried it out.
Until now, anyone who wanted to sail to St Mark's Square in the world-famous lagoon city had to start from the Slovenian or Croatian coast. There were no charter stations further north on the Adriatic. This has changed since this season.
The Greek charter fleet operator Kiriacoulis has set up a base in Marina Primero near Grado. Several Bavaria yachts from 38 to 47 feet in length are currently moored there ready for holiday cruises.
Grado is an attractive location for sailors for two reasons. Crews from Austria and southern Germany can be there by car in just a few hours. And anyone who has always wanted to sail the shortest route to the lagoons, some of which are protected, now has an ideal opportunity to do so.
A cruise in the north of the Adriatic has another attraction: the mix. Tranquil natural landscapes and lively metropolises such as Venice and Trieste can be perfectly combined on a cruise. This way, variety is guaranteed. And if you have the time and inclination, you can even take a detour to the coast of Istria.
We have described what this looks like in practice in the latest issue of YACHT. Issue 20/09 is available from newsagents from Wednesday.
Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
