Who is behind SkipperCity
SkipperCity is a skipper‑run yacht charter agency focused on Croatia and the Adriatic. We do not own any boats and we are not a global booking portal. Instead, we are skippers and charter professionals who spend our seasons on the water and our winters planning next year’s routes for our guests.
The company grew naturally out of skippering private and charter yachts. Week after week at sea, it became clear that many guests were choosing boats based on glossy photos and generic descriptions – not on what really matters once you cast off. SkipperCity was created to bridge that gap: real on‑water experience translated into clear, honest advice.
Today, most of our work is still in yacht charter in Croatia. We help guests find the right catamarans, sailboats, motor yachts, power catamarans and luxury yachts for their routes, their group and their budget. What our guests say is on our reviews page – on Tripadvisor, Google and Trustpilot, where we cannot edit a word.
What a skipper‑run agency really means
When we say SkipperCity is skipper‑run, it is not a marketing phrase. It means that the same people who help you choose a boat also know what it is like to dock it in a tight Croatian marina on a windy Saturday in August.
We know which models are calm and predictable, which marinas are noisy at night, which islands are fun with children and which look great on Instagram but feel overcrowded in real life. That knowledge shows in the way we explain offers, suggest itineraries and tell you when a skipper is the right call.
Our job is to protect your week on the water. Sometimes that means recommending a slightly smaller catamaran instead of a floating palace, or steering you towards a local skipper who knows a region well instead of the newest boat on a big portal. We would rather say no to the wrong booking than yes to a week we know will feel stressful.
Where we work and what we specialise in
Our core area is Croatia: Split, Trogir, Šibenik, Zadar, Dubrovnik and everything in between. Over the years we have built routes that balance classic highlights with quieter anchorages, from the Pakleni islands and Hvar town to remote corners of Kornati and Mljet.
We sell charters in Croatia only – it is our home water. If you browse our destinations guide you will see that most examples, photos and skipper’s notes are built around real weeks spent along this coast.
Where we are and what we cover
- Based in
- Split & Trogir
- We cover
- The whole Croatian coast
- Boats we can book
- Every yacht in a Croatian marina
- You pay
- Never more than booking direct, by bank transfer
- We are paid by
- The charter fleet, on booking
- Advice and route planning
- Free
How we choose the right boat for you
SkipperCity works as an independent broker. That means we can search across many fleets instead of pushing you towards a single company or a fixed set of boats. Behind the scenes we read every fleet’s availability and prices from the charter companies on a regular schedule, and check a boat live again before it is held; on your side, you only see the boats that actually fit what you told us.
The first email is matched on what you tell us in the quote form: dates, area, group and budget. When you reply, we look at more than price and cabin count: hull type, age, maintenance, layout, base reputation and how the boat will behave on your planned route. We ask simple questions: Who is coming? How old are the children? Do you prefer quiet bays or nightlife? Are you happy with a bareboat charter or do you want a skippered or fully crewed week?
The first email with matching boats arrives within minutes, each one checked live with its charter company. From there, your answers shape the shortlist – and every boat that stays on it is there for a reason we can explain.
Who SkipperCity is the right fit for
We are a good match for guests who value honest, personal advice more than endless scrolling through anonymous listings. Typical SkipperCity clients include:
Families planning their first or second Croatian charter
You want calm routes, safe anchorages and boats that are forgiving rather than flashy. You may be choosing between catamarans and sailboats, wondering which will work better with children or grandparents. Our role is to translate technical details into simple pros and cons you can discuss around the kitchen table.
Groups of friends who want a balanced week
You may imagine a mix of quiet bays and a few long evenings in Hvar, Vis or Korčula. We help you decide whether a motor yacht, power catamaran or classic sailing cat will give you the atmosphere you want – and we suggest routes that keep travel days enjoyable, not exhausting.
Experienced sailors who still want local insight
If you already have miles under your keel, you may not need a skipper – but you will probably appreciate honest notes on moorings, local rules and realistic daily distances. For bareboat charter guests, the itineraries email and a few questions answered by reply can save hours of guesswork and several busy bays.
How booking with SkipperCity works
The process is simple and deliberately low‑pressure. You do not have to choose a boat in 24 hours or sign anything before you understand the full cost.
1. Tell us your plan
Send an enquiry through our quote form or start with our boat search. Share your dates, preferred starting area, approximate budget and a few words about your group and expectations.
2. The boats that fit arrive by email
Within minutes an email brings the boats that fit, checked live, nearest your budget first, with a clear note that crew and extras come on top of the boat price. Reply with the ones you like and we tell you which we would choose, and why – not just a PDF attachment.
3. You choose, the boat is held, we help with the paperwork
Once you choose a boat, you place a free option on it online, or we place it for you, so no one else can book it while you confirm. We then guide you through the booking contract and payments and the insurance options in plain language.
4. Route ideas, then your questions
An itineraries email follows the boats email; reply with questions about the route and a person answers, with your experience, the boat and the time of year in mind. We point you to useful articles in our Croatia guides and share practical skipper’s notes that are not always written on the internet.
5. Support during your week on the water
If anything important changes – weather, health, harbour situation – you can reach us for advice. We are not a call centre; when you contact us, you talk to someone who knows the region and understands what is possible with your type of yacht.
How we think about price, safety and value
We are a charter agency based in Split and Trogir. We are paid a commission by the charter fleet when you book, which is why our advice, shortlisting and route planning cost you nothing and why the price you pay here is never more than booking direct with the fleet. We do not mark boats up and take no fee from you: a bank transfer pays exactly the quoted price, and paying by card adds 5 %.
Every charter is a balance between budget, comfort and safety. Our philosophy is simple: you should always know what you are paying for and why a particular boat or service is recommended.
Every boat’s page shows the price for your dates from the charter company’s own price list: the charter fee with any discount applied, the obligatory extras and the deposit. Our first email says plainly that crew and extras come on top, and our full cost guide gives realistic figures for fuel and marinas. We do not hide necessary costs behind small print.
Safety is non‑negotiable. For bareboat bookings we are honest about licence requirements and experience – the charter company checks the documents at check-in – and may politely recommend our skipper if conditions or boat size make that the responsible choice. For crewed and luxury charters we look not only at equipment but also at crew chemistry and reputation.
What we do
- Search the whole Croatian market, not one fleet's stock.
- Tell you honestly whether bareboat suits your crew – the charter company checks licence and VHF certificate at check-in.
- Tell you which boats on your shortlist we would put our own families on.
- Plan a realistic route for your crew, with the weather in it.
- Stay reachable during the charter, from the same coast and time zone.
What we will not do
- Recommend bareboat to a crew we do not think should be sailing bareboat.
- Quote a boat price and let the base reveal the mandatory extras later.
- Push a boat because its fleet pays a better commission.
- Put a crew of eight on a boat that comfortably sleeps six.
- Publish reviews or ratings we cannot verify.
Why not just book through a big portal?
Large booking platforms are useful for browsing, but they are not designed to give you skipper‑level guidance. Listings are often copied between systems, photos can be years old and no one calls you to say, “For your group, this is too ambitious.”
We rely on happy guests and repeat bookings, not on the pure volume of reservations. That means we are comfortable saying that a certain boat, base or route is not the right choice for you – even if it looks great online.
If you enjoy browsing portals, use them to collect ideas and then send your favourites to us. We can check the same or similar boats through our professional channels and tell you which ones we would actually trust for your dates.
Skipper’s note – what we want your week to feel like
When we think about a successful charter, we do not start with boat length or number of engines. We start with how you will feel on the last evening when you look back at the week.
Maybe you will remember a quiet bay in Kornati where the water was glassy at sunset, or a lively night in Hvar that ended with laughter on the aft deck. Maybe it is your child’s first jump from the bow, or your parents saying that they finally understand why you love the sea.
Our role at SkipperCity is to shape the practical side so those moments can happen without avoidable stress. The right boat, the right skipper, the right route and clear information – that is what we focus on every day.
FAQ – about SkipperCity
Who is behind SkipperCity?
SkipperCity is a trading name of Blackbird One Ltd., a company registered in Gibraltar, run by skippers and charter professionals who work along the Croatian coast. The company and banking details page lists the registration and the bank accounts.
Does SkipperCity own the boats?
No. Every boat belongs to a charter company, and your charter contract is with that company; we are the agent who finds, books and looks after it. Our partners explains how we choose the companies we recommend.
How does SkipperCity make money?
The charter company pays us a commission when you book. That is why our advice and route planning cost you nothing and why you never pay more than booking direct with the company: a bank transfer pays exactly the quoted price, and paying by card adds 5 %.
Where does SkipperCity work?
Croatia only – Split, Trogir, Šibenik, Zadar, Dubrovnik and everything in between. The search shows every yacht lying in a Croatian marina, whichever company runs it.
How long has SkipperCity been arranging charters?
Since 2014. The reviews page shows what guests have said since, on Tripadvisor, Google and Trustpilot, where we cannot edit a word.
Can SkipperCity provide a skipper?
Yes – our skippers can be added to any bareboat with a real cabin for them, by the whole week, and a crewed yacht comes with the charter company’s own captain.
How do I get in touch?
By the quote form if you have a week in mind – the boats that fit arrive by email within minutes – or by phone and email on the contact page.