Porto montenegro

Porto Montenegro Yacht Club – at the helm of the infamous blu26

PMYC has recently acquired four blu26 Match Race boats designed by world-renowned yacht designer and naval architect, Christian Bollinger. With the large majority of these competitive boats gracing the waters of St. Moritz as part of the World Match Racing Tour, they will now be a welcome sight on the Porto Montenegro waters and just in time for the season’s first Match Race.

The blu26, an impressive 8metres long, boasts sleek, clean-cut lines, defining simplicity with a timeless elegance – securing itself as a popular racing vessel amongst the yachting community.  Originally created for lake sailing, the blu26 will find Montenegro’s mild climate, with its gentle waters and light winds, an excellent location in which to enjoy the best race conditions.

A firm favourite amongst sailing schools worldwide, the blu26 is easy-to-use and increasingly in demand amongst yachtsman for their superior agility and stability. For experienced crew members, a minor tweak to sail trimmings will provide a thoroughly enjoyable sailing experience.  Blu26 racing allows teams to compete using different boats whilst challenging the sailors on skills and tactics. The boats usually allow four crew members, although they can be sailed single or double-handed.

Porto Montenegro Yacht Club will host its own Match Race to start the season, scheduled for March 23^rd-25^th, 2012. With a first prize of €400 plus champagne, and a second prize of €200, this will prove a popular and fun event for the PMYC and give a great opportunity to see these boats at their very best.  With the summer approaching, the blu26 will become a regular racing fixture at Porto Montenegro.

Montenegro has also recently become a member of the Ocean Racing Council (ORC), gaining recognised certification for competitive sailing. The ORC were highly impressed with the standards available for competitive racing at Porto Montenegro and there have been talks regarding possible plans to develop off-shore racing in the future. 

With an official ratings system in place, this well-regarded membership will introduce a new level of competitive sailing for Porto Montenegro Yacht Club, an area previously underdeveloped in Montenegro. Such membership will allow a handicap system to be instigated – a necessity to equalize the boats and crews at all levels. The end result should be a true test of each sailor's skill.

New Dishes at ONE

The summer crowds have yet to return but at One Restaurant, chef Lorenzo Carlino is not relaxing. Instead, he is taking a fresh approach to combining local ingredients with Italian cooking, churning out new and flavourful dishes on a weekly basis. 

Few things set as exciting a tone as the beef tartare.  Top sirloin is sourced from a pristine farm in the north of Montenegro, minced immediately before serving and topped with a big soft egg yolk.  The meat is lightly seasoned, but a selection of condiments and peppers are provided for those who prefer a spicier dish.

Ravioli

Further down the menu are two ravioli that, at first, might seem concessions to the obvious.  But these ravioli are hand made daily.  They are large and arrive at the table puffed up as if filled not just with extra flavor but pride as well.

The squid ink ravioli are filled with tender morsels of sea bass and served in a rich bouillon.  The spinach and ricotta ravioli are presented in a row with a thick tomato sauce. 

black tiger prawns

The Chef’s native Sicily is manifest in the black tiger prawns: plump and butterflied in the shell, then sautéed in a sauce of tomato, white wine and garlic.  The dish is a success because it augments the flavour of the shrimp with subtleties.  As in all good cooking, the aim is to amplify the character of the ingredient, not conceal it.

Coffee Specialities in the Village

Whether you are looking for a dark, intense espresso or a milky morning cappuccino, Porto Montenegro Village offers a variety of expertly created caffeine fixes in a waterfront setting. Here is a roundup of the best of them

Al Posto Giusto

At the Village pizzeria, Al Posto Giusto, Italy’s revered biscotti have been replaced by the Montenegrin favourite – the plazma cookie – to create the house speciality.  A delicious blend of espresso, caramel, vanilla syrup and crème fraiche softens the plazma cookies, all finished off with a topping of whipped cream and hazelnuts. 

Porto Montenegro’s concept store, AM/PM uses the renowned Illy coffee bean to create its signature ‘wet’ cappuccino.  Illy-trained baristas, Mladen and Nebojsa, carefully combine a single 8g shot of finely ground coffee with full-fat milk expertly heated to perfection, removing excess air bubbles by gently swirling the milk before pouring into the cup. The cacao sprinkles create a final artistic flourish on top of this rich, creamy cappuccino.

ONE

The infamous Irish Coffee can be found at the Village’s contemporary restaurant, One. This popular bar and eatery is not only a haven for connoisseurs of cocktails and wines, but also boasts skilled coffee makers behind the counter. To create One’s signature Irish Coffee, dark brown sugar is mixed with steamed Jameson’s whisky, then blended with a double espresso shot of the popular San Giusto coffee.  Finished off with a delicate covering of fresh cream and chocolate sprinkles, this is guaranteed to appeal to every taste bud.

The Clubhouse

The Clubhouse is renowned for its exotic drinks and buzzing ambience so the house special, the Espresso Martini, is an excellent caffeine-fix for those preferring things shaken, not stirred! The sophisticated combination of alcohol and coffee originates from the Australian city of Sydney yet is perfectly at home in Porto Montenegro. A unique blend of vanilla vodka, Kaluha, Baileys and The Clubhouse’s very own world-class espresso, come together in a classic Martini glass resulting in a memorable coffee cocktail.

Benvenuti in Montenegro

The Mediterranean’s well-chartered waters play host to yachts and superyachts from all over the world. As Greece and Italy struggle to take control of their national debt crises, the decision by Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, to introduce a berthing tax chargeable on any craft over 10 metres in length has resulted in yacht owners seeking alternative arrangements outside of Italian waters. These daily taxes will be applied to any craft moored inside or anchored outside an Italian harbour. Owners may face yearly charges of €32,000 for a 78ft / 24m motor yacht and €256,000 per annum for a super yacht of 210ft / 64m. Older boats, sailing boats and boats in dry dock receive discounts yet with a proposed start date of May 1^st, 2012, many Italians are already seeking alternatives.

VAT in Montenegro is capped at 7% on marine-related and tourist services, while there is a maximum of 9% VAT on capital gains, income and company tax, meaning the financial case for choosing Porto Montenegro as a homeport is a powerful one. The marina also offers tax and duty free fuel for private and commercial vessels. Yachts may remain in Montenegrin waters with no time restrictions or imported tax requirements. A straightforward vignette system also allows for multiple entries and changes to crew and passenger manifests with a minimum of fuss.

The Porto Montenegro Sports Club

The Porto Montenegro Sports Club was created with the needs of the local community, crew, and PM employees in mind. The club provides the key to a healthy and balanced lifestyle through exercise, personal training, fitness classes and racquet sports. For those who have not visited us before, we invite you to spend a day making use of our facilities with a free Day Pass. If you are like what you see and choose to sign up in the month of February we'll even give you 12 months membership for the price of 10.

The PMSC has three outdoor tennis courts and a squash court with a certified coach on hand to offer private lessons. Our fully-equipped fitness centre offers a wide variety of weight training and core strength machines, with several new cardio, core and thigh training machines added to the gym floor already so far this year.

Two ten-pin bowling lanes with an on-site bar host friendly tournaments and the upstairs studio has a regular schedule of classes such as yoga, zumba and salsa. A great way to get fit in a friendly, informal environment.

New Stock at AM/PM

AM/PM, Porto Montenegro's very own concept store, regularly sources new products from around the region such as traditional fruit preserves, organic olive oil and photographic prints. By working closely with local artisans and artists, we're not only supporting the growth of small enterprise in Montenegro but also creating a unique collection of souvenirs and gifts. Our latest arrivals include a striking array of Montenegrin hats, belts, shawls and winter socks hand-crafted by the talented Vesna Rakočević. Hailing from a family of tailors, Vesna's designs are inspired by original 15th Century ceremonial dress and use authentic vintage cloth. Legend has it that such costumes were originally from the island of Crete and were adopted by Montenegrin sailors who happened into port.

We also have a new model ship called the Dubrovacka nava courtesy of master model maker Milos Radicevic. This famous 15th Century shipping boat of the Dubrovnik Republic has been recreated in minute detail with a long round-shaped hull, three masts and four sails – a testament to the rich naval heritage of this region. Finally, our walls are now radiating a dark golden hue thanks to the splendid leather-framed nautical maps that arrived from the Milanovic family in Belgrade. AM/PM is located in Venice Square, Porto Montenegro Village. Come in for a pot of herbal tea or an expertly served ILLY coffee courtesy of the talented barristas Mladen and Nebojsa.