Porto montenegro

Pirate Ship – The New Nautical Playground

The Pirate Ship for kids opened to a great turnout on Saturday, March 31st, in Porto Montenegro Village.

A nautical playground adjacent to the Tivat town entrance to Porto Montenegro opened to the public this past weekend attracting a 100-strong crowd of all ages. Younger guests were able to explore the many passages, ladders and slides of this fine pirate ship while parents watched nearby on the padded rubber flooring that now covers the entire playground area.

Nine year old local Tara Petrovic was chosen to cut the ribbon with Oliver Corlette, Managing Director of Porto Montenegro and Mr Miodrag Kankaras, the Mayor of Tivat. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the local dance troupe named Bellisima, along with colourful clowns, then entertained the crowd with dancing, balloons, popcorn, cotton candy and refreshments.

A local photographer captured the kids playing “sailors-and-captains" – an impromptu game inspired by the new playground. Another group of children participated in acompetition of fishing for treats out of a fabricated “pond".

The ship is topped by a Porto Montenegro flag and sits between the marina and the town centre, next to the Teuta residential building, making it easily accessible to the children of Tivat town and families visiting the area.

So come along and see for yourself, there's nothing wrong with a brief return to childhood!

Spring at the Naval Heritage Collection

Located on the north end of the site, the Naval Heritage Collection preserves the rich nautical history of the Bay of Kotor with a dynamic exhibition of artefacts and momentos. This summer, the NHC will host an array of educational and cultural exhibitions to further share the story of the region's remarkable history with both locals and international visitors alike. 

On the 17^th of April a quiz day will commerce, when high school students from the local community will gather in the museum to test their knowledge on two of the region's navy heroes, Milan Spasić & Sergej Mašera. From May 1st, a special exhibition will include historic yachts, sailboats, motor boats and other vessels which play an important role in the eastern Adriatic's yachting story, with accompanying artifacts such as original construction drawings, photos, dishes and ship logs. Of particular interest will be items related to one of the most storied vessels in the region. Named Ossero, Dalmat, Vila or Istranka (depending on the owner at the time), the yacht was owned by some of the most prominent names, including Archduke Franz Ferdinand, King Alexander of Yugoslavia and president Tito. Franz Ferdinand used this yacht on his trip to Sarajevo, where he was assassinated. His remains were later transported by the same boat. 

Queen Maria’s yacht “Danica”, the King’s yacht “Beli Orao”, and the sailboat ”Crnogorka” (winner of many Adriatic regattas), will also be a part of this exhibition – surely a must see this coming May.

For more information on the NHC or upcoming events, visit the NHC page or contact djovanovic@portomontenegro.com.

S-Nautica

S-NAUTICA - With a diverse selection of fine boutiques, shops and amenities directly onsite, Porto Montenegro is dedicated to the needs of yachtsman, and this means making sure that everything they need is close at hand.  An extensive range of services offering yachting support, charters and sales is available at the very heart of the marina, providing excellent and friendly customer service – everything one would expect from this world-class marina.

S-Nautica is just one of these stores. Specialising in yacht sales for vessels from 5 – 50m,  S-Nautica is acclaimed for its success with some of the world’s most prestigious shipyards. Whether a client requires a new vessel or is looking for a straightforward trade-in, the team at S-Nautica makes sure they are with their clients every step of the way. A trade-in allows the client to pay only the difference between the sale of their current vessel and the cost of their new purchase, a rarity for the Adriatic. S-Nautica also offers technical classes for crew, safety courses and a preventative maintenance programme. For more information on their many services and offers visit their website at www.s-nautica.me or visit their store located just by Venice Square in the marina.

The Porto Montenegro Yacht Club in Gstaad

The Porto Montenegro Yacht Club took part in Gstaad Yacht Club's annual Ski-Yachting Weekend, March 9 – 11 in Gstaad. Competing against yacht clubs from all over Europe, the weekend festivities included Ski Racing, Yacht Racing and an official dinner and prize-giving ceremony on Saturday night.

Our Yacht Club had an impressive showing during the event, placing first in the ski racing and third in the yacht racing. Two of our members also took home honours, placing second and third in the individual ski races. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend of sport and socializing amidst Gstaad's beautiful mountainous backdrop!

We look forward to much of the same during our first annual Inter Yacht Club Match Race, taking place at Porto Montenegro from June 22 – 24, 2012. For more information, please contact pmyc@portomontenegro.com

A Weekend in The Village – March 10 & 11

Why not take a break from your usual routine and visit the Porto Montenegro village this weekend? 

Our recommendations for a weekend out of the ordinary:

Saturday:

Start your day right with breakfast at One where the view is unbeatable and so is the eggs benedict. Add fresh-squeezed orange juice or one of the many coffee options.

Take part in or watch the last of the PMYC winter regatta series at 11am. Jetty One is the perfect vantage point to capture the new Blu 26 boats in action.

Browse through the village shops and take advantage of the last winter sales. Be sure to stop in at AM/PM for an afternoon beverage and check out the new organic products sourced directly from local farmers. Or maybe you need some pampering? Unwind with a relaxing skin treatment on promotion at Pura Vida Spa.

Al Posto Giusto is a great option for lunch if you're in the mood for wood-oven-fired pizza or one of the many tasty salads, pasta or meat dishes. Finish off with desert or a fresh fruit smoothie.

Still have energy to burn? The PM Sports Club is offering yoga at 5pm and zumba at 6pm – the perfect way to get ready for the evening ahead!

The Clubhouse is the perfect place to end your night. Dance, mingle, sing… it's jager night where fun is served up in tasty shots.

Sunday:

Enjoy the early morning tranquility on the bay with our morning rowing sessions at PMYC. Your body will thank you for it.

Head to Pura Vida for a mani-pedi or a massage by one of the certified therapists. Next door, Vlado hair design is one of the few salons open on Sunday for a colouring, blowout, cut or styling.

For a Sunday afternoon activity, PM Sports Club offers 50% off bowling. Get your friends together for bowling, pool or a couple of beers at the bar.

There's no better way to end the weekend than with a great meal and a beautiful sunset. Both One and APG offer extensive dinner menus and fabulous views of the marina. Round the evening off with a walk along the waterfront or Venice Square. 

Fresh Off the Press

Porto Montenegro has just launched the first issue of PORTO, our very own monthly Montenegrin-language newsletter covering the latest in events, features, interviews and stories from the marina village. 

Issue 1 presents the new Regent Porto Montenegro hotel, an 80 room, 5-star luxury property due to launch in May 2014. It also covers our upcoming appearances at trade shows in Cannes and Berlin this month, representing Montenegrin tourism on the world stage, as well as featuring two young stars from the Sports Club's tennis team.

PORTO is the place to find out about awards, special offers, job opportunities and new gym classes coming up. You will also find interviews with the likes of our charismatic marina manager, Nikola Banovic, who gives a fascinating interview on life behind the scenes at Porto Montenegro. 

You can pick up the March issue in shops and cafés around Tivat town, the Bay of Kotor and along the Montenegrin coast, or simply come by the village to collect one in person. 

Look out for the English language version launching this summer too!

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.