Once upon a time there was only ever one real cruising guide to consider purchasing as a planning guide for your upcoming charter. Now the choices are growing and as an example you could purchase any of the following curising guides and pilots all focused on cruising in Croatia:

• The Adriatic Pilot
• Croatian Cruising Companion
• Harbours and Anchorages Eastern Adriatic
• Best Adriatic Anchorages
• 1300 Maps of the Croatian Adriatic

Personally, I love to read cruising guides and pilots to visualise all the ports and anchorages that are possibilities on a forthcoming charter but buying 5 or more different publications will cost close to a day’s charter.

Some cruising guides and pilots focus on pictures which is great for some who like to visualise and get a feel for what the anchorages look like.

Perhaps biased because I have used them for about 30 years, but Rod Heikell’s Pilots (now up to the 14^th edition) are I believe, the best in that they give great common sense detail on areas such as approach, moorings, facilities and general information.

If you asked me for a dream job, cruising and writing a pilot would certainly be up there and Rod and his wife, Lucinda have no doubt enjoyed crisscrossing the Mediterranean now for decades.

In more remote areas the number of resources are less confusing. We also tend to keep out of publication editions of many areas that (although old and outdated) still provide valuable input in the absence of anything else as some areas have very limited printed guides. Please call if you wish to discuss the best before you buy.