In the evening we sit together in front of the school, friends come by, have a drink – and leave again, hours later. Barbara says that exactly this is the spirit of the school, hence the name. “It is all about direct and close contact, with intensive and easy learning.” Free Spirit Sailing is relaxed and professional at the same time. “We believe that this formula makes sailing with us unique. We are a big community.”

Free Spirit is a big community © Kerstin Zillmer

Time goes by differently in the Croatian summer

Ivan and Barbara stand behind this concept with their hearts, competence and very good organisation. We quickly feel like friends, as helpful and open as they welcome us. The atmosphere of the small harbour village on the Croatian coast plays an important role, because time seems to pass slower here. “I have noticed that the world outside Jezera is moving differently,” explains Barbara. She still commutes between Ljubljana and Jezera.

When she and Ivan get to know each other in Jezera, they discover not only their love for sailing, but also their love for each other. “It was as if I had booked an all-inclusive package”, Barbara laughs, and Ivan smiles in agreement. You can tell that they are a well-coordinated team, not only at work.

Four years ago Barbara and Ivan founded Free Spirit Sailing. Ivan has previously worked for some years at the oldest sailing school Ana Sailing in Jezera. Over time, teaching to sail on bigger yachts, it was time for a new challenge. He decided to work with smaller boats where beginners could learn to sail more directly. He particularly likes agile boats: minis and dinghis, where there is a more direct contact with the water and the wind.

Thrilled by the Seascape boats © Kerstin Zillmer

Sail boats which fit to the schools’ spirit

Searching for the right boats, it quickly became clear: It should be Seascape boats, today part of the Beneteau group and newly branded as Beneteau First. Barbara, who comes from Ljubljana, knew the owners of the Slovenian shipyard. And Ivan had seen the boats of the shipyard over the years again and again – and he was thrilled. Stable, well made and sporty to sail, they were just the right boats for their sailing school.

The chemistry was right between them and the shipyard owners directly at the first meeting. On the second meeting the young entrepreneurs bought two Seascape 18 and one Seascape 24 for the school. The fact that Seascape offers to equip their boats with electric motors from Torqeedo convinced Barbara and Ivan, who both appreciate the ecological aspect. In four years of intensive use, they never faced any major problems with the battery-powered motors. Torqeedo’s Travel model is absolutely sufficient for their sailing area, they say.

The Seaspace models are equipped with Torqeedo Travel electric motors © Kerstin Zillmer

Some wind always blows right

In the afternoon the wind is perfect. This is also a big advantage of the Jezera region: The winds are ideal for the sailing courses for beginners as well for advanced sailors. Some wind always blows, in summer it is usually the reliable Maestral. With this wind we practice how to tack and gybe. It goes quite simple.

Meanwhile the Germans in the crew like the English sailing commands almost better than the German sailor’s jargon, which somehow sounds old-fashioned. Tack instead “Wende”, Gybe instead of “Halse” sounds snazzier and is international sailing language. It is nice to learn that, too. Ivan’s English with a light Croatian accent is perfect, we understand each other easily.