Wind in the hair, sun in the face, chest out, fingers tingling, on lookers nervously clutching their HD cameras from below, toes shuffling to the edge, life flashing before you, eyes parallel to the tops of the tallest yachts in The Yacht Week fleet, an air of anxiousness fills your body before…. CANNNONBALL!

This is cliff jumping on The Yacht week and I can tell you now – it is definitely not for the faint hearted.

Along all Yacht Week routes adrenalin junkies can get their fix of temporary flight. No matter where you sail you can spot rock faces yearning for your attention. However there are two notable locations that come to mind when someone whispers cliff jumping.

I myself have traveled the world in search of the highest heights and thrown myself off rocks on every continent but none measure or provide as much of a rush as what I have experienced in the ‘submarine tunnel’ or on ‘Blue Cave Mountain’ on TYW in Croatia South.

The submarine tunnel, which is a short sail from Vis is quietly hidden in the headland. Dating back to the World War II era this is a very very special spot. You can sail into the never ending tunnel, tie up your boat and spend the afternoon launching yourself off the 15m ledge into the most pristine refreshing water you have ever had the honor of gracing. Jumping into waters that used to hide WWII submarines is something special.

For those on The Yacht Week, Blue Cave Mountain is known as the mecca of creative cliff jumping. With a sea ward sloping launch pad you can pick the height you take off from and pull off every trick in the book. Novices enjoy the sea level jumps while some live out their dreams from heights of 26m plus. Veteran jumper and skipper manager Leo and I have found this to be the home of the gaynor. There is nothing like standing at a height of 16m looking out at the best 360 degree panoramic view you have ever seen, looking down on what is usually a big yacht (but looks more like a watermelon pip) and throwing yourself forward while pulling your body backwards so that you do one full head to toe rotation, experiencing a G-force’eske moment and landing with a huge amount of forceful energy into the water.

This is a dangerous sport but it has brought me the happiest moments of my Yacht Week carrier and provides an amazing sense of freedom that is some times so hard to find in everyday life.

Yours with adrenalin,

Max

Max is the Crew Boat Manager in Croatia South and, when he’s not cliff diving, can be found indulging in his favorite pastimes, including, free climbing, rugby, MC-ing and (on occasion) walking on water…