Michael Schumacher set sail on Croatia holiday

Seven-time Formula One racing world champion Michael Schumacher has traded his driving seat for the rest and relaxation of a sailing holiday in Croatia.

The motorsport legend decided to take the opportunity afforded by the recent summer break in the F1 calendar to take in the sights and sounds of a Croatia holiday.

According to a report from daily newspaper Vecernji List, the 43-year-old enjoyed his own personal Adriatic cruise aboard a private yacht before heading to the Dalmatian island paradise of Hvar.

Here, the German dined with a close group of friends at the popular Stari Mlin restaurant. The trip provided Schumacher with a much needed spot of relaxation following a difficult year in the sport for the returning champion.

Fortunately, a Croatia holiday is just the ticket, with the driving legend able to sit back and enjoy a mix of some of the region's highly-recommended delicacies, including a mixture of seafood including squid and the meat-based pastry favourite cevapi.

Schumacher was even treated to a traditional Croatian biscuit 'paperenjak by the owner of the restaurant, helping ease some of the stresses weighing the Mercedes driver down.

The 43-year-old is not the first big name from the world of sport to seek relation with a Croatia holiday, with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola visiting the gorgeous city setting of Dubrovnik earlier in the season.

Plenty of big names are heading out for Adriatic cruises too, with US television star Teri Hatcher and British socialite Tamara Ecclestone both enjoying the lush warm seas in recent times.

A trip to the Balkans nation could be the ideal stress reliever for the not-so-rich-and-famous too, with low-cost flights and accommodation available throughout the rest of the summer.

Once there, cities like Split and Dubrovnik, as well as islands like Hvar and Pag provide a wealth of options to enjoy, whether it be cooling off in the Adriatic, soaking up the sun on the beach or embarking on one of the many Croatia cruises set to explore the many islands located off the country's west coast.

With so much more to see and explore the main thing to remember is this – you don't have to be a superstar to enjoy a sailing holiday in Croatia.