Croatia sailing charter

Sailing in Croatia can be a dream come true, that is, if your dreams include deserted islands, dropping anchor in crystal clear water and going to sleep to the sound of waves lapping gently at your boat. There are no fewer than 1185 islands off the Croatian coast and the 1778km coastline is studded with hundreds of splendid bays. Sailing is truly the best way of discovering Croatia's remarkable coast. Many of the finest Croatian islands, such as the Kornati Islands National Park, are inaccessible without your own boat.

Kornati Islands

This nearly uninhabited archipelago in northern Dalmatia is only accessible by boat and offers a fascinating geomorphology, a greatly indented coastline and a rich diversity of marine life.

Although you can moor anywhere (in numerous bays and natural shelters), the main marina of the Kornati Islands is the ACI-marina Piskera(open April to October).

A trip through the Kornati Islands can be combined with a trip to other National Parks in Croatia along the coast, such as Mljet and Krka. Read more.

Southern Dalmatia

The cultural highlights and natural beauty o fDubrovnik, Hvar and Korcula make southern Dalmatia a great sailing itinerary. Some people prefer the southern coast , since the weather can be sunnier, warmer and more stable than in the north.

More experienced sailers seeking adventure can visit Palagruza, an island about 1300 meter long and 200 meters wide located in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, between the Italian and Croatian coast. It is the most remote Croatian island and is famous for its protruding lighthouse, built in 1850. Nowadays, the only inhabitants of the island are the lighthouse keepers. However, because of its isolated position, natural beauty and the rich fishing area of the surrounding sea, Palagruza is a unique tourist destination and has always attracted many fishermen and sailers.

From there you can even continue sailing towards Italy. In that case, don’t forget to moor at the beautiful Elaphiti Islands, most of which are only accessible by private boat.

Croatia has a long tradition of welcoming sailors. There are 50 or so marinas in Croatiascattered on the coast; 21 of them are managed by Adriatic Club and the rest are privately owned.

Generally, Croatia's marina facilities are excellent. They include reception, exchange office, restaurant, toilets and showers, grocery store, parking lot, repair shop, crane, etc.

You don't have to head for a marina – you can safely moor in countless secluded natural bays or islets but there are advantages to marinas.

Many Croatian marinas are close to historical towns replete with museums, galleries, palaces and monasteries plus excellent restaurants. Self-catering is easy as most marinas are close to supermarkets. Another nice touch is that theACI marinas are equipped with Wi-Fi access.

There are about 20,000 berths in Croatia but in peak season, it is strongly recommended that you reserve 24 hours in advance or arrive at the marina in early afternoon as berth places fill up quickly. Most marinas are open all year.

Wind and Sea Conditions

The bora and the jugo are the dominant winds. The bora is a dry cold, north-easterly wind that gusts most strongly in the Velebit Channel and the Kvarner Bay. It cleans and freshens the summer air. The jugo(sirocco) is a southerly, humid wind that flows from the sea and freshens the southern coast. The maestral is a landward-blowing wind which gives pleasant sailing along the Istrian coast, especially in the summer, but gathers force as it sweeps down to Dalmatia. The burin is a north, northeast wind that is strongest before dawn and soon dies down. Watch out for the nevera, a strong summer westerly wind that brings bad weather. It whips up the sea very suddenly, usually accompanied by thunder and then quickly dies down. It is most common in the Northern Adriatic.