Exceed your Charter Sailing Holiday Expectations
Croatia is one of the world’s most popular yacht charter destinations. The expansive sailing grounds of the eastern Adriatic offer quaint villages, historic towns, peaceful island retreats, and captivating countryside to explore, with countless places of interest spaced at convenient sailing intervals for a leisurely charter holiday.
Croatia is a sailor's paradise, with its islands and harbors providing idyllic stopover points at perfect sailing distances. From Pula in the north to Dubrovnik in the south, every city and town you visit is rich in architecture, history, and local character. The spectacular coastline is dotted with charming villages set against a dramatic mountain backdrop, while the offshore islands—many of them remote—offer a peaceful retreat when you want to escape the bustle. Your journey combines mooring at town quays, anchoring in serene bays, and staying in some of the Mediterranean's finest marinas.
The Croatian communities you visit are as welcoming as they are picturesque. Ashore, you'll find a great selection of restaurants, with a bar nearby to keep the local Pivo beer flowing. Colorful local markets abound with fresh fruits, fish, meats, and vegetables, making re-provisioning both enjoyable and easy. Local specialties include raznijici (pork kebabs) and cevapcici (spicy meatballs). Pag island cheese and smoked Prsuit ham make for excellent starters, paired with some fine local wines.
When sailing in Croatia, cruising distances are short, and your days unfold at a relaxed pace. No matter the course you choose, your Croatian charter promises a delightful sailing experience, with stops at town quays, peaceful anchorages, and if you wish modern marinas. With so many charter operators and itineraries available, the options are virtually endless. Let us guide you through it all to ensure the best Croatian sailing holiday.
The Coastline of Croatia: Something New at Every Turn
The Croatian Coast, with its 1,180 islands, is one of the most stunning coastlines in Europe. For a typical one- or two-week holiday, the common approach is to choose one of three recognized sailing zones to explore: Istria & the Northern Adriatic, the Kornati Islands & National Park, or the Southern Dalmatian Islands.
Each region of the Croatian coast has its own unique character. To the north, the Istrian Peninsula is a land of discovery, a crossroads where Eastern and Western Europe have clashed for centuries. Towns with fascinating histories are nestled among tranquil bays and wild hinterlands, while nearby the peaceful northern Adriatic islands await.
In the Kornatis, peace and solitude are easy to find within this unique and picturesque island group. There's a change of scenery at every turn, and time spent ashore is equally rewarding, with hiking opportunities over a largely barren, yet stunning landscape. The larger islands feature settlements with a rich local character, where you can enjoy authentic Croatian food and wine.
In southern Croatia, the Dalmatian islands are served by larger towns, each a major attraction in its own right. This well-known destination draws tourists from all over, but once aboard your charter boat it's easy to escape the crowds. Set sail and discover hidden gems that land-based travelers can only dream of.
With numerous well-equipped marinas along the coast there are a variety of itinerary options for your Croatian boat charter. In addition to the typical 'out and return' route, we can help you plan a unique one-way sailing journey within Croatia. For example, sailing from Murter to Dubrovnik lets you navigate among the islands without retracing your steps, likely enjoying favorable downwind conditions along the way. Other starting or ending points, such as Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik, offer endless possibilities for your perfect itinerary.
Climate and Sailing Conditions in Croatia
The most popular time for a yacht charter holiday in Croatia is during the Mediterranean summer months, from May to September, when gentle northerly winds provide days of easy-going sailing.
The best time for Croatian sailing is arguably in early summer, during May and June when the winds are light to moderate and most reliable. In July and August, there can be periods of calm, and the heat can be intense. From September onwards, the winds begin to strengthen, and the local Bora (a strong north wind) can blow for longer periods as winter approaches. Croatia can also be affected by the Sirocco (a humid east-southeast wind) that can occur for short periods throughout the year.
The climate along Croatia's coast is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters. Average temperatures during the charter season typically range from 22°C to 29°C.
Navigation and Sailing Licenses
A sailing license (usually a formal certificate at any level will do) and a VHF operator's license are compulsory requirements of bareboat yacht charter in Croatia. We help you work through all that, seeking prior approval of your documentation before you travel to avoid any last-minute headaches. During your charter you must carry the original documents on board, in case of inspection by the local port authority.
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Croatia
Rating: 5 / 5Ultra's 2024 Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 was the ideal catamaran for our party of 4 couples plus a skipper. Excellent living spaces and upper deck lounging areas, well-equipped galley with outdoor barbecue plus good sized cabins each with their own shower and toilet. Even with 9 people on board there were plenty of places to go for quiet time. The galley layout was well thought out for food preparation and cooking plus two fridges and one freezer made the whole eating on board experience a very enjoyable one.
We loved having the use of the tender to explore our various anchorages and the two paddle boards we took as an extra were a great addition to the charter. Initially we had thought to skipper the boat ourselves but decided to pay extra for a local skipper and it was a great decision. Not only did we all get to enjoy the charter equally but Marijan's local knowledge of quiet anchorages and moorings, weather patterns and dealing with marina authorities was invaluable. He was a superb addition to our charter and we would highly recommend anyone chartering for the first time to use a skipper.
Highlights of the destination:
Favourite mooring was on Scedro Island off south coast of Hvar. Mooring buoy in cove in front of Tavern Kod Ive. Tranquil, rustic, beautiful with man in skiff selling local wines and taking orders for fresh croissants from Hvar bakery which he delivered by skiff the next morning.
Borova, Prezba Island (north west of Lastovo) where we anchored with stern lines tied to the rocks. Isolated, crystal clear waters for swimming and paddle boards.
Komiza, Vis - mooring buoy in the harbour in front of village of Komiza. Beautiful village to explore on foot, fresh fish from local fishmonger.
Exceptional service! Sail Connections had been highly recommended by friends who had used their services previously. Robert's vast experience and recommendations on what boat would best suit our needs, tips on a proposed itinerary, practicalities of skippering and provisioning the boat plus explaining the terms and conditions of the contract was invaluable. Thank you to Brian and Sue for their excellent service dealing with the finer details of the contract, plus liaising with the charter company on our behalf.
Paul, New Zealand, Oct 3rd, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5The boat (Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 - crewed) was perfect for our needs. Maintained well.
Vis island (was a hignlight -) day trip on scooters visiting cliff beach, town and winery.
(Your service was) great. Very knowledgeable and good recommendations for us being first timer on a charter.
Daniel, Australia, Sep 25th, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5The boat was excellent. Beautifully maintained great public spaces for our group.
We particularly enjoyed visiting Star Grad and Pocisca. In hindsight we wished we had visited more of these smaller towns. We also very much enjoyed anchoring in little coves and swimming off the boat.
The Captain's “excursions” to masonry school, beach bar and the deer were all enjoyable.
The service. On the boat was impeccable, Susan in particular did a mighty job.
Derek, Australia, Sep 13th, 2024
Rating: 5 / 5The Wave was wonderful! We had 3 couples and the skipper so we each had a berth. We cooked several meals in the kitchen and kept a fresh mint and basil plant in the the window! Our skipper and my husband are both sailors so we sailed the boat as much as the wind and time would allow and very much enjoyed that. Of course the black water issue is not great, but we managed.
All the islands along the coast of Croatia are worth checking out. We had 2 weeks to explore the beautiful towns and coves and recommend hitting the towns during the day to sightsee and pick up supplies then find a quiet cove to anchor for the night. Split was very crowded and might have been better visited in the fall after the cruise ships taper off.
Sail Connections' service was really great! We felt guided through the process, of which we knew nothing about before. We were met in Slano by Cristina, who was so good to help us. Our skipper was excellent even tho we had a bit of a language barrier, He was careful, fun, and joined us on all of our excursions and was willing to explore and find places he had never been. Joyce, USA, Aug 17th, 2019
Excellent internal layout for cruising, spacious living area, opening rear panel made for al-fresco living, closed only when in port, for security. The old cities of Dubrovnik and Trogir and Split with their history and achitecture, the beautiful anchorages in secluded bays, the clear warm water for swimming, the island walks. Your service was very good. Keyran, Australia, Jul 31st, 2016
The Best Croatian Charter Sailing Destinations
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