11 Things You Should Know Before Sailing in Croatia !

Thinking about a sailing vacation in Croatia? With over 1,200 islands, crystal-clear waters, and world-class marinas, Croatia has become a top destination for sailing holidays. In this guide, we’ll walk you through 11 essential tips—from visa requirements and skipper skills to the best sailing routes—so you can make the most of your sailing trip.

1. The Croatian coast is ideal for sailing holidays in Europe

The Adriatic Sea coastline in Croatia is 1,777.3 kilometers (1,104.4 miles) long, with 1,246 islands and islets totaling 4,058 kilometers (2,522 miles). - the Mediterranean's most indented coastline. With so many interesting ancient structures, national parks, and warm and sunny weather, it's no surprise that Croatia has recently surpassed Greece and Turkey as one of the most incredible destinations to sail a boat. While sailing has been prevalent in Croatia for decades (even during Yugoslavia), sailing and yacht charter tourism are still relatively new in Croatia, indicating new modern marinas, contemporary facilities with wider mooring slots, and amenities in each harbor!

2. Rating for sailing skills:

It's suitable for beginners to intermediate skippers - For novices, Croatia is an excellent place to start chartering a sailing yacht. The numerous islands provide natural cover from the open sea. The waves are not exceptionally high, navigation is straightforward, and the waters are clean and warm by the line of sight. The breezes are ideal for sailing, reliable and powerful enough, but not excessively. There are several huge marinas or well-protected secret bays, so finding a spot and mooring your boat isn't too tricky. However, even for advanced competent skippers, when Bura, Jugo, or Lebic strike with their unpredictable fury at your bow, it might be challenging.

3. When to visit Croatia for sailing holidays:

The sailing period in Croatia starts in March, but the sea isn't warm enough for 'fun' swimming until mid-May. Therefore, from mid-September to the end of October, you may expect pleasant weather and plenty of sunshine. The busiest months are July and August, when charter costs are highest, and marinas are most crowded. However, for the more experienced, pre-season and after-season are the most fantastic times to sail because there is generally more wind, and the major regatta events are taking place during that time.

Bura winds of over 30-40 knots are reported to impact the fan in March and early April, and Jugo winds of 20-30 knots are expected usually in September and October.

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4. Climate Sea & Air Temperatures in Croatia (Croatia average temperature)

The average sea temperatures for the middle/central portion of the Adriatic are shown below. Compared to a continental climate, they vary along with the temperatures range and hours of sunshine in Croatia when traveling up north (becoming colder) or down south (growing warmer).

The question often asked is: Can you swim in Croatia in June? What is the Croatia average temperature?
May and June are months when the Adriatic sea starts heating up. The highest sea temperatures in Croatia are during the summer months of July and August. However, you can go for a swim between the end of April and still at the beginning of October (assuming there were no intense Bura storms that cool down the sea very fast) in Croatia. Therefore, the swimming season typically opens during the First of May among the locals, when sometimes (very often) the air temperatures reach the summer level, and the first Slovenian tourists and sailors come to the dalmatian coast.

What is the average air temperature in Croatia?

Croatian Air Temperature

Although Croatia does not suffer the drastic weather variations that many European countries do, there is still a significant difference between pre-season and peak-season circumstances. At the beginning of April, when the highest daily temperature is around 19°C, it is possible that by the middle of April, the temperature has risen to 27-28°C, allowing the brave to begin their swimming season, making it the ideal time of year to be unwinding and sightseeing in the sunshine. It's a fantastic (and pleasant) time of year, with little traffic on the water and fewer crowds in ports and restaurants than in June/July/August. The regional weather report is a good place to start for generic weather information link:
Forecast for small craft published by the Marine Meteorological Center Split

5. Skippers' license or minimum qualifications in Croatia:

Croatian legislation requires that at least one person on board holds valid navigational and VHF licenses. If you don't want to hire a captain and want to lease a boat, you'll need proper permits in addition to sailing expertise. Port Authorities in Croatia grant navigational and VHF permits. Please verify whether a foreign nation granted your license valid in Croatian territorial waters. To get a skipper's license, students must attend lessons and pass a test that includes both theoretical and practical components. To finalize your bareboat charter booking, you must provide us with copies of your licenses in advance. If there are issues with your paperwork, we will notify you immediately. You must also bring the original documents on board, so don't forget to get them. Croatian legislation is quite severe in this area, and chartering a boat without the required paperwork is burdensome. In addition, if you wish to charter a large catamaran, you must meet specific requirements. A VHF certification is required for one of the crew members. We can get you a professional skipper if you aren't qualified.

6. Croatia Visa requirements:

Croatia is a member of the European Union; thus, UK and EU passport holders are free to go there. Passport holders from the United States and Australia do not require a visa unless they remain in Europe for more than 90 days. However, in recent years, an agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation on the convenience of visa issuance:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:22007A0517(01)&qid=1437132345248&from=EN

This agreement aims to make it easier for citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation to obtain visas for stays of no more than 90 days per term of 180 days based on reciprocity. But, unfortunately, this agreement has slowed the expansion and growth of Russian citizen visitors in Croatia over the last several years, who are avid sailors and used to enjoy sailing holidays in Croatia a lot and had several regattas taking place in their organizations.

7. Getting into Croatia:

There are several airports, many of which are well linked to the rest of Europe, especially during the summer when low-cost carriers such as Ryan Air or Eurowings and others operate. Pula, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik are the four main airports along the Croatian coast, all of them are well connected to the rest of Europe. You may also fly into Zagreb, the capital city, but it will take at least 3,5 hours by cab or more than 5-6 hours by bus, or you can rent a vehicle to travel to the coast and see the magnificent Croatian scenery along the way.

For example, all of our marinas in the Zadar region are within 20-30 minutes of Zadar Airport. Similarly, Split airport is only a 20–45-minute drive from our bases in Trogir or Rogoznica.

Most of our bases are accessible through Zadar or Split airports, with transport durations ranging from 15-30 minutes if arriving at the closest airport to up to 90 minutes if arriving at the furthest airport. We choose Zadar airport for sailing from Zadar, Sukosan, Biograd, and Vodice (a 20-, 30-, or 60-minute journey) and from Trogir, Rogoznica or Sibenik, we choose Split airport. In addition, we can arrange transportation (shuttle transfers) for you to and from the marina.

8. Where in Croatia is the most extraordinary place to sail?

Sailing bases like Sukosan, Biograd, and Vodice for the Kornati islands, Trogir, Rogoznica, and Sibenik cruising the Dalmatian islands, including Hvar and Vis, and Dubrovnik in the south.

Sailing across the Kornati and Sibenik Archipelagos One hundred fifty islands, reefs, and cliffs make up the Kornati archipelago.

There are many safe anchorages and moorings, and the wind runs between the islands, providing extraordinary sailing. Because most of the islands in this area are uninhabited, people who choose to sail the Kornati search for quiet and natural beauty. Suggestions for sailing locations include: You're in a great spot to visit the 89 most pristine Kornati islands, which are part of a national marine park filled with animals and natural wonders. Dolphins may appear, and you may be able to locate a peaceful bay all to yourself, or you may choose to stay in one of the purpose-built isolated marinas. Sibenik is a beautiful location to begin (or end) a charter, and it is one of the most underappreciated spots along the coast.

Sailing through the Sibenik archipelago, one of the Adriatic's sixth-largest archipelagos with 249 islands, islets, and reefs. Skradin is around 8 kilometers from Sibenik, and it is here that you can enter the Krka National Park. Continuing on, you will come across little treasures such as Prvi, Tijat, Karprije, Zirje, and Zlarin, all of which have secure anchoring, mooring, or ports. The Sibenik archipelago is for nature lovers; if you're on a bareboat charter, keep an eye on the maps since there are plenty of underwater reefs, sandbanks, and variable depths.

Rogoznica Marina Frapa, ACI TROGIR, and SCT TROGIR (Dalmatian islands)

Central Dalmatia Sailing and Southern Dalmatia Sailing

Central Dalmatia is the region that most people are familiar with. It has grown in popularity in recent years due to the convenience of flying to and chartering from Split. Sailing in Central Dalmatia is popular with first-time charterers because it offers a diverse range of activities for vacationers: fantastic sailing, history, gastronomy, old cities, tiny fishing villages, and nightlife. The most well-known islands in this region are Brac, Hvar, and Vis.

Maybe you may be familiar with photographs of Zlatni Rat (golden horn) beach, Biševo's blue cave, and Hvar's lavender fields. But don't overlook island Šolta, the nearest island to Split, which provides gorgeous anchorages and a glimpse of island life as it once was. From Marco Polo's Korcula to Mljet's saltwater lakes, the Lastovo Archipelago, the rugged beauty of the Peljeac Peninsula, and the grandeur of Dubrovnik, southern Dalmatia has enough to offer its visitors in terms of charm, history, and beauty.

Also, your itinerary may include both Central and Southern Dalmatian landmarks on a one-way sailing route from Split to Dubrovnik.

9. Marinas, ports, anchoring, and mooring buoys.

Even in peak season, it's usually a good idea to notify a marina or port of your arrival a few days in advance. The pricing and facilities of each port and marina vary (around 50-200 Eur/day) based on the location and amenities they offer. It's best to alternate between stopping at ports and anchoring while sailing in Croatia. If you want to go out to supper or acquire supplies, docking is a good idea. It makes it easy to get on and off your boat.

Nothing, however, compares to the feeling of waking up in a remote bay after a night of sailing. It's safe to say that Croatia, with its more than 1,000 islands, offers a plethora of stunning spots to anchor. Some anchorages can handle yachts of varying drafts and sizes, while others are more challenging and less accommodating. In any situation, use caution and common sense when consulting your charts and pilot manuals. If you're looking to anchor, you can expect to pay an average 2-2,5 EUR per meter of your vessel's length. It is, nevertheless, still feasible to discover private coves and places that do not charge mooring fees.

Mooring Buoys: These days, sailors may find mooring buoys in a wide variety of favorite locations, including National Parks and private harbors.

10. How much does a sailing vacation in Croatia typically cost?

According to the type of vessel you are renting (motor yacht, catamaran, sailing boat) and the time of year, the cost of a charter varies greatly. If you're on a tight budget, yachting is an excellent option because it includes a full-day activity, transportation, and accommodation! In addition, because you never stay in the same spot, you get to see a variety of islands, bays, and coastal towns. Although you must return to the charter base with your sailing boat or catamaran on Friday evening, most charters last for a week, starting on Saturday and ending on Saturday (from 17:00 on Saturday until 11:00 on Sunday) (check-out begins on Friday at 6 p.m.).

You may rent a three-cabin boat for as little as 765€ per week, a four-cabin yacht for €1,050 per week, or a catamaran for €1,350 per week using the search box.

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*You'll need to pay an end-cleaning charge in addition to the charter cost, and you'll need to put a security deposit upon check-in (similar to a rental vehicle and commonly placed as a pre-authorization on a credit card). For an additional price, you can add transportation, an outboard motor, early check-in, security deposit insurance, or other extras to your reservation (if they are not already included). Like a crewed yacht charter in Croatia, we can also arrange for a Skipper, Hostess, or Chef to be on board.

11. Finally, you should know about sailing in Croatia:

Angelina Yachtcharter Croatia - It is a privately-owned fleet, which is on the way to becoming the largest Croatian catamaran, sailing, and motorboat yacht charter company. With our privately owned fleet of yachts, we have fantastic brand-new sailing boats, yachts, and catamarans available to sail from 7 bases and locations throughout the Croatian coast. If you decide to go sailing in Croatia, you may choose to charter a brand-new sailing yacht with us.

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We will help you choosing the perfect sailing boat or catamaran for your sailing holidays in Croatia. We constantly carry the newest and most popular models in the region, such as Fountain Pajot, Bali, Dufour, or Lagoon. Angelina Yacht Charter should be your first choice to sail in Croatia.