Beginner’s Guide to Sailing in Croatia

With an inviting coastline, dotted in ancient roman ruins, and thousands of breathtaking islands, Croatia is one of Europe’s top sailing destinations. Not to mention the country boasts long and hot summers, luring sun chasers to this magnificent country every year. You’re eager to set sail with a holiday on a yacht in Croatia, but you may be wandering where to begin. Here are some tips to get you started on your Croatia sailing vacation.

Split

Mainland Split is the base for yacht charter destinations on the Dalmatian Coast with routes to islands like the islands of Hvar, Korčula, and Brač. The routes form a ribbon along the coast making sailing the Adriatic Sea safe and picturesque. The Dalmatian region possesses a vibrant mix of the best that Croatia has to offer, especially for sailors. Exceptional waterfalls, mountain backdrops, forests, beaches, and quaint fishing villages are all at your doorstep on the Dalmatian Coast.

As the capital of Dalmatia, Split offers ancient architecture, nice beaches, and even a mountainous backdrop. Split is home to Diocletian’s Palace, situated within the city’s historic center, with marble-arches, open-air piazzas, and cozy alleyways. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s the heart of the city’s tourism. Game of Thrones fans also know Split as the city of Mereen, making it an even more popular tourist destination over the past years.

Hvar

Hvar is a vibrant and more populated island full of sailors and locals. Around 60 km from Split, the island boasts a mild climate, making it an ideal destination on a Croatia sailing vacation. With clear, turquoise waters, 13^th century architecture, nightlife, and mountains, Hvar offers its visitors a little bit of everything. It’s well worth visiting to experience the beauty yourself.

Korčula

Mainland Split is the base for yacht charter destinations on the Dalmatian Coast with routes to islands like the islands of Hvar, Korčula, and Brač. The routes form a ribbon along the coast making sailing the Adriatic Sea safe and picturesque. The Dalmatian region possesses a vibrant mix of the best that Croatia has to offer, especially for sailors. Exceptional waterfalls, mountain backdrops, forests, beaches, and quaint fishing villages are all at your doorstep on the Dalmatian Coast.

As the capital of Dalmatia, Split offers ancient architecture, nice beaches, and even a mountainous backdrop. Split is home to Diocletian’s Palace, situated within the city’s historic center, with marble-arches, open-air piazzas, and cozy alleyways. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s the heart of the city’s tourism. Game of Thrones fans also know Split as the city of Mereen, making it an even more popular tourist destination over the past years.

Brač

Brač is one of Croatia’s largest islands located near Split, and it’s a must-see for nature lovers. It’s full of fig trees, rolling hills, and vivid turquoise shorelines. Home to the tallest mountain of any Adriatic island, it’s a great choice for hiking stopovers and exquisite views of the sea and surrounding islands on your holiday on a yacht in Croatia.

Šolta

If you are looking for more peace and tranquillity on your Croatia sailing vacation, then the small island of Šolta is the place to be. It’s a quiet island full of olive trees and vineyards. The coast itself offers many hidden coves and small harbours. It’s an ideal spot to regroup, relax, and enjoy the Adriatic.

Vis

Further off Croatia’s main coast you can sail the Adriatic Sea to the island of Vis. Here wild herbs such as rosemary and sage thrive, giving Vis an alluring scent. On the west coast, visit the village of Komiža for a picturesque port lined with 17^th and 18^th century Venetian-style buildings.

How to charter a boat

Chartering a boat in Croatia will be quite simple. Most major coastal cities like Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar have ample amounts of yachts to available to charter. At Anuras we can help you get started. With over 1,000 boats and 85 charter operators, we make booking your Croatia sailing vacation easy.

Deciding on a skipper

Less experienced sailors may be relieved to know that sailing in Croatia is quite relaxed in terms of weather. It’s calm, and generally storms are less common and brief. It’s quite popular in Croatia to rent a boat without a skipper, called a bareboat charter, rather than hire a crew.

If you’re seeking a more relaxing holiday and prefer to hire a skipper, you may rent a skippered charter or hire a skipper individually. This person will oversee the navigation of the boat and be responsible for the individuals on board.

Yacht Charter Croatia Prices

Climate

Croatia has a lovely Mediterranean climate, which typically calls for dry and hot summers followed by rainy winters. The most remote islands—those that are furthest from mainland Croatia—like Vis, Lastovo, Biševo and Svetac get the least amount of rain. However, islands of Hvar and Korčula boast more than 2,700 hours of sunshine per year and most of the other islands aren’t too far behind.

If you plan to come to sail Croatia islands in late May through the end of summer, you should expect pleasant, calm winds and warm, sunny weather. It’s an ideal sailing destination for beginners and seasoned sailors as well.

Harbours and marinas

Yachts are fully equipped with a number of luxurious amenities, but where do you park? Luckily, there are more than 50 marinas in Croatia and many more harbours, giving you plenty of options. During a sailing trip, most people opt for a bit of both marina and harbour.
It’s usually best to start off in a marina, as you will be moored on lazy lines protected by a breakwater barrier. Often times there are also cafes, restaurants, and shops. If you’re lucky there are nightclubs or swimming pools.On the other hand, docking at a harbour is a more intimate experience. For many sailors, mooring in a small local harbour is a nice experience. Plus, the small local harbours are usually more charming than major marinas.

The choice is yours, but a little bit of both is usually the way to go.