Croatia is a country situated near Slovenia, Bosnia, Hungary, Serbia, and Herzegovina. All these countries can be found on the Eastern side of the Adriatic Sea. You will find fantastic cultural heritage, fascinating history, stunning coastlines, excellent sailing ground, and tasty food in this beautiful country. Croatia will, no doubt, be the country of your choice if you’re looking to experience any of the above offers.
You need to do some research and learn some few helpful tips about Croatia and its beautiful sites and culture before you embark on your vacation in the Adriatic Sea. Below are some of this country’s yacht charter guides that you can use to plan your sailing trip more efficiently.
Facts about Croatia
- Some of the most commonly spoken languages in Croatia are Italian, Germany, English, and of course, Croatian. While in the country, you will realize that the Croatian language is among the hardest to learn in the country. You can, however, do with some few Croatian words to use while traveling.
- Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir, Sibenik and Zadar are among some of the most popular starting points for sailing in Croatia for yacht charters. You will also find airports in each of these towns which also makes it easier for you to reach the marina.
- You will also notice that the prices for renting cars in Croatia are almost similar to the prices offered in the EU. From about €40 every day. The price varies depending on the type of car you are renting. It is, however, advisable that you restrain from traveling between Serbia and Croatia.
- The Croatian currency is the Kuna (HRK), there are some businesses in Croatia that accept payment for services and goods using Euros, but there are some touristy places that don’t accept the foreign currency. It’s thus advisable that you try to avoid any inconveniences while in the country relating to money by converting all other foreign currencies to Kuna.
- The Croatian ATMs accept most of the European bank cards like the Euro card, credit cards, Visa American Express, and even credit cards.
The best time to sail
In Croatia, the best sailing times are usually between April and October. The best time for sailing, however, depends greatly on what you intend to in your activities and type of sailing trips in the country.
- April: during this period, you will notice that most places are not yet crowded in Croatia and that the winds are still quite mild. This provides the perfect conditions for sailing. The daily temperatures usually range between 13 and 17°C. The sea temperatures during this time come down to 15°C. You will not find all tourist attraction sites open during this period.
- May: during this period, you will realize that the temperatures have climbed up a bit. Usually, somewhere around 21°C and most of the tourist destination sites in Croatia start to fill up during this time. The weather conditions are perfect for sailing with sea temperatures around 18°C. All the tourist destination sites are open at this time.
- June: this is the period when the peak season starts in Croatia for tourists. If you visit during this period, you will notice the hot and dry weather accompanied by moderate winds. The average daily temperatures during this time range between 22 and 27°C whereas the sea temperatures can go on high of about 21°C. This period usually has very crowded tourist spots in Croatia, and you will find all the tourist destination sites in the country open at this time of the year.
- July: the weather is very hot and dry during this time, with the average temperature ranging between 28 and 30°C. You will also notice the slight increase of the sea temperature to 24°C. This period also marks a very crowded tourist attraction sites, and you will also notice that all of the sites are open to visitors.
- August: this period marks weather patterns that look somewhat similar to that of July with the average daily temperatures ranging between 28 and 30°C, and sea temperatures around 24°C. All the tourist attraction sites are still very crowded during this time with all of the sites still open for business.
- September: you will notice the significant temperature drop at this time, but you can still enjoy some water sports activities in the warm waters of Croatia. You also need to know that the high winds are present during this time; they are Bura and Sirocco. If you prefer some exciting sailing trips, then this is the month for you to be in Croatia. You will also notice the temperatures have dropped to between 16 and 19°C in the month, while the sea temperatures can record 23°C. The visitors will begin to start disappearing slowly, but you will still notice most of the sites still open.
- October: the weather is still quite warm, but becomes much cooler during the evening hours. You will also notice the high winds, Bura and Sirocco during this period. The daily temperatures will range between 18 and 22°C with sea temperatures recording 20°C. You will notice the tourist destination sites begin to close during this time of the year with most of the visitors already gone.
Looking for the right yacht
When you get to Croatia and want to get your body wet in the Croatian waters, then you will find that you are faced with the dilemma of whether to go for a motorboat, catamaran or a sailboat. The type of boat you go for is usually influenced by the type of sailing experience you want to have and also your financial reach at the time.
The motorboat will be the best fit if you want to cover more distance in the water and see more sites within a short period. The sailboat, on the other hand, will offer you a slow sailing experience. While catamaran will offer you the most space along with slow sailing experience.
Motorboats are gas eaters and the types of boats that you should only go for when you have the money for all the gas you’ll be using during your trip.
If you’re thinking about making boat reservations before you travel to Croatia, then you should know that by April, most of the quality vessels are usually sold out for renting. That is if you plan to rent a boat for July and August. So, if you’re looking to enjoy the best boating experience, then better make early reservations to get the best boats.
Also, you will want to go to the newer vessels as they usually offer better sea experience.
Yacht equipment
You should always take the necessary steps and check the necessary equipment on the yacht that you have rented, and also to verify the yacht’s soundness. You can look up the nautical regulations and check if your rented vessel has the necessary equipment for the sea. Stuff like navigation expedients, first aid, yacht equipment, and even spare parts can always come in handy at any time while at sea.
Sailing dates
Every season in Croatia brings with it its special face to the Croatian sea. It would be a pity for you to pass the chance to check out all the seasons in the country if you have the chance to do so. And if you do decide to check out all the seasons, then here are a few things you need to pay more attention to make cruising adaptations with the different seasons.
- Navigation experience
If you do happen to have summer as your first season when visiting, then you need not worry yourself about any unpleasant surprises that will require you to have special skills and experiences. You need to, however, try to avoid making the winter period your first season, especially if you’re a beginner sailor.
- Jams
The summer period will also be the ideal choice to go to Croatia if you intend to enjoy various sports events and visit the different cultural experiences in the region. If you are a nautical person, then spring and autumn will be the ideal seasons for you.
- Nice and sunny weather
You will also definitely prefer the summer periods if you are one who likes to enjoy his or her days just lying on the deck and taking in the nice warm sun on your skin or prefers to swim in the sea.
- Prices
There are moments when you want to get the best experience when you travel for a vacation, but you’re limited financially from getting the best services during your trip. If this is so, and you have opted to visit Croatia, then the advice here is that you do not make boat reservations for July and August.
Planning your daily routes
After doing extensive research about some of Croatia’s aquatic territory, the next best thing that you can do is to define your cruising plans when you visit the country. Defining your daily routes during this period will guarantee that you get the most out of your trip and the best and fastest way you can do this is by seeking advice from the guides or anyone who has ever sailed in the areas that you intend to visit.
When planning your route, you need to track one simple rule. And that is; you should never, at any point, forget that sailing to even the furthest destinations shouldn’t take more than a third of all your available renting time. The rest of the time, you also need to ensure that you get the most out of your experience and get the most of what is out there at sea, and also to be able to sail back to the master port without trouble. You better also return to the master port early enough so that you can checkout in time and still have some time left to tour some of the closest aquatic territories.
Sailing in Croatia
You are traveling to Croatia, and your main agenda is to experience sailing in the best way possible while visiting the country. To achieve this, you need to pay keen attention to the following tips:
- Check the oil level of the engine daily before you leave for your daily sailing adventures. It is recommended that you do not use the engine if you find that the engine oil if you notice that the slant line falls at an angle greater than 20°.
- You must always check the level of gas in the tank before you leave and ensure that it is not under a third of its full capacity.
- Always check to see if the engine is throwing out water in the exhaust pipe after you start your boat’s engine. This is primarily to check whether the engine cooling system of your boat is functioning properly.
- Always pay attention to all the lines whenever you’re about to anchor into a marina or a small harbor. Failing to do this, the line may end up being tangled in the propeller which will then cost you some few hours to untangle. And if you end up tangling the lines while the engine is still moving, then even the crank and engine bearers may also get damaged in the process.
- Spend electricity rationally. You should opt to use the service battery, especially when in shallow waters and also avoid using extra lights. Your boat engine may fail to start if you end up discharging the battery fully.
- Always use drinking water sparingly, and only when necessary.
- Always keep track of the sea depth to avoid damaging the boat’s keel.
- As soon as you feel that the sails should be taken down, don’t hesitate to do so.
- Always ensure that all the closet doors are closed.
- Ensure that all the windows are well closed, especially the ones on the sides of the boat.
- Don’t use the boat while it’s still anchored in the ports and marinas.
- Pay attention to the tidiness of the vessel and also keeps everything in the vessel in order. It is vital that you ensure proper hygiene in the vessel. Simply put, you should take care of the vessel.