Sailing in Croatia - A Practical Guide For First Timers

Editor

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Created on Nov 5, 2019

Nov 5, 2019

Categories: Destination

The best way to explore Croatia’s deep turquoise waters and the charming landscape of Adriatic coast is by sailing. Only by setting sail, you will be able to discover true gems of the Croatian coastline. We also gathered the best Croatia yacht charter alternatives and Croatia boat rental options for bareboat and skippered charters all across the Croatian coastline.

Croatia has an abundant range of sailing holiday alternatives to satisfy from sailing enthusiasts to sailing experts. If you are just getting the taste of sailing and has limited experience, try any of our boats and simply add a skipper to your charter. Our local and experienced skippers will take you to the pristine bays, the stunning scenery, the countless islands and most importantly, transparent, calm and turquoise waters where you can just relax and enjoy your sailing holiday. In addition, you may event book a yacht with a hostess who can help you with boat work, including cooking and cleaning.

If you have a valid skipper license and the experience, you can dig into our Destination page and start planning your route. Do not forget to check out the restaurants, wineries, points of interests along your way. These special places are hidden gems where most of them can only be reached by sea. In our special guide, you will explore stunning medieval cities such as Pula, Split, Trogir, Dubrovnik, find bay and anchorage areas such as Uvala Krknjaši, Gradina, Uvala Sakarun, and get first-hand information about the special restaurants where you can taste great Croatian cuisine.

We have an abundant of sailboats, catamarans, motor boats, motor yachts available for charter across all regions of Croatia: Dubrovnik, Istra, Kvarner, Šibenik, Split and Zadar. Enjoy your yacht bareboat, skippered or crewed.

Island hopping in Croatia

With precisely 1246 islands, the Croatian Adriatic is an island hopping paradise for yacht charterers. Most islands are only hours away from each other and offer some of the world’s most amazing nature as well as history and culture.

Croatia’s islands and islets encompass nearly 6,000 kilometres of coastline and much more. Although Hvar, Korcula, Vis and Brac are the most popular islands charterers love to visit, the Dalmatian coast has much more to offer. Island hopping in Croatia lets you see the medieval towns and fortresses, enjoy wonderful Croatian cuisine and the local hospitability. The Croation islands will always leave you wanting to come back for more.

When to go

The sailing season in Croatia is from spring to autumn and the best period to enjoy your Adriatic sailing holiday depends on your personal preference whether you want to set sail from dawn to dusk or just have a more relaxed time on the boat with family and friends.

May - June
Winds blow mainly from west in May and June, so if sailing is your primary interest then you can sail away in Croatia during these months with light to moderate winds.

July And August
Times of maximum sunny days and clear skies, therefore it is the ideal time to chill out on the boat with smooth waters. Perfect for enjoying water sports, or relaxing with the family.

September And October
During these months, occasional rains can be expected and the average temperature is 23°C. But remember; by the middle of September the temperatures start dropping fast to an average of 20°C and the sailors must be cautious as the weather can change very quickly.

While the winds during these months can make sailing challenging, you can always count on the experience of a local skipper. 

Weather and Winds

The Croatian coast is a popular sailing destination not only because of its wonderful islands and bays, but also for its ideal climate. The number of sunny days and clear skies per year is well above 300, with warm summers and mild winters. The chartering season starts in May and ends in November and the charterers can enjoy warm weather all through these months. Temperatures in April – May average 25°C and rise to 28°C in August. Through September – October occasional rains can be expected and the average temperature is 23°C. But remember; by the middle of September the temperatures start dropping fast to an average of 20°C and the sailors must be cautious as the weather can change very quickly.

The realm of the Bora, the Sirocco and the Maestral

The Croatian coastline is dominated by three major winds called the Bora, the Sirocco and the Maestral.

The Bora is a north-easterly dry, cold wind. And it brings fine weather. The force of the Bora may vary from a light breeze to more intense.

The Sirocco is a warm, humid wind blowing from ESE to SSE and brings rough seas. The sky clouds thickly and there is almost always prolonged rain. It reaches its greatest force in the South Adriatic. It can blow at any time of the year.

The Maestral is caused by the difference of heat between the sea and the land. It is a day time wind and always dies down before sunset. It brings white clouds and fine weather.

Why not spend your next sailing holiday on one of our handpicked boats in Croatia?

GotoSailing.com has thousands of sailing boats, catamarans, motor yachts, motor boats and gulets available all around Croatian coast for hundreds of sailing destinations for our fellow sailors to book and enjoy an unforgettable sailing holiday. You can directly rent a boat now in your favorite destination in Croatia.

• Sailboat / Bareboat charter Croatia: Rent a boat in Split Trogir Biograd Zadar Murter Sibenik Pula Dubrovnik
• Catamaran charter Croatia: Rent a catamaran in Split Trogir Biograd Zadar Murter Sibenik Pula Dubrovnik
• Skippered charter Croatia: Rent a boat with skipper in Split Trogir Biograd Zadar Murter Sibenik Pula Dubrovnik
• Crewed yacht charter Croatia: Rent a crewed boat in Split Trogir Biograd Zadar Murter Sibenik Pula Dubrovnik