Bareboat sailing in Croatia

What should you know about bareboat sailing in Croatia?

Sailing areas in Croatia

Croatia is one of the most famous destinations for vacation, yacht charter, and bareboat sailing holidays. Not only in the Mediterranean but also worldwide. With over 1,000 islands, islets, rocks, and bays on the Adriatic, the Croatian coast is among the most indented in the world. The Croatian Adriatic archipelago is divided into three regions: the North Adriatic, the Middle Adriatic, and the South Adriatic.

North Adriatic

The Northern Adriatic extends from the Istria peninsula over Kvarner and Krk, Cres, Lošinj, and Rab islands. The Istria peninsula is famous for its preserved nature, many cultural events, excellent gastronomy, and enology. While sailing the North Adriatic, you can visit many unique towns, fishermen's villages, islands, hidden bays, and secret coves.

Middle Adriatic

The sailing area of the Middle Adriatic, known as Dalmatia, covers the most significant part of the Croatian Adriatic, and it`s divided into three sailing archipelagos: Split, Šibenik, and Zadar. Dalmatia is easily accessible, whether you travel by plane or by car. Two international airports in Dalmatia are in Zadar and Split. In Dalmatia are located the largest marinas on the Adriatic and most of the yacht charter fleet.

South Adriatic

The South Adriatic or South Dalmatia region stretches from Poloče, through Ston and Dubrovnik, to the south and the border with Montenegro. The islands belonging to this area are: Korčula, Mljet, Lastovo, the Elaphite Islands, and the Pelješac peninsula. If you would like to start your sailing holiday in the Dubrovnik area, it is best to begin your trip by chartering a yacht from Dubrovnik or Slano. However, if you are flying to Croatia, you can fly to Dubrovnik International Airport.

The most popular destinations on the coast for chartering a yacht and starting sailing holidays in Croatia are Pula, Zadar, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, and Dubrovnik.

Bareboat sailing in Croatia is an excellent choice for experienced sailors and those with less experience, since the Adriatic archipelago is also suitable for beginners. The distance between the nearest islands is about 1 – 2 hours of sailing, which does not require long and extensive preparation. Sailing in Croatia is considered safe, as in the event of unfavorable weather, you can always reach a safe harbor on time. Of course, with continuous weather tracking.

The Weather Conditions

The Mediterranean climate allows sailing in Croatia and the Adriatic year-round. Yacht charter season runs from April to November. Bareboat sailing is also possible outside this period, noting that most vessels are under maintenance and service during the winter. Out of charter season, most of the facilities on the islands, like marinas and restaurants, are closed, but you can berth in the city ports.

Weather conditions for sailing vary by season. Spring and autumn are characterized mainly by north and south winds, while in the summer, the most frequent are western and southwestern winds. In the off-peak season, April, May, and October, prices are much lower, and there are fewer boats at sea.

What types of yachts and Boats are available for Bareboat Sailing in Croatia?

There are over 3,000 boats and yachts for rental in Croatia: bareboat, skippered, and fully crewed charters. You can rent a sailboat, catamaran, motor yacht, mini cruiser, and gulets in Croatia.

In Croatia, you can charter sailboats (monohulls) and catamarans from major European ship manufacturers, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria, Dufour, Catana, Elan, Lagoon, and Fountain Pajot. But also Croatian brands like Salona, More, and D&D Kufner.

The primary condition for bareboat sailing and yacht rental is that the skipper holds a valid skipper’s license and a VHF (radio) license. In some cases, when renting larger vessels, it is required that, in addition to the skipper with a license, another person on board holds a permit issued after an introductory skipper course. If you don`t have a skipper's license, we can organize a boat and catamaran charter with a skipper.

For most of the vessels, the allowed navigation area is within the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia. However, some charter companies permit sailing outside the Republic of Croatia to Italy or Montenegro under certain conditions.

Yacht Charter duration

The standard yacht charter period is Saturday – Saturday, 7, 14, or more days. However, it is possible to rent a boat for 3-4 days or a weekend during the off-season. A short boat rental is also possible in high season, but only for very last-minute inquiries. If you would like to rent a boat for less than a week, please get in touch with us, and we will do our best to find a suitable ship. Small motorboats up to 10m are available for daily rental.

There are great options for Wednesday - Wednesday boat rental in Croatia, but a quite limited offer. Booking in advance is recommended!

Croatia Sailing Itinerary

One of the most important points of a bareboat trip is to plan an Adriatic sailing itinerary. Many islands in Croatia offer options for creating the ideal route. First, choose the most suitable departure base. In recent years, the number of flights from various airline destinations in Europe, the USA, and Canada has increased.

In addition to round-trip charters, a one-way yacht charter is possible. A one-way sailing trip means you can pick up the boat in one charter base and leave at the end of the week in another base. The most popular One-way itinerary is one-way sailing from Split to Dubrovnik or vice versa. Of course, not all companies offer this form of rental, and there is a mandatory one-way fee.

Security deposit & Deposit Insurance

For all bareboat yacht charters, the charterer must leave a security deposit at check-in. The amount of the security deposit depends on the size and value of the vessel, typically € 1000-5000. The security deposit is returned in full at check-out if there is no damage to the boat caused by the skipper or his crew. The client can pay the security deposit in cash or by card. The alternative to a security deposit is deposit insurance. This means you will pay a smaller amount, non-refundable, and leave the reduced part of the deposit, the refundable part. Deposit insurance is not available for all charter boats.

It is advisable for each skipper to obtain skipper insurance with one of the insurance companies. You can apply online for skipper and crew insurance with EIS. Even with skipper insurance, you will still leave a security deposit at check-in. In case of damage settlement, with the proper documentation and invoice, you can get a refund for the paid insurance claim.

Useful links for sailing in Croatia:

10 Things Sailors Should Know Before Sailing in Croatia
How to protect your security deposit?
When is the best time to sail in Croatia?
Weather: Meteo.hr
Recognized licenses in Croatia: Recognized certificates for operating boats and yachts
Food provisioning: Jam Yacht Supply

If you are planning a bareboat sailing trip to Croatia, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to assist you and find the perfect match boat!