Sailboat hire in Croatia with or without skipper

Hire a sailboat in Croatia

With a plethora of islands and white sand beaches, it’s no wonder that Croatia has become one of the most popular sailing destinations in Europe. Although visiting this charming country is always a treat, you get a completely different experience when hiring a sailboat that is completely unmissable. From the sea, you can travel to all the coastal regions twice as quickly, as well as trying out a wide variety of new and exciting water sports. Whether you decide to hire with or without a skipper, the sky’s the limit.

How much does a Croatia sailing charter cost?

Sailing holidays in Croatia vary greatly in cost depending on several different things. A few factors that can influence price are the size of the boat, the season, how long your trip is, and the make of the boat. In general, costs will start at around £385 per week during the low season and rise up to at least £804 per week during the high season.

Is a bareboat charter in Croatia possible for sailboats?

Yes, it is possible to rent a sailboat either with or without a skipper in Croatia but you must check the laws regarding boat licences before you go as they are quite strict. In Croatia, three different types of boating licence exist and each one qualifies you to drive different types of boat, and often affects the amount of passengers you can take with you, so it’s imperative you do a lot of research in order to avoid breaking the law.

Renting a sailboat with a skipper is best for those who aren’t confident when it comes to sailing, or who don’t possess the correct licences. Renting a sailboat without a skipper, however, is better for those who have a thirst for adventure as well as an adequate amount of sailing experience, because it allows you to sail the seas unrestrained by the demands and recommendations of your skipper.

What are the weather and sailing conditions like in Croatia?

The climate in Croatia is a Mediterranean one, and as such, receives around 2600 hours of sunshine per year. In the summer, sea and air temperatures are ideal for those who like to spend a lot of time in the water, with sea temperatures ranging from 24-27°C, and air temperatures peaking at 28°C in July. While this heat may seem a little intense, the Maestral winds help to make it a little more bearable. January is the coldest month, with temperatures usually staying around 7°C.

When is the best time to go sailing in Croatia?

People usually prefer to go sailing from late June until August in Croatia as it is during this period that the air and water temperatures are at their peak. However, there are some who complain that during these months, there are too many tourists and the price of sailboat hire is too high. If you’re also someone who doesn’t like crowds, you should go in May or September when the number of tourists is fewer. The only drawback of this time period is that it does get dark extremely quickly and quite early during these months. For this reason, you should thoroughly research sunset times in order to ensure that you don’t find yourself taking unnecessary risks after dark.

What are the best sailing areas in Croatia?

With such a wide range of sensational sailing areas at your disposal, it can be difficult to make a short list but here are some of our favourites:

• Šešula Bay
• Maslinica
• Vis Town
• Dubrovnik
• Ston Town
• Korčula Town
• Zlarin
• Stari Grad
• Skradin
• Lučice Bay
• Rogoznica
• Milna Town
• Komiza Town
• St Clement Island
• Lavsa Island

What are the most popular harbours and marinas in Croatia?

With more than 1200 islands, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are a wide range of different harbours and marinas in Croatia. Here is a list of some of the best harbours grouped together depending on their location:

• Split Dalmatia

Marina Trogir, ACI Marina Split, Marina Kastela, ACI Marina Trogir, Marina Baotić, Hvar Marina, ACI Marina Palmižana, ACI Marina Milna, Martinis Marchi (Martinis Marchi Marina), Marina Vlaska, ACI Marina Vrboska, Viska Luka, Yacht Club Milna

• Sibenik-Knin

Marina Frapa, Marina Kremik, Marina Hramina, Marina Tribunj, Marina Betina, ACI Marina Vodice, ACI Marina Skradin, D-Marin Mandalina Sibenik, ACI Marina Piškera, ACI Marina Jezera, ACI Marina Žut

• Zadar

Dalmacija Marina, Marina Kornati, Marina Sali, Marina Veli Rat, Marina Veli Iz, ACI Marina Šimuni, D-Marin Borik, Sangulin Marina, Marina Olive Island, Zadar Marina, Marina Preko

• Istria

ACI Marina Rovinjm ACI Marina Pula, Marina Funtana, Marina Veruda, ACI Marina Umag, ACI Marina Pomer, Marina Porec, Novigrad Marina, Vrsar Marina, Cervar Porat Marina, Parentium Marina

• Dubrovnik

ACI Marina Dubrovnik, ACI Marina Korcula, ACI Marina Slano, Lumbarda Marina, Dubrovnik Gruz Harbour, Cavtat Marina, Lastovo Marina

• Primorje-Gorski Kotar

ACI Marina Cres, ACI Marina Rab, Punat Marina, Marina Losinj, Supertarska Draga, Marina Zaton, Marina Cikat

• Lika-Senj

Senj Marina, Tovarnele Marina

What to see in Croatia?

While in Croatia, the wealth of things to see can feel a little overwhelming so we’ve made a list of things you simply must see while sailing there:

• The Old Town Walls of Dubrovnik
• Diocletian’s Palace in Split
• Hvar Town
• Plitvice Lakes National Park
• The medieval Gornji Grad District in Zagreb
• Kornati National Park, which consists of 89 different islets
• The Romanesque churches of Zadar
• Zlatni Rat Beach
• Korčula Town
• Mljet National Park
• The seaside town of Rovinj
• Brijuni National Park
• Trogir, so beautiful it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Rijeka
• Sibenik