Croatia,
the beauty of the Balkans

Sumptuous natural landscapes between land and sea and a myriad of islands to discover on a catamaran.

In brief

At the crossroads of Central Europe and the Mediterranean, Croatia is the land of the southern Slavs, one of the pearls of the Balkans. With overa thousand islands and a coastline of more than 3,300 km, the diversity of beaches and coves is immense. Its turquoise waters remind us of other sumptuous Mediterranean basins.

Cultural heritage is not forgotten, with coastal towns such as Dubrovnik and its sumptuous ramparts, Split, Korcula, Trogir and Sibenik, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Divided into 3 tourist zones, the Croatian coast offers the region of lstria to the north, the Bay of Kvarner below and Dalmatia to the south. You'll find a base for your catamaran rental in all these different regions.

The charm of Croatian culture and people will make your trip even more enjoyable. And let's not forget the region's fresh seafood, wines, sheep's milk cheese and white truffles.

Information before you leave

The climate

Mediterranean climate on the Adriatic coast, characterized by hot, dry summers. Temperatures on the coast range from 26° to 30°C in summer and from 5° to 10°C in winter.
To take advantage of the mild temperatures, we recommend the period from May to October.

Prevailing winds

The Jugo (or Sirocco), a warm southeasterly wind, forms over the Sahara. It brings warm air, low pressure, humidity, thunderous precipitation and large waves. In spring, this wind is more frequent in the northern Adriatic and in the south in autumn and winter. It is rarer in summer.
The bora ("bura" in Croatian), a cold, dry north-easterly katabatic wind, blows in violent gusts from land to sea. This continental wind has its origins in the Russian anticyclone, and falls particularly hard against the Velebit coastal mountain range, near the town of Senj. It creates short, high waves with white crests. It can be a threat to navigation, but in summer is unlikely.

The Maestral is a medium-force wind that blows from the sea towards the coast, much appreciated by sailors as it reduces the sensation of heat. It rises in the morning and gradually increases in the afternoon. It is stronger in the central and southern Adriatic than in the north. It blows more specifically in summer. Offshore, it creates large waves.

The Burin, a wind blowing from land to sea. It starts as soon as the temperature of the land is colder than the surface of the water, i.e. at night. It generally takes the form of a light breeze.

Swimming

The ideal time to swim in the Adriatic Sea is from June to September, whatever the region.
The area where the sea is warmest all year round is generally to the south of the country, around Dubrovnik, although the difference between north and south is very small in summer, and greater in winter.
Average water temperatures between April and October around the towns of Rovinj, Pula, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik (from north to south):
Between 14 and 16°C mid-April, with highs of 17°C
Around 18-19°C mid-May with highs of 22°C
Around 22-23°C mid-June with highs of 26°C
Between 24 and 26°C in July and August, with highs of 28°C
Around 23-24°C mid-September with highs of 27°C
Between 19 and 20°C mid-October with highs of 23°C

Formalities

For French nationals, for a tourist stay of less than 3 months, all travelers, including minors, must be in possession of a passport or national identity card valid for the entire duration of their stay. For other nationals, please contact the relevant authorities.

Boating license

A VHF radio license (CRR) is required in addition to a boating license, regardless of the boat's flag.

To know more

Currency and exchange rate: Croatian kuna (abbreviation kn or HRK). The kuna is made up of 100 lipa (lp), the equivalent of our centimes. You can take euros with you in cash and exchange them. Credit cards are widely used in Croatia, and you can easily withdraw kuna from ATMs with your Visa or Mastercard.

Time difference: No time difference with France. UTC+1.

Important contacts in Croatia :
- European emergency number: 112
- Police: 192
- First aid: 94

Sailing in Croatia

Croatia is a great place to start chartering a sailboat, and of course you'll already have the training and experience to build up a sailing CV. The many islands make for easy line-of-sight sailing and offer numerous protected bays for mooring without difficulty.
Before setting out to sea, it's vital to have the day's weather information at hand, so you can prepare your sailing.

Tourist tax for pleasure boaters: The nautika.evisitor.hr portal enables pleasure boaters to pay their tourist tax online. Since 2021, this portal has been the sole means of paying tourist tax for pleasure boaters. In accordance with the Visitor's Tax Act, boaters can pay this tax according to the length of the vessel or the number of passengers (number of overnight stays).

Harbors and marinas: There are numerous marinas on the Adriatic coast. Prices range from 50 to 200 euros per day, depending on location and amenities. ACI Marinas, the largest marina chain in the Mediterranean, offers modern marinas with all amenities. Indeed, although sailing has long been practiced in Croatia, sailing tourism is fairly recent.
You'll need to pay between €2 and €2.50 per meter of boat length to drop anchor. However, there are still many places where you can anchor free of charge.
Mooring buoys can be found in many popular locations, including national parks and private harbors.

Croatia in pictures

Catamaran rental and cruising in Croatia

Marina De Maslinica, Solta Island, Croatia

The itineraries and anchorages we suggest are given for information only.

They can be adapted to suit your desires, weather and anchorage conditions (crowds, accessibility) and your departure base.

In the case of a skippered charter, the skipper, who is responsible for the smooth running of your cruise, will decide on the best navigation options in exchange with you.