Croatia Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Sailing’ Category

Writer Clare Mann wrote a useful recap of her Dalmatia sailing adventure in this week’s Telegraph. What I particularly like is the PR boost she gives to some of Croatia’s less-visited gems. Yes Hvar and Korcula are “party islands” (particularly Hvar) but just sail out to Vis, Mljet or the Kornati Islands and you can get plenty of peace and quiet even in mid-August.

In addition to recounting her itinerary, the writer gives a rundown of where to fuel up, and I don’t mean put petrol in the boat. There sure aren’t a lot of restaurants jostling for space in Zlarin for example, but it’s nice to hear about her scrumptious local meals. Just keep in mind that many of the destinations mentioned are only accessible by sailboat. Another good reason to charter a sailboat in Croatia!

Click here for the article on the Dalmatian islands.
Click here for where to eat and drink.

See my Croatian islands guide.

On Saturday March 28, Croatia’s largest boat show flung open its doors in Split. The Croatia Boat Show is one of the world’s top ten nautical fairs and usually brings in 50,000 visitors annually. The show will run through April 5.

Nautical tourism (i.e. yachts and yachties) pours 800 million euros a year into Croatia’s coffers, making it an crucial part of the country’s tourism revenues. But that’s not enough! New moorings are in the works to increase capacity with the goal of bringing in two billion euros a year.

In addition to exhibiting the latest yachts and yacht technology, the Croatia Boat Show is expected to advertise Croatia as a major yachting destination. Which it is. So many of Croatia’s islands (such as the Kornati Islands National Park) are only accessible by boat or best appreciated by boat.

See more on the Croatia Boat Show and on sailing in Croatia.

Sailing in Croatia is one of the best activities the country has to offer. Now there are even more opportunities. The world’s largest yacht charter company, Sunsail, announced the opening of a new base in Pula which will finally open Istria and northern Dalmatia to yachting enthusiasts. The base will open in May 2009 with a fleet of monohulls available for bareboat or skippered charter.

From this base, sailors can easily take a week-long sail to Krk, Rab, Cres and Mali Losinj islands. In two weeks, there’s time to head down to the unique Kornati Islands even even the southern Dalmatian islands of Hvar and Korcula.

Pula is easily accessible by car, train or plane. See more about

• getting to Pula
• flights to Pula
• yacht and sailboat charter in Croatia
• sailing itineraries in Croatia
• Croatia’s islands

Sibenik is near the world-class sailing destination of the Kornati Islands National Park and now the Sibenik marina will get the facilities it deserves. Mandalina marina is under new management and big plans are afoot. Island Global Yachting, a Florida-based developer of luxury marinas and yachting lifestyle destinations, and Nautical Center Prgin, a Croatian marine industry company, have announced a joint venture to develop Croatia’s first dedicated megayacht marina at Mandalina. It will represent the largest US investment in Croatia.

This vast project represents an investment of around 100 million Euros and will include a five-star hotel, expanded recreational facilities and residential villas plus the marina capable of berthing 100m-long yachts.

Much should be completed in time for the 2009 season but megayachts will have to wait until 2010 for the big berths to be ready.

This week The Independent ran an interesting article with an unusual angle on sailing in Croatia.  Titled
“Woman overboard: A Croatian sailing holiday provides a horticultural treat”, the article describes not a sea tragedy but the author’s sailing adventure through Croatia’s northern islands including the Kornati Islands, Croatia’s premier sailing destination. These unique islands, part of the Kornati Islands National Park, feel “as if you are looking at the earth’s skeleton, not yet fully fleshed out” notes author Anna Pavord. She goes on to describe the greenery (such as it is) there and on other Croatian islands in a particularly evocative way. It’s not often that you see a sailing Croatia article in the Home and Garden section. See the article here.