Bareboat in Croatia

[Juggler7823]

Hi,
I'm thinking of a bareboat charter in Croatia early this summer. Three questions:
1) Has anyone any experience ot the Bareboat Sailing Holidays.com and their boats
2) Whats the cruising like around Split
3) what weather can we expect in early May
Thanks for any comments
Juggler

 

[RichardS]

Hi,
I'm thinking of a bareboat charter in Croatia early this summer. Three questions:
1) Has anyone any experience ot the Bareboat Sailing Holidays.com and their boats
2) Whats the cruising like around Split
3) what weather can we expect in early May
Thanks for any comments
Juggler

There are plenty of threads about Croatia so you might find a mention of Bareboat Sailing Holidays elsewhere.

The cruising around Split and the neighbouring islands - Solta, Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis etc plus mainland Trogir, Skradin - is the best in Croatia.

May is usually more of a gamble than July/August (although not in 2014) but is usually warm (25 degrees rather than 35 degrees) and sunny with good winds. The temperature drops off more at night but that is a good thing. If you are keen on swimming the sea temperature is a bit on the chilly side (20 -22 degrees) if you are used the mid-summer Adriatic temperatures (24 - 26 degrees) but, of course, compared to the UK it's like bathwater!

We have had some of our best times in May and October when the crowds are gone and you can anchor wherever you like without having to get there before lunch! Hvar Town, Korcula and Skradin (Krka Falls) are all "must sees" at this time of the year.

Richard

 

[Juggler7823]

Thanks very much for the info.
Juggler

 

[KellysEye]

We picked up a boat at Sibenik and sailed to the Kornati islands and nearby coast, the islands are unique they are like an uninhabited moonscape with the odd restaurant. For the best price look at www.latesail.com it has a 'name your price' page. Split harbour was interesting the were at least a dozen pipes pouring out raw sewage, the place stank - I don't know if that has changed

 

[RichardS]

We picked up a boat at Sibenik and sailed to the Kornati islands and nearby coast, the islands are unique they are like an uninhabited moonscape with the odd restaurant.

Lovely islands but be aware that in early May even the few restaurants and shops will probably be closed so you would need to provision accordingly.

Richard

 

[tudorsailor]

Ignore all the negative posts. May is lovely in Croatia. Almost everything is open and the Italians have yet to arrive. If you want to eat well buy yourself a copy of "A gourmet cruise" which lists family run restaurants accessible by boat all over the islands. This has become our main factor on where to go. Great food, not expensive and not touristy!

http://www.more.hr/default.asp?ru=411&gl=201009030000014&sid=&jezik=2

Tudorsailor

 

[RupertW]

Ignore all the negative posts. May is lovely in Croatia.

Tudorsailor

Well, except in 2011,2012, and 2013. Can't speak about 2014 becuase my wife refused to go in May that year.

Certainly everything isn't open yet then, you need to be into June for that.

But May aside (and we were always told the weather was superb the week before and week afterwards), I'd agree with everything Richard has said, and Sibenik & Scradin are great places to go even if the weather is a bit windy or grey. Otherwise going south to Hvar (my favourite town quay there is Jelsa, and anchorage Pokrovenic), and Korcula (Korcula Town and Badija are my favourites but there is a lot of choice), and the small but superb anchorage of Krknasje would be my first night out of Split every time - if you tuck right in to 3m of turquoise water - remember that a 2m keel with no tides or swell is very different to anchoring in home waters.

Although we brought the boat down to Corfu for this season, Croatia knocks the spots off what little we've seen of the Ionian so far, from architecture to anchorages to food. Enjoy.

 

[Sinnot]

2015 will be my 4th year sailing in Croatia. I normally spend 5 or 6 months there each year. If the weathers good, May is a great time to sail there, as very little charter boats around, no problem getting into Marinas etc. But if not, you're going to be stuck in the Marina. Basically you're taking a gamble on the weather. I've seen novice charterers, go out in weather that they shouldn't go out in, just because they have 6 days of sailing and feel they have to get value for money. I've also seen very scared/unhappy crews come in at the end of the day. But if you have enough experience and bad weather doesnt bother you then go for it otherwise I'd hold off until at least the last couple of weeks of June as the odds are more in your favour.

The area around split is great, lots of islands and lots of places to go. But in July/August gets very busy with charter boats and flotillas of 50 boats turning up. So maybe going north or south may be a better idea in those months.