Boat charter Croatia

C08

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Thinking of a week or two in April in Croatia. Any recommendations for a company to deal with at the budget end of the market (if there is such a thing) and best area. I still have scars from car hirings so a little wary. Thnks for any tips
 
Thinking of a week or two in April in Croatia. Any recommendations for a company to deal with at the budget end of the market (if there is such a thing) and best area. I still have scars from car hirings so a little wary. Thnks for any tips

If you fancy eating out occasionally for lunch or dinner, then you would need to re-think April as everything will be closed, although supermarkets in towns will be open.

The weather can be very unsettled as well.

May is a much better month, although, even then the weather can be unsettled, as it was in May this year, although it's certainly worth a gamble on the weather as most bars and restaurants will be open.

Richard
 
If you fancy eating out occasionally for lunch or dinner, then you would need to re-think April as everything will be closed, although supermarkets in towns will be open.

The weather can be very unsettled as well.

May is a much better month, although, even then the weather can be unsettled, as it was in May this year, although it's certainly worth a gamble on the weather as most bars and restaurants will be open.

Richard

Thanks for that we will now look at mid/late May
 
If you fancy eating out occasionally for lunch or dinner, then you would need to re-think April as everything will be closed, although supermarkets in towns will be open.

The weather can be very unsettled as well.

May is a much better month, although, even then the weather can be unsettled, as it was in May this year, although it's certainly worth a gamble on the weather as most bars and restaurants will be open.

Richard
 
Thanks for advice. Looking at Budget Charters some boats spec heaters and some do not, is a boat heater necessary mid May? Also I never got around to updating my VHF licence to cover DSC, will that present a problem?
 
Thanks for advice. Looking at Budget Charters some boats spec heaters and some do not, is a boat heater necessary mid May? Also I never got around to updating my VHF licence to cover DSC, will that present a problem?

We're off on Friday for our first charter. They asked for a VHF SRC license but didn't specify DSC.

The official wording is:
"in internal waters and territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia and
waters accessible from the sea, under the condition of holding an
appropriate national or foreign certificate for operating radio station if
there is a radio-telephone VHF station or a GMDSS-VHF station on the
boat or yacht."

See here for more info:
http://www.croatia-yachting-charter.com/documents/acceptable-licences-sailing-croatia.pdf

i suspect a quick email to any of the charter companies will provide an answer.

We got a good deal with Velmundi who are brokers, and so far the service has been superb, I'll try to remember to add an update in a couple of weeks when we return!

Edit: Re: heaters.. just take some thermals just in case :encouragement:
 
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Thanks for advice. Looking at Budget Charters some boats spec heaters and some do not, is a boat heater necessary mid May? Also I never got around to updating my VHF licence to cover DSC, will that present a problem?
Do you know you will ALSO need a day skipper cert or minimum ICC.
 
Thanks for advice. Looking at Budget Charters some boats spec heaters and some do not, is a boat heater necessary mid May? Also I never got around to updating my VHF licence to cover DSC, will that present a problem?

I was in Croatian waters for the first 8 days of May this year. Some indifferent weather so the cabin heating was on a few times to take the chill off things. Look at Latesail and Tubber who are both discount brokers to the charter companies.
 
Thanks for advice. Looking at Budget Charters some boats spec heaters and some do not, is a boat heater necessary mid May? Also I never got around to updating my VHF licence to cover DSC, will that present a problem?

I've never actually been asked for my VHF licence, although mine is DSC, so I can't really advise. My feeling is that a non-DSC licence will be fine as the Croatians are reasonably relaxed about what the wording is provided that what you show them is an "official" document with, for example, RYA across the top.

We usually find that we turn do on our mains fan heater when we are in the marina in May. However, it's only in the evening once the sun goes down but could be avoided by putting on thicker woolies etc. It's probably going to be around 15 degrees on board during the evening although might drop to 10 degrees in the middle of the night but you'll be tucked up under the blanket/duvet by then. :)

Richard
 
Yes but thanks for the reminder-it would be terrible to get there and not have the required creds!
 
Thanks for all help just a final couple of queries.
Thinking of going with Fair Winds from Split mid may-any experiences or knowledge of them?
Also will we need normal UK sailing gear, coats and salopettes or could we be ok with just windtops?
 
Our Split charter was with Euromarine through Tubber.

It was out of ACI Split which is a little tight these days now boats have got bigger (we were in a Jeanneau 449). Good for provisioning and getting into the old town (about 20 mins walk).

The fuel dock gets very busy on a Friday night with returning charterers so we filled up Friday morning when coming out of Trogir and missed the chaos/wait.
 
Thanks for all help just a final couple of queries.
Thinking of going with Fair Winds from Split mid may-any experiences or knowledge of them?
Also will we need normal UK sailing gear, coats and salopettes or could we be ok with just windtops?

Even in December I haven’t needed full kit except when night sailing - but my wife has worn it as she feels the cold more. A basic waterproof jacket, occasional fleece and shorts should do it. And mostly you will just need the shorts. For late and early season charters have UK late summer clothes for cool evenings. My preference for sailing tends to be late rather than early as the sea is so warm in Autumn but a freezing below 20 degrees until May.
 
The more I look into this the more I realise how litle I know about charter boats. Three things:-
If there is a holding tank is there normally a charge for emptying this at the charter end?
Some companies refer to diver charges at the charter end as part of the fixed charter charges. If they are going to dive and look at the keel and hull how are you to know what the hull/keel condition was at the start of the charter?
Is diving to check the hull normal practice?
Thanks for all the info.
 
The more I look into this the more I realise how litle I know about charter boats. Three things:-
If there is a holding tank is there normally a charge for emptying this at the charter end?
Some companies refer to diver charges at the charter end as part of the fixed charter charges. If they are going to dive and look at the keel and hull how are you to know what the hull/keel condition was at the start of the charter?
Is diving to check the hull normal practice?
Thanks for all the info.

Can onli answer on holding tanks - yes there will be one. It’s vital as anchorages are also swimming pools but nobody gets it pumped out. You return having emptied it at sea.
 
The hull and keel will have been inspected at the end of the previous charter and the company should have made a note of any damage and, as necessary, charged the previous charterer. Obviously, you will be relying on the honesty of the charter company.

Our charter company, The Moorings, have never used a diver and used to simply ask at the end of the charter whether we had hit anything, but some companies do because as we sit in our marina we watch the diver going down as each boat returns.

Richard
 
Done two bareboats out of Croatia - the charter out of Sukosan was not dived on whereas the Split charter was.

Ensure your deposit is paid by credit card so in the unlikely event of a dispute you can recall the money through the card provider.
 
Charter company kindly offered for us to defer our May charter to september, which at the beginning of March seemed a possibility but not now. I cannot see it being safe or advisable to undertake air travel even in 6 months. Hopefully they will defer it further to next year, assuming they still have a business.
 
Done two bareboats out of Croatia - the charter out of Sukosan was not dived on whereas the Split charter was.

Ensure your deposit is paid by credit card so in the unlikely event of a dispute you can recall the money through the card provider.
I wonder if a CC refund is possible for a charter not possible by lockdown.
 
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