Corfu or Croatia?

[Paul Boissier]

OK so the consensus from my post earlier this evening about sailing with young children (about 10 years old) was that Corfu is better than Mallorca for a charter sailing holiday.
In that case, what about Croatia? Would that be better than Corfu?
Thank you all for your help. It is so useful to tap into the real experiences of real sailors, rather than reading the marketing pitches of the charter companies.

 

[ashtead]

We have chartered bareboat in Croatia but many years ago but in the north Avoiding Hvac etc) . It’s probably far busier now but there seemed to be a number of expensive marina as well as usual bays. Trouble is I haven’t chartered in Corfu but I suspect a look at the navigational guide to Adriatic Croatian coast might show interesting places like waterfalls etc

 

[Tranona]

Croatia is much more developed (and expensive!) than Corfu. Many more marinas and organised anchorages where you have to pay.

Even now Corfu is more like old style Greek - very laid back, but full of Italians and Germans in August (average temperature 35+ as well!). Some people love that buzz and heat, but we went only in April-June and September/October. Most charter boats are based in Gouvia marina which is very convenient for airport with loads of flights from UK. You can get an idea of the sorts of itineraries from Heikels Ionian pilot and looking at Sailing Holidays flotilla routes.. Greeks love children, particularly if well behaved and ample opportunities for water based and beach activities. Our children and then grandchildren loved it and still go back to Corfu even though we have not had the boat since 2010.

Also look at Levkas - even more laid back than Corfu but similar good choice of cruising itineraries to different islands and villages. Have a look at Sail Ionian who have a good range of newish boats, mostly Bavarias.

 

[ashtead]

Sorry should have said Krka falls near skradin

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I’ve done yacht charter in Croatia for the last 7 or 8 years, it’s fabulous. Avoid peak season school Summer holidays if you can, it’s mentally busy and very hot. Otherwise brilliant, loads of places to go. Everywhere costs money so ignore the people complaining about paying for moorings or marinas, that’s unavoidable. Food not as good as France or Italy.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Suggest you don’t start at ACI Marina Dubrovnik, nothing wrong with it per se but the refuelling arrangement at the end of your holiday are truly terrible. Trogir my favourite.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Paul, I’ve sent you a private message. Hopefully you’ll see the notification and how to read it.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

John, he’s a newbie, can’t use PMs yet as far as I know.

 

[john_morris_uk]

John, he’s a newbie, can’t use PMs yet as far as I Know.

I can neither confirm nor deny that I might have a way round that.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

lol. Yes of course

 

[Sailing steve]

We've chartered in the Split region a number of times.

Popular areas and departure points on changeover days are madly chaotic even in the shoulder season and unless you've booked a berth in advance you'll have to beat the mid afternoon rush to get to your overnight marina. Even a decade ago we were being charged up to sixty Euro a night for a 12m yacht berth.

Bays and quiet anchorages that used to be a free alternative now have mooring buoys laid which you'll be charged for. Provisioning is difficult and food quality in shops and supermarkets is variable to say the least. Most restaurants have limited menus but quality is better.

Whatever you do try to avoid flotillas and the Yacht Week yobs (Google it - you'll get the idea) if you're planning on a peaceful night. Talk to a flotilla skipper to find out their planned route and avoid.

Diesel used to be cheap but shot up in price over the time we sailed. If you have 10 days of flat calm like we did once you'll use hundreds of litres in a fortnight. Fuel berths on Friday afternoons are a queue barging free for all - fill up early.

The standard of seamanship and adherence to ColRegs is not always what you'd hope. We've witnessed two hard collisions between yachts and pontoons. Take out CDW insurance with an independent broker not the charter company.

Watch for wind shear and significant acceleration zones between islands. Anchor holding is not great in sand and gravel and a lot of anchorages are very steep too.

Ever yach we've had has been spotlessly clean but quality and serviceability varies significantly. Check everything works before you depart. Be aware the yacht will be thoroughly inspected on return including a diver checking the keel rudder and entire hull underwater.

Highlights - excuse the spelling

Skaradin and Kaka park. Pakleni islands. Vis. Pasman canal up to Skradin. Primostien (get in early and watch depth on the quay carefully). Troigr.

ACI marinas have good facilities others are variable.

 

[servus]

I would base my decisions on tangible facts like:

-Do I want to sail as much as possible or do I want to sit in reastaurants/tavernas/konobas/bars; see some inland sights like waterfalls or temples...;
-Which time of the year do I want to take my vacation;
consequently I would try to get a realistic picture of the wind patterns in the various areas for the months in question;

Croatia is definitely more densely organized the navigational lighting, buoyage etc is good. The mooring fields have seriously taken over many scenic and safe anchorages. The attitude I would desribe as: offering a rather wide spectrum of services and charging as much as possible. The tourist is a mine to be exploited.

Greece has a much more relaxed atmosphere sometimes bordering absolute indifference. They will leave you alone much more, even in cases when you might want some attention.
I f you say "Korfu" you are in the Ionian sea and could just as well charter off some of the more southern islands like Lefkada.

Compared to the Aegaean the wind patterns are milder in the Ionian and the central Adriatic. In the northern half of the Adriatic you can get some Bora (cold catabatic winds from the highlying inland) that can be rather impressive, otherwise the summer winds are rather weak there.

This is according to my personal experiences, other people might have different views.

Fair winds

 

[mjcoon]

...
Compared to the Aegaean the wind patterns are milder in the Ionian and the central Adriatic. In the northern half of the Adriatic you can get some Bora (cold catabatic winds from the highlying inland) that can be rather impressive, otherwise the summer winds are rather weak there.

I'd add that while you can get a thunderstorm anywhere in the Med, I've seen the densest ones around Croatia!

 

[wonkywinch]

I've chartered in Croatia, Corfu, Lefkas and Sporades. The latter more windy due the Meltemi but for family trips, I think Lefkas great, lots of choice and plenty of interesting destinations in what is essentially a large sheltered area.

 

[Skellum]

Suggest you don’t start at ACI Marina Dubrovnik, nothing wrong with it per se but the refuelling arrangement at the end of your holiday are truly terrible. Trogir my favourite.

Hi Sticky - as it happens I will be chartering from ACI Dubrovnik in September. Normally it’s the mid point on a cruise from / to Kastela. What’s the deal with the fuel there? Cheers

 

[Sticky Fingers]

The fuel station is in the river. It’s a linear arrangement with two pumps, you have to queue to get your slot; the queue at end -of-charter-week times can be 20 - 30 boats or more, takes hours, holding station in a narrow shallow river among dozens of others, of varying abilities. Once you’ve refuelled you have to execute a very tight turn to port to avoid going aground, then make your way back down the queue of boats, pushing through them to get into the marina. If you have a motorboat ahead of you that wants say 2000 litres they can be on the pump for a hour. Pretty stressful end to your week. If you can fill up the night before somewhere else that’s recommended.

 

[mjcoon]

Hi Sticky - as it happens I will be chartering from ACI Dubrovnik in September. Normally it’s the mid point on a cruise from / to Kastela. What’s the deal with the fuel there? Cheers

When I read the comment I remembered an occasion years ago when the fuel dock was very difficult to access because of wind, depths and obstructions!

 

[Sailing steve]

Pretty stressful end to your week. If you can fill up the night before somewhere else that’s recommended.

Absolutely. Exactly what we learned to do.

We've found people's behaviour queuing for fuel at the end of their charter can be pretty appalling. Tank capacity will give you quite a few hours on the engine after you've filled up before the fuel gauge moves from the full mark so filling up a day before the end of your trip when the fuel berths are usually empty avoids involvement in all the queue jumping and boat rage that often occurs.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

 

[servus]

I'd add that while you can get a thunderstorm anywhere in the Med, I've seen the densest ones around Croatia!

Interestingly enough that is exactly my impression. I never really went into it from a meteorological side but my feeling is that the vast temperature differences between the inland weather situations and the very warm, shallow waters of the northern Adriatic might play a big role.
Also the surprise factor when you are at anchor or leisurely sailing in something that resembles a vast swimming pool and the next moment you get hammered by very, as you call it so aptly "dense" conditions.