Croatia in October

[walker]

We are in the process of joining a yacht share in Croatia. The only time we can make this year is last two weeks of October. I understand that the whether then can be very unpredictable and we plan to spend time familiarising ourselves with the new boat and not to venture too far from home (Split), perhaps daysailing when conditions permit and maybe visiting some of the closer islands. Two questions really (well three if you include 'are we mad?'). How unlucky would we be not to get any comfortable sailing in at all at that time of year (I have a slightly nervous daughter)? And are there any very sheltered anchorages (not worried about facilities) within say a half-day dash back to Split in case we have to run for it pretty well regardless of the weather (and the nervous daughter!)?

I would be very grateful for any advice.

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[Metabarca]

Mad? Not at all... October can be a peculiar month. When we had our Barcolana 3 years ago, it blew a hoolie (and I mean a hoolie); 2 years ago, stiff breeze; last year, dead calm. In other words, you could have mild sunny days, but you could also get a bora blast coming down. This is the one to watch out as it can be scary. But in 2 weeks, I would hope you would get some reasonable sailing in. As for good anchorages within easy reach of Split, there's Trogir very close (well worth a visit, and you'll fly over it if you're flying into Split), and, just offshore, Veli Drevnik, a sleepy little island. Basically, anywhere that is sheltered from NE winds (bora) is sheltered; the scirocco from the south takes much longer to build up and is predicable. SLightly, further north, Rogoznica may be worth a look at, and Primosten certainly is. You could probably make it to Korcula too for a longer, several day trip. Anyway, take a look at my links below and come back to me if you need more specific info.

Hope this helps
Metabarca

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[walker]

Thanks Metabarca, that's really helpful. You may be sure that I have your site well and truly planted in my Favourites but this will be our first non-flotilla trip; its a bit scary, and I am very conscious that I need to do all the thinking I can normally rely on the lead-boat for. Its been a bit of a job to persuade daughter that this is a good idea and the last thing I want to do is scare off a (hopefully) lifetime crew by pushing it too far when the weather is predictably unpredictable. Your suggestions should provide an interesting itinerary while allowing time for all those practice heave tos, mobs, mooring under sail, etc. etc. etc. that I know we should do but am tempted to say 'sod it' when the aforementioned lead boat is just a VHF call away.

May come back to you for a bit more specific advice when the time approaches if that is OK?

Thanks again.

Mark Walker

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[Metabarca]

There's one bit of kit which I'm tempted to buy for Croatian waters, and that's one of those poles with the mechanism on the end for threading the eye on mooring buoys. In Croatia, they're increasingly putting down swinging moorings where one used to anchor (preserves the sea-bed, stops weed growing, makes them money), and it's a b**r to lean over trying to get hold of the things. Might be the thing to make things easier for your daughter!
Also, get a good pilot book; they're great for all those little secluded anchorages. The best (as far as I know), however, is in Italian... but there's a new German one now. The English ones gives too broad an overview, touching only on the ports, really.
Do get in touch any time you like!
best regards

Metabarca

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[MapisM]

What is the pilot book which you mention, the triple 7?

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[Roberto]

I would say the only nasty thing that can happen is a bora blow: it is usually short lived, meaning from a few hours to one two days, if worried you can stay in a safe anchorage, cove or port (there are plenty, just choose one sheltered from NE, or where the trees are not leaning towards S-SW...); also, listen to the vhf, an upcoming bora is usually announced on the radio

even if South, it can be cold at night so a good sleeping bag is better!

if you want I have a word file with a few comments about the weather, taken from a croatian pilot book but in English

above all, enjoy!


<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Roberto on 04/06/2004 09:49 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Metabarca]

The Zanichelli one covering all the Adriatic.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[walker]

Thanks Roberto, Metabarca, very helpful - I'll look out for those bendy trees! I have read somewhere recently that the English Adriatic pilot is pretty hopeless but that a new and (hopefully) improved one is due out soon. Roberto, the weather notes you refer to sound interesting - if you could e-mail them to me that would be great (mark@walkerdesigns.fsnet.co.uk).

A good friend is married to a Croatian and raves about the place. (Although he has mentioned that service may not always be what we might be used to - I am taking it as a personal challenge to find the charming side of every grumpy waiter). We are really excited about the trip and apart from the weather vaguaries hope that October might be a good (read 'quiet') time to see the country. If it does blow a non-stop hooly we'll just hire a car and go exploring inland. Although I've also heard that driving in Croatia is an adventure in itself...

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[Roberto]

you should have it on your mail now Mark







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[Metabarca]

Just for you!
Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html

 

[branko]

Suggestions from Metabarca are very good. Do not go south of Split through Braèki kanal ( passage between island Brac and Mainland) near Vrulja as Bora blow there violently ( when blows) "Bura is born in Trieste , live in Senj and die in Vrulja" This is old sentence here in Croatia.
Take care of South wind ( you allways have enough time to find good berth before South wind and weather change). Bora sometimes start blowing in few minutes strongly but also is predictable.Look the clouds on top of the mountains. If they look like hat than you will have Bora for half an hour.
But this warnings are only warnings. 90% you will have old summer, still hot sea for swimming and ( with little luck) weather without rain.

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[branko]

Very good pilot is " 777 coves in Croatia" Hans Bestendich ( German author). You have it in allmost every Marina. Cost about 15 L. ( Must !)
The other is North Adriatic - Part 1
South Adriatic - Part 2 by Radovan Marcic ( this year will be available in English).

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[MapisM]

Yes, the "777" is actually the one which I was thinking of in my previous post.
The best for recreational boating in Croatia IMHO.

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[MapisM]

Can you remember the title?
Zanichelli is a rather famous Italian publisher, but I've never seen around any pilot book from them.

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[Metabarca]

"But this warnings are only warnings. 90% you will have old summer, still hot sea for swimming and ( with little luck) weather without rain." Absolutely - the bora can be fearsome, but the chances are you won't see it.

re: the Zanichelli book: I can't remember the author's name - it's one of a series Zanichelli produce for Italian waters. This one is (I believe) volume 3 and covers all of the Adriatic. As soon as I get a chance to get to my boat, I'll check it out for you.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[walker]

This is all really helpful stuff. I had wondered whether we were doing the right thing going out so late for our first time, but now I am sure we are. I don't think I could have waited until next year to see our new boat anyway, but might have left the family behind and taken a sailing mate. As it is, we'll be cautious and keep a close eye out for hats on mountains and those bendy trees.

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[MapisM]

Found! Well, maybe...

Is possibly <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.zanichelli.it/f_catalog.asp?url=cataloghi/risposta.asp?fxtipo=TITOLO&fxtesto=adriatico&CATALOGO=SEL_TOT&back=cat_tot.asp&AUTORE=&TITOLO=adriatico>this one</A> the book you're talking about?
If so, do you really recommend it? I'm a little surprised to have never seen it around...
Thanks for the suggestion anyhow!

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[Metabarca]

Re: Found!

Here it is:  LODIGIANI Paolo
  GUIDA AL MARE ADRIATICO
  Coste occidentali e orientali da S. Maria di Leuca al confine greco p.512 Euro 56,00
  [ISBN 8808-34008-2]

Surprised you've never seen it - it's pretty much standard issue here. I know of no other comprehensive ones in Italian, do you?

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[walker]

Re: Found!

Not sure if the link below is connected to one of the books you have mentioned but it seems to contain some useful stuff. Also I spoke to Norie Laurie today and the 4th Edition of their Adriatic Pilot is out in July (no date fixed yet).

www.hr/hrvatska/navigational/Navigational.html

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[Metabarca]

Re: Found!

No, nothing to do with the books - this is an official Croatian thing. It's pretty accurate, too (at least what I've looked at is).

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>