Croatia vs Charters

[Luffe44]

Summer plans are to sail into the Adriatic. I am excited about seeing Croatia, at the same time aware of the huge number of boats on the water. My thesis for the charters is that they start in the weekend and move at 25 miles per day. In case they would get 75 miles out on Tuesdays, then retract back for the weekend return. So if I stay on the calculated radius away from Split and other major charter ports, I will not get in their way. Is this a reasonable plan?

 

[RupertW]

Summer plans are to sail into the Adriatic. I am excited about seeing Croatia, at the same time aware of the huge number of boats on the water. My thesis for the charters is that they start in the weekend and move at 25 miles per day. In case they would get 75 miles out on Tuesdays, then retract back for the weekend return. So if I stay on the calculated radius away from Split and other major charter ports, I will not get in their way. Is this a reasonable plan?

Not really - they move often a lot less than that, all depending on where they are trying to get to next. A better plan we find is either to stay on an extra day after we encounter a flotilla so we are out of sync, or better still to choose anchorages that can only fit a small number of boats, or have no restaurants ashore. But mostly we just go with whoever turns up as charterers are people too.

 

[dunedin]

We looked through some of the major charter operator brochures and were able to largely work out their schedule of ports by day, and avoid accordingly

 

[RichardS]

As Rupert says, if you are thinking of July or August it will be busy, whatever you do, as some boats are on 2 weeks charters or starting from other bases or starting from Italy.

Bays without restaurants tend to be quieter but it depends upon what you are looking for. However, there is always somewhere to anchor provided you don't leave everything too late in the afternoon to execute Plan B .... or C.

Richard

 

[RupertW]

As Rupert says, if you are thinking of July or August it will be busy, whatever you do, as some boats are on 2 weeks charters or starting from other bases or starting from Italy.

Bays without restaurants tend to be quieter but it depends upon what you are looking for. However, there is always somewhere to anchor provided you don't leave everything too late in the afternoon to execute Plan B .... or C.

Richard

We tend to aim for lunchtime for marinas or harbour walls but for about 5 or 6 in the evening for anchorages to take the spaces left by departing small motor boats - but we tend to anchor in shallow water nearer the shore than most yachts.

 

[Luffe44]

Thanks for the tip on timing, much the same applies in Scandinavia in July. A late lunch at a harbour restaurant is not a bad thing.

Last summer I met a guy who had been hit twice while at anchor in Croatia (by charters). He may have been the unlucky one.

 

[Halo]

Friends of mine had an early flight on Saturday morning so they paid extra for the boat to be ready by 13-00 and they got off ahead of most other boats which departed Sunday.
We got into a routine - late breakfast, sail to the next place, tie up, booze and eat out, repeat. Lots of people follow this routine except eastern Europeans and some Germans who seem to sit in the cockpit eating, drinking and taking loudly from arrival until the wee small hours - this can be annoying if like us you have a baby on board who needs to sleep.
The number of boats per unit area is not as bad as the Solent in summer. The boats are much bigger on average and a bow thruster is a real boon when getting out of tight spaces full of slime lines. Last year I had a 45 footer with no bow thruster and it stretched my skills to get in and out in the inevitable cross winds.
If you want to get into Havr town you will need to get a mooring p d q as folk leave.
Expect a visit from shore pussy cats who have got into the habit of boarding boats at night in some places and eating what they can find.
Its a great holiday but be prepared for an eye wateringly expensive trip
Hope this helps !

 

[Spyro]

It's becoming a victim of it's own success. We're there in 2017 even in June it's getting busy and quite few places were full when we arrived. There's usually alternative anchorages nearby so not to much of a problem as long as you can be flexible. Split and Dubrovnik well worth a visit but don't do it on a Fri or Sat. Really can't emphasise that enough. Not sure how the new marina in Dubrovnik town is. It was near completion when we were there.

 

[RupertW]

Last summer I met a guy who had been hit twice while at anchor in Croatia (by charters). He may have been the unlucky one.

Oh you might get hit, there’s a reason we and many other people have all fenders out at anchor. In settled weather the wind dies overnight so yachts drift in all directions so stern to stern touches can easily happen. The regular wind pattern is a joy though after UK sailing. Dead overnight allowing a leisurely morning breakfasting and swimming (and doing odd boat jobs) then the day heats up and the wind starts by lunchtime growing to 20 knots or more by late afternoon for a cracking sail, then you anchor near dusk as the little boats depart and leave room, and have supper after dark when the wind dies away. That’s maybe two thirds of the days in a typical Summer.

Of course it does mean that if you are going to a marina or harbour then it’s motoring only to get there by lunchtime before the spaces go.

 

[Luffe44]

Thanks RupertW

In his case the other yachts had motored into collision. He stated that one of the hitting yachts would not give his name, which meant that the insurance company made a deduction on the compensation for the repair cost.

Had not thought of fenders out at mooring; practical, if not elegant

 

[tudorsailor]

It's becoming a victim of it's own success. We're there in 2017 even in June it's getting busy and quite few places were full when we arrived. There's usually alternative anchorages nearby so not to much of a problem as long as you can be flexible. Split and Dubrovnik well worth a visit but don't do it on a Fri or Sat. Really can't emphasise that enough. Not sure how the new marina in Dubrovnik town is. It was near completion when we were there.

The new marina in Dubrovnik opposite the Cruise Ship dock is complete but not open as of end of 2018 season. It is all to do with someone not paying someone else.

ACI Dubrovnik is full on Fridays and Saturdays and will not take visitors. Nearest marina is Slano. Nearest quay and anchoring is Cavtat.

TudorSailor

 

[RichardS]

The new marina in Dubrovnik opposite the Cruise Ship dock is complete but not open as of end of 2018 season. It is all to do with someone not paying someone else.

ACI Dubrovnik is full on Fridays and Saturdays and will not take visitors. Nearest marina is Slano. Nearest quay and anchoring is Cavtat.

TudorSailor

Anchoring is very good in the bay on the north side of Cavtat .... Tiha, I think. On the west side of the bay is Cavtat bus station with regular buses to Dubrovnik for a couple of quid. Just remember to ask the bus driver to tell you when you get to the stop for Dubrovnik old port as you have to walk down 100 steps from the bus stop to the port so it's not obvious when you're at the stop. If you stay on the bus you'll find yourself in the new port.

Richard

 

[Luffe44]

Thanks! I have read somewhere that Cavtat is the assignated entry port from the South ?

 

[RichardS]

Thanks! I have read somewhere that Cavtat is the assignated entry port from the South ?

That's correct. You must clear in at Cavtat from the South unless you are well offshore and towards the Italian coast. The customs dock at Cavtat is the only place we have ever been in Croatia where you had to drop your anchor and moor stern-to.

Richard