Croatian bandits shaking down yacht owners

[sailaboutvic]

what’s happening in Croatia is nothing to what going on in greece with British yacht being fined £1300 over transit logs , Greek insisting if you sail more then 12 miles out to sea you left international waters and it’s no longer vat paid
the saga goes on and on from one custom port to another ,
it don’t surprise me after 35 years sailing in and out of Greece where it seen what ever the officer had for breakfast or if he had sex the night before will depend how he thinks the law is.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Entry in Croatia is an example of their financial creativity. Our entry port was Cavtat. First you dock at the «clearance dock» and pay harbour fee, then walk into town to find the customs office, wait for lunch break to finish then pay for the cruising permit. All set lift anchor and move 30m sideways on the same pier to «croatian dock» and pay another harbour fee for the same day. Not saying entry is easier in Monte Negro, Albania or Tunisia - but for sure less costly. PS much enjoyed sailing in Croatia, perhaps more at home in the north (Istria)?

The custom dock is a con if you take it up with the police or harbour master they say it’s nothing to do with them ,
unless they change the signage it said you can’t get off you boat unltill it’s safely moored in other words you can’t step off to do your lines which mean you have to pass your line to the guy on the shore , this is what your paying for , not mooring.

as for moving on to the other part of the quay , you don’t have to you can anchor which cost nothing .

 

[Roberto]

The fee for mooring fields (either taking their buoys or anchoring in the area) includes garbage disposal, when they come to collect the fee feel free to accompany it with XX days of accumulated garbage bags.

 

[Sailing steve]

Croatia became progressively more crowded and expensive during the pre Covid decade or so we chartered there. Toward the end and even in the June shoulder season there was a lack of availability of marina berths after mid afternoon which forced you into making shorter passages and getting in early before the rush.

Many of the previously free anchorages had mooring buoys laid which you were charged for. Charter prices went up and quality of a couple of yachts we had was well below a standard you'd expect for the price. Food and restaurant and diesel bills increased considerably too.

Worst of all was a increase in very poor behaviour and seamanship, particularly among the flotilla fleets and Yacht Week crowd who'd keep everyone in the marina or anchorage awake with loud music and all night partying.

Not for us anymore.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Croatia became progressively more crowded and expensive during the pre Covid decade or so we chartered there. Toward the end and even in the June shoulder season there was a lack of availability of marina berths after mid afternoon which forced you into making shorter passages and getting in early before the rush.

Many of the previously free anchorages had mooring buoys laid which you were charged for. Charter prices went up and quality of a couple of yachts we had was well below a standard you'd expect for the price. Food and restaurant and diesel bills increased considerably too.

Worst of all was a increase in very poor behaviour and seamanship, particularly among the flotilla fleets and Yacht Week crowd who'd keep everyone in the marina or anchorage awake with loud music and all night partying.

Not for us anymore.

I can assure you Steve everything you posted is nothing unusual anywhere in the Med , over all the years we cruised right around all the Med slowly it’s been getting worst and it’s not going to get any better .
overcrowding anchorages and marinas .
Turkey marinas have gone through the roof , Greece isn’t much better free town wall have now almost gone some when we was there last charging €25 to sit on your own anchor with no toilet or shower and in some cases no power .
I guess them prices have gone up now.
loud music from super yacht and charter boat going on till early hours of the morning ,
which is why we and many more like us have decided to move away from the Med to quiet less crowded places .
tens of boats we know who once said they would end their sailing days in the Med which includes us have now moved on .