Eastern Adriatic - Croatia and more

Anybody living aboard in Croatia?

We are thinking of taking our boat to Croatia to liveaboard for a year. We have been living aboard in Corfu for two years and should be arriving in May 2013. Does anyone have any advise about where might be best to do this, taking into consideration that we will be living aboard in the winter months too. I have done a bit of researchbut would be good to hear from any other liveaboards. Thank you.
 
Loobyt said:
We are thinking of taking our boat to Croatia to liveaboard for a year. We have been living aboard in Corfu for two years and should be arriving in May 2013. Does anyone have any advise about where might be best to do this, taking into consideration that we will be living aboard in the winter months too. I have done a bit of researchbut would be good to hear from any other liveaboards. Thank you.
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I'm not a liveaboard but we boat in Croatia. I don't know how important flights home are to you but, during the winter months, the only 2 airports in Croatia with direct flights back to the UK are Dubrovnik and Zagreb. Zagreb is about 3 hrs drive from anywhere on the coast so that leaves Dubrovnik (mostly daily flights with BA). Close to Dubrovnik you have the ACI marina in Dubrovnik or Porto Montenegro (obviously in Montenegro, not Croatia). Personally I find Dubrovnik ACI a bit cold, windy and dark during the winter as its surrounded on 3 sides by steep hills and there's not much there in the winter in the form of shops and restaurants but, on the other hand, the beautiful city of Dubrovnik is a 10min taxi ride away. Porto Montenegro is about 1hr drive south of Dubrovnik airport and by all accounts is a well developed marina with good on site facilities and I believe there are a number of liveaboards there.
The weather in Croatia during the winter can be cold and windy and the further north you go, the colder and windier it gets so if you're looking for milder weather, I'd be looking to stay as far south as possible which is another plus for Porto Montenegro
 
Split

Thanks for all that info Mike, do you know much about Split marina, other than the usual info to read in the brochures and pilot books? It seems to be a bit closer to an airport which we need. Porto montenegro also looking good though. We will definately be staying there on our way up anyway. Thank you in advance.
 
Loobyt said:
Thanks for all that info Mike, do you know much about Split marina, other than the usual info to read in the brochures and pilot books?
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There are several marinas in and around Split but I guess you are referring to the ACI marina in Split. I don't know whether you know but ACI is the state run organisation which runs a large number of marinas in Croatia. Many are in wonderful locations but most have a somewhat ex communist bureaucracy attitude to customer service and the facilities in many feel slightly run down compared to other marinas. The ACI marina in Split is in an excellent location for accessing the city of Split but it doesn't have the best of reputations. Personally I don't like their attitude which is a bit couldn't care less, the fairways are very narrow which means your boat is at risk if somebody else's boat handling goes awry and the state of the pontoons is not great. As a liveaboard I'm sure you'd be fine and, as I say, all the shops, restaurants and sights of Split are close but I wouldn't be entirely happy to leave my boat there unattended for long periods.
We berth about 30mins drive north west of Split airport at Marina Frapa http://marinafrapa.com/en/home/ which bills itself as the best marina in Croatia and, in reality, I suppose it is. The condition of the facilities are very good and at least they try to deliver some kind of customer service. There are restaurants and shops on site but the local town, Rogoznica, goes into hibernation over winter so there's not much to do outside the marina unless you have a car.
There are other marinas around Split which I would consider as a base
http://www.aci-club.hr/en-us/marinas/aci-marina-trogir
http://www.marinakremik-adriatiq.com/en/
http://www.marina-agana.hr/english/index.html
http://www.marina-kastela.hr
http://www.cromarina.com/3790--~en~yachtclub_seget~yachtclub_seget.html
http://www.marinalav.hr
If any one of them takes your fancy, let me know and I can give you some more info
Btw you know there are no direct flights from UK to Split during winter?
 
Mad Pad,

I've not been to Montenegro, so haven't written the place up on my web site yet, I've just made a map. See http://jimbsail.info/mediterranean/adriatic/montenegro-albania

So, a very cheeky request, how would you feel about writing up some brief notes about what's good there, and what's not? The Albania notes on the same page show you the type of thing which I think people like to know before deciding to visit - but that's only my view!

The "contact" link bottom right of every page will reach me, and I'll give you an attribution.
 
Windlass100, thanks for that but after Google translating it, I'm really none the wiser. If you understand it, could I beg that you give a short summary on here so that us foreign boaters with boats in Croatia can understand exactly what is being said. Many thanks
 
Windlass100 said:
Basically as I understand it. In previous years your marina, if approved, (Frapa included) were able to complete paperwork to have your foreign flagged boat '"under customs control". They were unable to continue this practice this year due to a change in rules. On advisement most foreign flagged yachts, who were at risk of being over the time limit, (18 months) in the country without any exits, checked out of the country, sailed into "International Waters" and got all the stamps when checking back in again. Recommend you speak to Branko or the girls in the office. Alternatively Rogoznica Harbourmaster was also giving the same advice. Most, if not all. of our German, Austrian and Dutch neighbours exited at some time during the summer this year to comply with this rule. If you have been out in the last 18 months (or the 18 months leading up to EU entry on 1 July 2013?) - you are probably OK.

The mag article which was submitted by a Croatian company basically details the above.
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Many thanks for that. The last 2 winters I have moved my boat to Italy because it's easier to get to so I guess inadvertently, I have been respecting these rules. It does seem stupid though because forcing boaters to leave Croatia every 18months cannot do the local boating economy any good. Have you heard anything on the VAT situation next year?
 
Deleted User said:
Many thanks for that. The last 2 winters I have moved my boat to Italy because it's easier to get to so I guess inadvertently, I have been respecting these rules. It does seem stupid though because forcing boaters to leave Croatia every 18months cannot do the local boating economy any good. Have you heard anything on the VAT situation next year?
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Interesting and news to us. We are based on Kremik and have heard nothing about having to clear out after 18 months.
 
Windlass100 said:
Can't find anything concrete yet. The best lobbying seems to be coming from German Yacht Associations. I have no doubt the Frapa German Owners net will light up when anything concrete is decided. Once I get anything from them I will post it on this site.
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Thanks again. Obviously this issue is of great concern to many boat owners in Croatia
 
Would love to make it to London but otherwise engaged. Will PM with phone etc.

On the same thread, we would be looking for somewhere to lay up our yacht for 3 - 4 weeks in season to come home and see elderly relatives. Any recomendations in Croatia and/or Montenegro. We don't really want to have to come back down to the Ionian mid-season.
 
Seen a boat for sale in Croatia, with a Croatian Flag. It is significantly cheaper than similar models in the UK but obviously no VAT paid. If we bought it would it still be classed as a Croatian flagged boat and benefit from whatever happens to the VAT next summer?
 
RupertW said:
Re crew changes - perhaps we've been lucky but we just write the names and passport numbers on the vignette and get the list stamped just once or twice a year. Officials so far have seemed ok with the idea that we are using up the spaces on the list, and never have anyone on board not mentioned.
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I & SWMBO are planning to cruise around the Adriatic during April/May/June 2013. We hope to have various friends and family join us for periods varying from day sailing to a week.

Could someone explain in more detail about the Croatian vignettes (?spelling). Can one add names to the paper once it has been stamped? How many places are there for crew names? If one filled up the spaces, can one start again with a new paper? Who stamps the paper and what does it cost?

Many thanks

TudorSailor
 
tudorsailor said:
I & SWMBO are planning to cruise around the Adriatic during April/May/June 2013. We hope to have various friends and family join us for periods varying from day sailing to a week.
Could someone explain in more detail about the Croatian vignettes (?spelling). Can one add names to the paper once it has been stamped? How many places are there for crew names? If one filled up the spaces, can one start again with a new paper? Who stamps the paper and what does it cost?
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The vignette is a cruising permit that covers one 12 month period and obtained (and paid for) on entering the country. The crew list is a separate document and compromises all the present crew on board and a supplementary list of intended names (with passport numbers) of those who will be joining during your cruise. I do not know the limit but it should cover normal requirements - Baggywrinkle did once post the maximum limit on this forum.

The Sojourn tax will be applied when you enter (and paid for) and despite advertised as being a per head per night tax (you must specify your intended length of stay) will be applied on the length of your boat and its potential crew.

Edit:
If you can provide the names and passport numbers of potential visitors they are put on the 'A' list (as the harbourmaster explained the supplementary list to me this year) and it is not necessary to report to the port authorities where they join. However, if you have non-specified crew join you then you should enter them where they join and the police post will stamp your normal crew list.
 
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tudorsailor said:
I & SWMBO are planning to cruise around the Adriatic during April/May/June 2013. We hope to have various friends and family join us for periods varying from day sailing to a week.

Could someone explain in more detail about the Croatian vignettes (?spelling). Can one add names to the paper once it has been stamped? How many places are there for crew names? If one filled up the spaces, can one start again with a new paper? Who stamps the paper and what does it cost?

Many thanks

TudorSailor
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There is a maximum number of crew places calculated when the vignette is issued (the crew list is on the back of the Vignette). It is calculated at 2.5 times the number of berths on the boat. Each time new crew arrives you have to visit the Harbour Master (with Passports) to have them entered and individually stamped. Harbour Masters are very reluctant to allow this procedure in advance of arrival. You cannot start a new list - it is a maximum for the period of the Vignette.
Note - you have ALSO to register Passports with the "Police" - though many Marinas can access the data base for Passport Registration (this may change after 1st July EU entry)
 
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