Is Croatia full?

[Hood38]

Just took my boat up to Bar in Montenegro ready for a cruise north through Croatian islands. I have been in touch with countless marinas to arrange winter storage but to date all have replied they are full. Do any of you wanderers know of a good, reasonably priced marina which can offer winter storage anywhere along the Croation coast, even Slovenia or Northern Adriatic Italy?

 

[Amphitrite]

Try Vieste in Italy on the Gargano peninsula - nice place, but a bit remote. Provides good weekend cruising to the Tremiti Islands....

 

[Metabarca]

Come here! I can get you into a marina just a few minutes from an airport served by Ryanair at rates lower than anything in Croatia, which remains just two or three hour's sailing away. On the hard or in the water. With good mechanics and all the chandlery you could want: two satisfied 'butters already here! Security not a problem. The place? Monfalcone, just along the coast from Trieste. Vieste is ok but, as AMphritrite says, a bit remote and rather more spartan in terms of facilities.
The food's a lot better, too!
If you're interested, pm me or take a look at one or two of the marinas listed on my web page.
Usual disclaimers. My only interest being that I love where I live!

 

[mocruising]

Why not stay in Bar its cheaper and the people are more friendly than Croatia and make visits upto Croatia and the surrounds.

 

[Metabarca]

"people are more friendly than Croatia" - not hard... I was really struck this year and quite forcibly as to how unfriendly they can be; generally not Joe Public, but exactly those who are making money out of tourists or supposed to be making them welcome, quayside assistants, marina staff, police...

 

[wagenaar]

I had my ship in Pescara in the winter 97/98, which then was very pleasant and not expensive. The yard was helpfull and there are excelent connections by train and bus to all of Italy. The trip to Rome is special since one has to cross the mountains, with spectacular views. Ryan flies from Stansted to Pescara.

 

[charles_reed]

Probably. It's certainly very expensive,

I'm using one of Metabarca's suggestions - Monfalcone (more properly Gorizia) Nautec Mare (took best part of a day to find).

About 25% of Croatian prices - €471 for 3 months on the hard including all lift-out charges.

 

[Metabarca]

When are arriving, Charles?

 

[Ketelbinkie]

We kept our boat in Croatia for two summers based on the island Uglian off Zadar. In our explorations we found a large shipyard which was in the process of converting to a marina. Although in 2006 there were no pontoons etc there was a very large secure dry boat storage area and large crane. I do not know the prices. It is called Nauta Lamjana and lies in an inlet on the south side of the island.

 

[charles_reed]

There's a story behind the delay in reply - flooded BT exchange and 4 days no ADSL:

Actually got there 07:30 06/06/07 - took me till 17:00 to find Nautec Mare - thanks to the kind folks in the Lega Navale for showing the way.

Had to fly back to UK on 08/06/07 for Finnish wedding - off again on 10th to Tampere and then Muurame.

Late arrival due delay by Croatian Douanes, spent 16 days in Pola, awaiting release of some compressor controls from Sweden, which arrived at Rijeka within 4 days of ordering, but took the Posta 10 days to send me a letter telling me they'd arrived.

Since return had only 3 days in own bed.

Will be back 04/09/07, in Venezia 15 days from 10/09/07 with wife, then a leisurely sail back down the Croatian islands to Malta.

To answer the original question - wasn't excessively full early June, but from experience mid-June onwards is impossible. Quietens by September and one has the added bonus of some wind (though the 52 knots through Losinj channel last year was over-generous).