Newbie sailing from Split

[Dicky]

Please could someone recommend where to visit in Croatia ? We are chartering a 32 foot yacht from Split. It wil be our first solo effort having gained day skipper. So we are looking for easy to get to destinations bearing in mind our limited experience. We need to practice all our newly acquired skills whilst away ! We have just one week.

 

[Sinnot]

Hi, I'm fairly familiar with sailing around split. What kind of trips are you looking for ? Longer sails or shorter sails. Are you looking for nightlife or do you want a quieter holiday.

 

[Dicky]

Hi, I'm fairly familiar with sailing around split. What kind of trips are you looking for ? Longer sails or shorter sails. Are you looking for nightlife or do you want a quieter holiday.

Its our first time after passing day skipper practical so short hops to practice skills and good food rather than nightlife as we are all over 50 ! 3 blokes.

 

[nigelmercier]

Its our first time after passing day skipper practical so short hops to practice skills and good food rather than nightlife as we are all over 50 ! 3 blokes.

I'm over 50, but enjoyed the nightlife in Hvar. I suggest you contact the charter company for an itinerary.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

I'd recommend Milna (Brac). Lovely big sheltered harbour, fresh fish every morning, nice restaurants etc...

Pete

 

[nickd]

Its all fairly nice out there with some good anchorages if you want to try dropping the hook overnight.
The islands are not far apart so its all line of sight navigation.
The two destinations worth including in your itinerary are
Hvar on the island of Hvar - nice castle if you want the walk its a very steep hill but worth it.
Komiza on the island of Vis you can do the blue caves from there if you want to be bothered, but actually in the harbour of komiza is a semi submerged building which was originally built as a lobster hatchery and is now a restaurant that you can actually park your dinghy inside off and pick your lobster and watch being barbecued cannot get fresher than that.
On the north shore of Vis is a little anchorage and within it is a hidden submarine pen built into the island, something to do with Titos occupation, you can actually go in with a dinghy and explore, its good for a lunch break.
Generally the food and booze is excellent and great value, and the night life once you are out of split is pretty sparse.
There is a small shop in Split marina that sells everything, stock up with a good supply of ice here and fill the remainder of the freezer with bottles of water as soon as you arrive and by the morning it will be frozen whilst on mains power.
Have fun
its a great place

 

[RichardS]

I recommend Jim's site - http://jimbsail.info/ as there is some very good info and comments added by users. It's also free to register and use.

I have also enjoyed HVar town and Milna (Brac) on many occasions. If you want to avoid marinas but like to be within walking / tender distance of the restaurants you can anchor in the north-facing bays on the south side of the Milna "funnel" and for Hvar just go round the corner to the south and about half a mile Eastwards after Hvar town itself. From there it's only a 15 minute walk back to the town. If you sail another mile further you arrive at another Milna which is pleasant but a long walk back to Hvar town.

I would also recommend Trogir although - it's close to Split and is a good last night anchorage (or marina berth although the marina is expensive and rather drab). If you approach Trogir from the west side (the picturesque approach!) and head for the large port buoy near the Karmelengo Tower, you can anchor just to the west of the local marina (a few semi-derelict pontoons!) and dinghy right into the town up the canal behind the tower and tie up near the wooden footbridge. It a mud bottom here but shallows some way out from the land so watch your depth!

You will probably get a copy of the excellent 777/888/999 (I forget which it is!) guide on your boat.

Have a great time!

Richard

 

[laika]

It wil be our first solo effort having gained day skipper.

Be aware that many other charterers from other countries may not do things quite like the RYA teaches it. I'm not sure there is an Italian phrase for "swinging room" so even if there is apparently room to anchor in one of the lovely harbours (like hvar) when you arrive, be prepared to fender up and maybe go a bit further away if (like me on my first charter) you will be kept up all night worrying when others anchor less than a boat length from you.

Vis can't be missed simply for the copious finbar saunders gags to be made. Keep the stern well away from the quay there (fnar fnar): unless things have changed the ferry can kick up a bit of a wave.

Do check if there is going to be a pilot book on board. We didn't have one and couldn't seem to find a decent one to buy (but that was 7 years ago)

 

[Sinnot]

Its our first time after passing day skipper practical so short hops to practice skills and good food rather than nightlife as we are all over 50 ! 3 blokes.

I wouldn't worry too much about being new, the sailing is generally fairly easy around the area. Winds tend to start around 11am and ease off around 5pm. Most days the wind seems to max out around 16kts. Maybe once a week to 21kts. Keep an eye on the forcast and you'll be fine. If you are leaving from the ACI Marina in Split, its a bit tight on space for manoeuvring but every other Marina is much bigger.

Depending on the time of day your charter company leaves you off at, I'd recommend Milna on Brac, its about 1.5hrs from Split and you can stop off on the way for a swim. If you manage to get out early and the weather is good then Hvar would be a good choice, you need to get there early (especially weekends) to get a spot on the quayside or on a mooring buoy. (don't drop your anchor here as it gets very busy in the harbour and theres not much space between boats). I'd recommend ACI Palmizana just outside Hvar (much less stressful to get into and a quick watertaxi ride to Hvar) But try to get there by 4 or 5pm as if you can't get into Hvar or Palmizana its a long enough sail to find another Marina and means you will have to find an anchorage.

After that Maybe go and explore Vis and surrounding area (Blue cave is a must). After this I'd recommend going north and making your way eventually to the Kornati Islands (this place you have to see to believe) but before you get there maybe visit Primosten and Vodice.

My boat is based in the ACI in Split and I'm sailing in the area most of the season, so drop me a line when you get there and I can give you some more pointers. I've also created a google map of some of the places I visited last season (but I need to finish it off) , it might give you some other ideas at http://goo.gl/maps/63LAI

 

[RichardS]

My boat is based in the ACI in Split and I'm sailing in the area most of the season, so drop me a line when you get there and I can give you some more pointers. I've also created a google map of some of the places I visited last season (but I need to finish it off) , it might give you some other ideas at http://goo.gl/maps/63LAI

Good work Sinnot! I don't know how you actually do this with Google but it's very clever. I've visited most of those spots over the last 5 years and would agree with your comments.

I've sailed past Scedro Island many times but never thought there was anything there - I'll check out your recommendation next time!

One small correction - my boat is actually in Marina Agana and it is indeed a very pleasant village but the village is actually called Marina and not Milna. It is very confusing as people think that Marina on the map refers to the marina! Perhaps this is the world's only marina in Marina?!

Richard

 

[Sinnot]

Good work Sinnot! I don't know how you actually do this with Google but it's very clever. I've visited most of those spots over the last 5 years and would agree with your comments.

I've sailed past Scedro Island many times but never thought there was anything there - I'll check out your recommendation next time!

One small correction - my boat is actually in Marina Agana and it is indeed a very pleasant village but the village is actually called Marina and not Milna. It is very confusing as people think that Marina on the map refers to the marina! Perhaps this is the world's only marina in Marina?!

Richard

Fixed, the issue with Marina (not sure what I was thinking). Actually, maybe you would be interested in adding to the map yourself, it could be a good resource for everyone and help those who sail in the area find new places to go to. If anyone else is interested PM me and I'll give you access to edit the map.

 

[RichardS]

Fixed, the issue with Marina (not sure what I was thinking). Actually, maybe you would be interested in adding to the map yourself, it could be a good resource for everyone and help those who sail in the area find new places to go to. If anyone else is interested PM me and I'll give you access to edit the map.

Many thanks Sinnot - that's given me an idea.

Jim B's website has a link to a similar Croatia Google map by Bart Willems but, like your map, at the moment only the person who set it up can add to it. However, if it's possible for anyone to be given access, perhaps Jim could add a Google map to each of his sailing area sections so that members who are logged-in to his site can add comments directly. Jim's site could then become a "one-stop-resource" as within a few years probably every bay and marina in the Med would be well documented!

Out of interest, I'll refer Jim to this thread.

Richard

 

[mjcoon]

Please could someone recommend where to visit in Croatia ? We are chartering a 32 foot yacht from Split. It wil be our first solo effort having gained day skipper. So we are looking for easy to get to destinations bearing in mind our limited experience. We need to practice all our newly acquired skills whilst away ! We have just one week.

I'm not sure if it is doable in a week from Split (though it is "just round the corner"), but there is a trip that is partly sailing challenge and part shore-side excursion: the Krka Falls, Skradin. The challenge is sailing up a gorge, per http://www.mjcoon.plus.com/page37.htm. The excursion is rather commercialised: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krka_National_Park.

(I could do a Google Maps link rather than (in addition to) Google Earth; I rather assumed everyone would have GE!)

HTH, Mike.

 

[EugeneR]

I'm not sure if it is doable in a week from Split (though it is "just round the corner"), but there is a trip that is partly sailing challenge and part shore-side excursion: the Krka Falls, Skradin. The challenge is sailing up a gorge, per http://www.mjcoon.plus.com/page37.htm. The excursion is rather commercialised: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krka_National_Park.

(I could do a Google Maps link rather than (in addition to) Google Earth; I rather assumed everyone would have GE!)

HTH, Mike.

+1 for Skradin. One of the most beautiful places on earth imho. Gone back 3 times and will do again next year.

 

[mrming]

Vis can't be missed simply for the copious finbar saunders gags to be made. Keep the stern well away from the quay there (fnar fnar): unless things have changed the ferry can kick up a bit of a wave.

We were caught out by this (no mention of it in the pilot book). Because it's basically non tidal you can get a bit complacement about depth under the keel. We had a few feet and thought we were good but then a ferry went by in the middle of the night and kicked up a huge wave. Cue rude awakening with the boat bouncing off the bottom.

I'd also personally stay out of the marinas if you're going during high season. In my experience the marina staff are militant and the chances of ending up next to a boat who are partying all night are high.

We favoured the town quays where possible - if you start out early and get in by mid afternoon in places like Hvar you should get a good berth. You would think the town quays might be noisy but compared to what we experienced in marinas it's actually okay.

The kind of reverse parking they do involving lazy lines is tricky. Until we got the hang of it we used a number of crew with roving fenders as a kind of damage limitation policy.

On the plus side the weather / scenery is incredible, and the navigation is easy with virtually no tide in a lot of places. I would go again in a heartbeat!

 

[jimbaerselman]

Jim B's website has a link to a similar Croatia Google map by Bart Willems but, like your map, at the moment only the person who set it up can add to it. However, if it's possible for anyone to be given access, perhaps Jim could add a Google map to each of his sailing area sections so that members who are logged-in to his site can add comments directly. Jim's site could then become a "one-stop-resource" as within a few years probably every bay and marina in the Med would be well documented!
Richard

That was the long term plot - after I've completed the Channel and Celtic pages. However, it's vital that only logged in people can make changes to maps. Otherwise the spammers invade and the maps are turned to rubbish. My site can give that protection.

Meanwhile, whenever I find a good Google map, I add a link. Sinnot, I hope you don't mind, but I've added a link to your map. Your comments are great . . . really useful for people deciding where to cruise.

JimB

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

We were caught out by this (no mention of it in the pilot book). Because it's basically non tidal you can get a bit complacement about depth under the keel. We had a few feet and thought we were good but then a ferry went by in the middle of the night and kicked up a huge wave. Cue rude awakening with the boat bouncing off the bottom.

I'd also personally stay out of the marinas if you're going during high season. In my experience the marina staff are militant and the chances of ending up next to a boat who are partying all night are high.

We favoured the town quays where possible - if you start out early and get in by mid afternoon in places like Hvar you should get a good berth. You would think the town quays might be noisy but compared to what we experienced in marinas it's actually okay.

The kind of reverse parking they do involving lazy lines is tricky. Until we got the hang of it we used a number of crew with roving fenders as a kind of damage limitation policy.

On the plus side the weather / scenery is incredible, and the navigation is easy with virtually no tide in a lot of places. I would go again in a heartbeat!

We haven't been to Croatia since 2010 as last time we were there they authorities had started charging ridiculous sums to moor on town quays, Vis being a good example. On previous visits any fees had been rather modest, if not free. Does anybody know the current rates, as we have actually today booked a week in September as it's such a lovely place and las t time it was still possible to sail around the islands and moor for free to various tavernas? This time we're starting from Split, rather than Dubrovnik, so this thread has been most useful so far with recommendations for places to visit.

 

[laika]

The spring issue of the RYA magazine has an article about the experiences of a couple of newly qualified dayskippers on a flotilla out of split

 

[Jamesuk]

Hi Dicky,

This photo will give you all the good places to go for your week out there. Get in before the Yacht Week do otherwise you may be partying a little too much.

http://www.theyachtweek.com/croatia/#!prettyPhoto/0/

Oh Milna the first night just close to Split between Brac and Solta.

Week example Day one Split - Milna Day 2 Milna to Vis Day 3 Vis to Vela Luka Day 4 Vela Luka to Hvar Town Day 5 Hvar town to Sesula Bay Day 6 Sesula Bay to Split - Night out in Split depart Day 7'

You will have a great time out there I am almost sure. Bol is ok, couple of sub penhs on Brac I think which are well worth testing your boat handling skills going stern to (45 metres of water so no anchorage.) Should be a lot of fun. Wish I was going.... oh wait I am ) although for work sadly no leisure play on my own charter boat I did "the yacht week" in 2009 so know the area a bit. Also sailed the area in 2011 from Umag in the North down to Greece.

 

[Loobyt]

We are going up to Dubrovnik/Spilt etc this May, the 777 book is excellent for small coastline detail, anchorages and detail that would otherwise be missed if using the pilot. It covers Albania, Montenegro and Croatia very well.