Sailing near Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia - is it safe?

[slonn]

Hi,
We are planning to sail from Greece to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia. Is this coast safe enough? Is is safe to enter marinas, especially in Albania? If not - then is it safe just to pass near Albania?

Are there some special things to know near that coast?

Thanks

 

[Metabarca]

It's probably a damn sight safer than most South Coast ports... Most of the minefields have been swept and no-one's been shot up since... oh, last Tuesday, I think./forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Seriously, the only pain you are likely to suffer is to the purse. Just be sure to check in to each country's authorities.
Alternatively do Corfu - Otranto - Dubrovnik or Vis.

 

[branko]

CRO, SLO and MTNgro are 100% safe in any aspect ( off course, sometimes, a bad experience is possible as in any other place). In Albania go to Valona or Dures and it will be OK.
Alternative route to MTG and CRO are via Brindisi, Vieste to Vis or Otranto (Bari) to Dubrovnik.

 

[mocruising]

Based my boat in Montenegro for a year 2007-2008. Visited Albania and Croatia (South from Split) on countless occasions never had a problem.

 

[charles_reed]

It's probably a damn sight safer than most South Coast ports... Most of the minefields have been swept and no-one's been shot up since... oh, last Tuesday, I think.
Seriously, the only pain you are likely to suffer is to the purse. Just be sure to check in to each country's authorities.
Alternatively do Corfu - Otranto - Dubrovnik or Vis.

Seconded - risk to purse not person!!!

 

[tri39]

Altho I've always crossed to Otranto/Brindisi and back to Vis or Lastovo, I suspect that closehauling up the Albanian coast will be fine in the normal settled northwesterly Maestral. Do visit Montenegro but only ask for a one week vignette and be prepared to leave again if it's too pricy.
Croatia has countless island anchorages, I spend nearly two months there, setting off on Sat. If you want to winter in the north Adriatic Lucian (Metabarca) will advise you.

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Stay well out from albanian coast we picked up a fishing net on the way to greece this year but other wise very safe

 

[slonn]

>>risk to purse not person!!!

wait, wait
what do you mean by purse risk? do you mean that in Albania there are a lot of expenses related to transit log and other fees?

 

[Metabarca]

I'm not sure of Albania, but both Montenegro and Croatia have steep cruising permits (Montenegro is especially outrageous, given the length of coastline). Marinas are very expensive and with generally surly service. Some bays charge for anchorage (but there are plenty of free alternatives). And occasionally (in a strong bora), one is grateful to be attached to several tons of concrete on the seabed! In restaurants, keep off the fish and scampi in summer (unless you know your stuff): it'll most probably be farmed, frozen, Scottish or all three and not cheap.
In Albania, the few marinas have good security, but in Durres I've heard it best to moor near the police boats (but this may be out of date). Security not an issue elsewhere.

 

[charles_reed]

Albania, no charges when there and great welcome. Montenegro, reports of a ridiculously priced carnet, Croatia, carnet expensive (but probably worth it) persistent and inspired ploys to part you from cash (don't eat out, avoid the S coast Cavtat-Sibenik).

Ironically for those who are interested in working currents, there is favourable N-going current on the E side of the Adriatic, though usually not as strong as the S-going one on the other side (I've recorded 2kts just S of Brindisi) and fewer headwinds.

However Istria has a completely different attitude, regarding yachties as people, not waterborne and bottomless pots of exploitative opportunity.

 

[Metabarca]

However Istria has a completely different attitude, regarding yachties as people, not waterborne and bottomless pots of exploitative opportunity.

This is not the place for what would descend into a historical diatribe, Charles, but there are reasons for this: Venetian for centuries, then it became Austria-Hungary, then Italy. All the coastal towns were based on trade and have had a cultural life for yonks.

 

[seasaildave]

In restaurants, keep off the fish and scampi in summer (unless you know your stuff): it'll most probably be farmed, frozen, Scottish or all three and not cheap.

If its bream or bass will be farmed in the med somewhere.... worth every penny if its scottish seafood!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

However Istria has a completely different attitude, regarding yachties as people, not waterborne and bottomless pots of exploitative opportunity.

Not my experience. I bought my boat from a dealer based in Novigrad in Istria and I found their charges outrageous, so much so that I moved my boat up the coast to Monfalcone in Italy where I got good service at an acceptable price. I'm currently moored in Marina Frapa in Rogoznica near Split and I've used the maintenance services offered by the marina over the summer and they seem to be reasonable although to be fair, I've yet to see their charges for big ticket items like engine servicing

 

[Gypsy]

More and more cruisers are passing through Albania now without problems. It is nowhere near as interesting coast as Montenegro or Croatia but is no longer dangerous. Take a look at Noonsite.com in the Country Reports section for information on Albania and contacts for port clearances.