Croatia - The Eldorado for Sailing and Water Sports

Think of a part of the Mediterranean that is almost untouched by human development, where the seaside resorts sit nestled between thick pine forests and Roman ruins and where nature parks cover most of the islands that sit baking in the sun. If you're thinking that such a place sounds nice, you may want to charter a yacht to Croatia this holiday.

A recent addition to the Mediterranean tourism industry, Croatia sure does make up for the years spent in blissful anonymity. The reason why it quickly came back to the attention of the yacht charter circuit is particularly because of the unspoiled beauty of the scenery and the infrastructure which is more than capable of handling and accommodating large numbers of yachties (and in style too).

Sailing is done along the 1778km of fringed coastline which also includes such famous archipelagos as Kornati with its ancient towns and quiet fishing villages, so perfect for sailing crews on the lookout for a peaceful retreat. Despite the fact that Croatia was an overlooked location until the early 90s, the country has a rich history when it comes to tourism, starting with wealthy Romans which built here summer homes (the famous Palace of Diocletian is among the most visited up to this day). You’ll find lots of Roman ruins scattered along the coast up to this day.

The reasons for this particular stretch of coast bordering the calm and clean waters of the Adriatic is the lovely scenery and the fine weather, not to mention the secluded feeling one gets when gazing upon the dark green pine woods which seem to have grown here since the beginning of time.

If you’re looking for ideas on where to steer your boat or where to moor it, here are the most popular and most attractive sailing places in Croatia: first, there the Istria peninsula, the large Kvarner Bay with its many large ports, the famous Dalmatia seaside and the heralded Kornati archipelago which is visited every year by thousands of sailors in search of peace and tranquility.

One of the joys of sailing in the Croatian Adriatic is the discovery of new places which are out of reach of the normal public. Many times you’ll be taken back by the beauty and serenity of some old fishing town and its quaint harbor. Such places can be found on the many islands of the Kornati archipelago like Cres, Krk and Mali Losinj and are a real strong point of local yacht charter businesses.

The official statistics for Croatia mention some 50 marinas (but the number will increase in the following years as there are mane new marinas being built) which can offer mooring to up to 16000 boats on the water and 5000 more in dry berths on land. A thing worth mentioning here is the relative novelty of the local establishments, which were almost all built in the last 30 years (the majority in the last decade actually), making them well-equipped and in good condition compared to other places in the Mediterranean.

And since we’re talking strong points of Croatian marinas, let’s also mention the above than average density you’ll encounter here, a real blessing for those skippers and crews looking for easy, one-day sailing trips. The fact that most marinas are close together means you don’t have to do much sailing in order to get to your next anchoring point and there’s also the added bonus of having many itinerary options to choose from.

However, if you’d like to get away from the hustle and bustles of modern life, you can always moor in one of the 1500 coves along the Croatian shores, 200 of which can hold more than 20 boats at a time.

Sailing is serious business in Croatia, it’s a known fact, and the locals have even set up the ACI company, a prestigious organization (Adriatic Croatia International) that has many marinas along the Croatian shore which are equipped for high standards sailors but also sets up numerous regattas and maintains close ties with neighboring countries when it comes to sailing.

So for a nice sailing trip that offers just good time and no nasty surprises you should really consider heading to Croatia for the summer. From April to October the Croatian seaside awaits you with wonderful scenery, fine weather, exquisite cuisine and the promise of an unforgettable experience.