Booking Guide

The coastline is almost 2,000 km long with more than 600 islands in the Adriatic Sea alone. This means there is a range of sailing possibilities. Sail on a calm sea with a gentle wind in the shelter of the islands without having to cover longer distances, or on the open sea with all that it involves. Marinas with high-quality services are close to each other and currently there are more than 50 available.
Pula and the Kvarner Gulf (Kvarner Bay) +
The low-lying, undulating western coastline of the Istrian peninsula is a popular holiday destination. This area is a paradise for sailors and passionate hikers. But it also has something to offer families with kids with its numerous sandy beaches and warm sea.
The eastern coast of Istria is more suitable for those who prefer mooring in more peaceful bays. The Kvarner islands are pleasant, full of romantic bays, and offer a choice between secluded mooring spots and more bustling harbours such as Mali Lošinj, Rab, Krk, and Cres. Many beaches in the region around Istria and the Kvarner Gulf have received the international “Blue Flag” award.

Zadar is the main resort in Northern Dalmatia. It is a city steeped in history, full of monuments, colours and gastronomical delights. The local cuisine ranks among the healthiest in the world and has rightly been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The countless islands, harbours, and bays between Dugi Otok and Šibenik create the ideal conditions in Northern Dalmatia for a sailing holiday in the very heart of nature. Those who crave some nightlife will find what they’re looking for in Zadar and Vodice.
Places well worth a visit include the Telaščica Nature Park, south of Dugi Otok, with its saltwater lake and steep white cliffs, and Paklenica Nature Park, a true paradise for hikers and climbers.

Šibenik is the oldest city on the Adriatic coastline. This ancient city boasts a diverse culture and a rich history. From Šibenik, you can sail upstream all the way to Skradin. From there you can walk to the Krka waterfalls, offering some of the most impressive natural scenery.
We also recommend a visit to Kornati, a national park and the largest Croatian archipelago.
The turquoise sea lining the coastline contrasts with the green inland, which is backdropped by majestic mountains and acropolis cities.

Distances between the harbours and bays are somewhat longer here than in the north. Even so, there are still some awe-inspiring locations, whether it be the beautiful mountainous coastline along the Makarska Riviera, the picturesque island of Vis, or the island of Biševo with its hypnotising Blue Cave.
You can also visit the ancient cities of Trogir and Split with their characteristic architecture. And certainly worth seeing is the island of Hvar and the town of Stari Grad, packed full of well-preserved historical monuments.

A diverse area full of contradictions, it is quieter and further away from the busier northerly regions. The ancient town of Korčula is charming, as is the so-called “green island”, the Mljet National Park with its breathtaking scenery, home to the popular bays of Polače and Okuklje. You can also visit the arboretum on the island of Lokrum. From here, you can easily reach Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and a UNESCO site. Dubrovnik is magnificent and steeped in history. It is also renowned for its nightlife. If you are looking for a quieter spot, there is the more secluded island of Lastovo.
From Dubrovnik, you can easily reach the Bay of Kotor, a Montenegrin bay stretching far inland.

Can I rent a boat without skipper?
Only a person with a captain’s licence can charter a boat. The skipper will then be responsible for the boat and crew for the entire time, whether on the open sea or in the marina.
Do you have a captain’s licence?
Having your own captain’s licence allows you to charter most recreational sailboats and motorboats anywhere in the world. Sailors usually get one of these skipper’s licences:
• RYA Day Skipper, which is valid for a small boat/yacht in familiar waters by day.
• RYA Coastal Skipper, which is valid for sailing on coastal passages by day and night
• Croatian captain’s licence, which is normally valid for sailing up to 12 NM offshore only in Croatia, but if you come from an inland country such as Austria, Czech Republic … this license is also valid in other countries such as Greece, Italy, Turkey …

Can I rent a boat with skipper?
Take your first sail under the guidance of a professional skipper. We’ve known our homegrown captains for years and so we know they have extensive sailing experience. We’ve sailed with them ourselves even in harsh conditions and they are highly-praised by participants on sport sailing trips and skipper course practical’s.

Choosing a suitable boat should be guided by your skippering experience (motorboats are easier to handle), price (sailboats are usually cheaper) and comfort requirements (catamarans are spacious). Among our skippers, sailboats are the clear winners. They are affordable, there are hundreds of models to choose from, each offering different handling features, and they lend themselves to sportier sailing and sail trimming. Still, it doesn’t hurt to take a look at the range of catamarans and motorboats available as well. Each type of boat has something to offer and you should try everything once.

Sailboats are iconic in the yachting world. They are ideal for dynamic sport sailing and most sailors start (and stay) with them. They generally eclipse the types of boat with their undeniable advantages:

• Charter companies have more of them than any other boat and there is plenty of choice
•  Cheaper to rent than a catamaran
• Cheaper running costs and mooring fees
• More likely to find a free space in an overcrowded marina
• Allows for agile sport sailing and optimal heel angle
• Better pitch when sailing on a broad reach or close-hauled
• More nimble than a catamaran and easier to maneuver

Catamarans are gaining popularity, especially among families with children. Thanks to their two hulls, they are more spacious and stable. They also tend to be equipped with extra equipment, such as a barbecue.

• Easier to operate than a sailboat
• Sailing is less tiring thanks to a lower heel angle
• Lower risk of seasickness
• Faster than a sailboat except when on an upwind course
  + Has a shallower draft so can access places a sailboat can’t

Motorboats can whizz across the water at a breakneck speed that a sailboat or catamaran just cannot compete with and you don’t need to know how to handle sails to enjoy a cruise.

• Can be steered by less experienced sailors
• Tend to be more comfortable than sailboats
• You can enjoy a really fast cruise

The yachting season starts in April and finishes at the end of October. Summers are hot and relatively calm on the Adriatic. Air temperature on the islands is lower than on the surrounding mainland, with heat waves not being so intense. Typically, if the Bora or Sirocco winds blow, they only last for a relatively short time. Windstorms occur unexpectedly in the summer but are quick to pass.

The Adriatic is generally regarded as a region with light winds. In summer, it is mostly deadly calm at night and early morning along the eastern coastline, with an occasional light breeze. During the day, winds especially pleasant for sailing blow from the northwest. Less suitable yachting conditions can be found around the eastern coastline of Istria, along the coastline between Rijeka and the Novigrad Sea, and between Split and Ulcinj.

A southwesterly to northwesterly wind known as the Mistral (sometimes called the Maestral or Maestro) predominates in the Adriatic from the start of June to mid-September. This wind is caused by daytime thermals, which are columns of rising air formed by the uneven heating of the mainland and sea.

It usually starts blowing around 10:00 in the morning and can reach a strength of 3 to 5 on the Beaufort scale (BFT) in the afternoon. At sunset it stops again. The Mistral is considered to be a fair-weather wind because it is accompanied by a cloudless, blue sky and pleasant temperatures at sea. If it does not persist the next day, this could be a sign that the weather is worsening. In recent years, the Mistral has blown somewhat less frequently than previously. But it still does occur, particularly in the area around the outer islands.

The Bora is specific to the eastern coastline of the Adriatic and is a dangerous wind. Mainly when there is high pressure and the sky is clear, gusts of stormy winds start to blow from a blue sky in the northeast, descending to the surface and swelling up in blankets of foam across the sea and islands. The occurrence of the Bora is mainly caused by the Dinaric Alps which run parallel to the eastern coastline of the Adriatic. These mountains are not fully interrupted by any deep lateral valley through which the cold wind between the mountains could flow to the sea. Another condition for the creation of a Bora is the difference in air pressure between the inland and the Adriatic. The greater the difference in pressure, the more likely and more dangerous the Bora will be.

The Sirocco blows from southerly directions, mainly from the southeast, and only differs from the Mistral in wind direction. The weather it brings to the Adriatic is accompanied by humidity, overcast skies, and frequent showers. Sometimes, especially in winter, the Sirocco reaches gale force. Between mid-June and mid-September, the Sirocco rarely appears. In summer, it lasts for 2–3 days and almost never reaches a strength of more than 7 BFT.

However, from October to May, this wind blows significantly more often, longer, and with greater force, up to 9 BFT. Because the Sirocco blows a long distance over the sea, it creates large waves 3–4 m high, especially in the northern Adriatic. There are dangerous places near the northern Italian coastline where waves can reach all the way down to the bottom of the sea. But the Sirocco is preceded by clear signs, so it is possible to prepare for it in time.

Lovers of good food and drink will find Croatian cuisine to be extremely diverse. Each region has its own specialities which you should definitely sample. Fried, roasted, grilled, baked — there are dozens of methods used to prepare the renowned delicacies here.

The finest of all specialities is the white truffle. This rare and expensive fungus grows in the very heart of Istria. It is regarded as a culinary gem and a powerful aphrodisiac. The local cuisine offers up other specialities such as fatty sea fish, sardines in a spicy sauce and scallops.
One of the symbols of Croatian cuisine is the unique and delicious Parma ham (prosciutto). Its tenderness and exquisite flavour will be loved by all true gourmets. The best time to sample it is at the end of August (the longer it is dried, the better) and is mostly served with sheep cheese and olives.
The Croatians drink wine almost as if it were water. To quench their thirst, wine is diluted: red wine with water is called “bevanda”, white wine with mineral water is called “gemišt”. But if you want to really savour the flavour of the wine, drink it undiluted.

The maximum permitted speed in harbours, bays, channels and Croatian rivers to the Adriatic is 3–8 kn (knots). Fast motorboats and sailing yachts travelling over waves must keep a minimum distance of 300 m from the shore. For slow boats (up to 12 m in length), the minimum distance from the shore or from the floating chain around the beach is 50 m. For yachts more than 12 m long, the minimum distance is 150 m. Boats and yachts may come within 150 m of beaches that are not marked off.

Booking begins with choosing a boat. More experienced sailors usually have the type of boat and location in mind. From the thousands of boats we offer, they filter out a few candidates and request a specific boat and date. Others let us know the sort of holiday, location and date they’re interested in and have us recommend a suitable boat. Either way, the whole process is basically the same.
1. You enquire about a boat with us
Either click the “Book” button on a selected boat or Quick Enquiry button. You can reach us by phone at +385 91 734 5661, by email at info@dubrovnikboatandyacht.com or by clicking the WhatsApp chat icon in the bottom corner.
2. We will get back to you
Together we will refine your request. This is the perfect time to ask about additional services such as cancellation and deposit, early check-in, paddleboard hire, an additional dinghy motor, or life jackets and lifeline netting for children. Of course, everything can be arranged after the fact, but while we have your ear…
3. We’ll send you a quote
And not just one. We’ll send you a quote for 2 to 5 of the most suitable boats for you. There you will find the total price of the charter, including mandatory fees and any additional services (insurance, paddleboard, additional sails…) so you can go through it all at your own pace.

4. You sign the contract by paying down a deposit
When you book a boat, you pay a deposit for the charter. This is usually 20, 25 or 50 % of the total price. The rest of the amount generally needs to be paid no later than 30 days prior to sailing. These conditions vary from charter to charter, but you always know them in advance as they are in the draft contract we send.
All that’s left to do is check in. This is done directly with the charter staff at the marina. Until then, you can discuss tips on itineraries, marinas, sights, local attractions and specialties.