Croatia Yacht Charter

Croatia is an incredible holiday destination, boasting a vibrant and bustling culture that you’ll love from the second you step foot on the Marina!

At The Moorings, we’re committed to making your holiday as relaxing as possible which is why we’re providing useful planning, pre-departure and travel information for you. From servicing airports to base arrival procedures, it will tell you what to expect to make your holiday smooth and carefree, so you can be lounging in the sun up on the deck of one of our yachts in no time at all.

Download our comprehensive  The Moorings Agana Base eGuide for more information about what to expect when you prepare to set sail across the Adriatic sea!

General Travel Information for Croatia

To help you learn more about where you’ll be exploring, take a look at our Croatia fact file:

Area: 35,134 sq. mi c 
Population: 4,489,409 
Capital city: Zagreb 
Currency: Euros 
People: Croat, Serb, other (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) 
Language: Croatian, Serbian, other and (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) 
Religion: Roman Catholic, Orthodox , other Christian, Muslim, other 
Government: Presidential/Parliamentary Democracy 
Cuisine: Black risotto, Peka, Brudet, Seafood dishes, Boškarin, Zagorski štrukli and other delicious dishes

Croatia is easy to travel around, whether you fly to an airport before heading to Agana Marina or take a ferry. With fantastic facilities and amenities, you’ll never be stuck or left wanting anything, whether you’re looking for a mouth watering restaurant, clothing shop or medical treatment. The best part? Croatia is renowned around the world for its friendly locals, who’ll be more than happy to share the most impressive hidden gems and must-visit places on each of the islands!

How to get to Croatia and Agana

Arrival by plane

At The Moorings, we organize a lot of flights for our customers to take the stress away before you even step aboard one of our yachts. We can offer some fantastic rates, so be sure to contact our in-house flight specialist at 866.649.2003 before you book your flights.

Split Airport (SPU) is situated south from Trogir town, making the ride to Marina Agana a short 30-minute trip north. To get to the center of Split town, which is further south from the airport, it will take approximately 40 minutes.

The distance from the Split airport to the base in Marina Agana is 12 miles. The transfer takes approximately 30 minutes and costs vary by the number of people:

Split Airport – Agana Marina 
1-3 persons; 58€ 
4-7 persons; 97€ 
8+ persons; 12€/person

If you’re looking for a car rental to drive from the airport to Marina Agana, Avis, Budget and Hertz are located at the airport.

Arrival by Ferry

It is possible to get to Marina Agana from Ancona, Pescara (Italy), via Split. It takes approximately 9 hours by ferry or 5 hours by hydrofoil. From April to September, during the Croatia sailing season, there is a daily connection by ferry and hydrofoil.

Parking at the base

Parking is available at Marina Agana for clients arriving by car for 75 HRK per day or 350 HRK per week and must be arranged and paid for at the main reception desk locally.

Overnight Options

There’s a brilliant number of different mooring options in Croatia: Marinas, Town Quays or Harbors, Mooring Buoys and Anchorages. It really couldn’t be easier to moor up and explore the beauties of the Dalmatian Islands! Anchoring is possible almost everywhere, but please don’t do it if you notice an UPSIDE DOWN ANCHOR because it means no anchorage is allowed.

Mooring buoys are either owned by a restaurant, in which case you are expected to dine with them (just call ahead and make dinner reservations in order to book a buoy), or they are under concession which means you have to pay for your stay (usually around 200 – 300 Kn for a monohull yacht). If you anchor closer than 300m from buoys or harbours under concession, you will be charged the same fee.

Town quays or harbors are NOT the same thing as a marina. They are cheaper, non-reservable, cash-only facilities and they DO NOT use VHF 17 for contact upon approach. Some have their own frequency, but most of them operate on line of sight and on a first come, first served basis. Much like marinas, most of them have water, electricity and shower facilities, but are much more affordable in price (400 – 500 Kuna for a 40-foot monohull).

The most wide-spread brand of marinas in Croatia is the Adriatic Club International (ACI). All of the marinas in Croatia respond to VHF ch. 17 for communication upon arrival.

All mooring fees are dependent on the size of your yacht and the marina/quay pricing policy, and for catamarans the prices are always +50 or 80% of the listed price.

Dinghy Docks

There are rarely specially-appointed docks along Croatian coast that are referred to as “dinghy docks”. However, it is very easy to get with your dinghy wherever you need, just make sure you don’t lose it along the way. 

Out top tips for docking dinghies include:

• Dinghies can be pulled up the beach and left there for a while, but make sure you don’t damage the outboard engine while doing so and that the tide (although small) doesn’t drag it away. 
• There is also ample space for the small dinghy along the town quays and harbors, just make sure you are not in somebody’s spot or in the way of the ferry or a larger boat. 
• Try to squeeze between local boats, taking care of other people’s property. 
• Ensure you have tied it to the best of your ability so you find it where you left it. The general rule is not to take your dinghy further than 300 meters away from your yacht.

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Boarding Time/Check Out

Boarding Time Procedures 
Charter Boarding Time: 3:00 PM 
Sleep Aboard Time: Not available  
Briefing Times: Boat & Chart briefings are personalized and arranged upon arrival. 

All skippers must attend a Boat Briefing where all of the yacht’s operations will be explained, inclusive Safety briefing, dinghy and outboard usage etc. We kindly ask you read through the Briefing List provided upon your Check In, ensuring you meet with your technician ready. A Chart Briefing of the area is held. We recommend participating in order to get local information on current weather and details on various destinations on the region.  

Late Arrivals  
The base personnel will wait for you until 19:00 pm. After 19:00 pm, you will find a letter at the reception door with a message indicating your yacht’s name and berth. Your boat will be open and there will be a sign on board with your name. The boat’s equipment will be ready for the night. The base personnel will be at your disposal the next day from 8:30 am and will then handover the boat to you.

Check Out Procedures
Return to Base: 18:00 the night before disembarkation. Disembarkation is at 9:00 AM the following morning.

A debriefing and final walkthrough will be done upon return so please allow enough time to complete this before the charter end time. Agana base offers a Morning Yacht Return Option, but availability and prices vary from boat to boat, so make sure to ask at reception for more details. 

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What’s on Board

Provisioning 
Moorings Care packages are included on every yacht. These packages contain some of the basics to get you started for your holiday. Additional items are available to be purchased and delivered directly to your yacht. Visit our Provisioning Page to learn more.

Mobile phones  
Check with your service provider for information about cell coverage in this region. Using your own GSM mobile phone in conjunction with a prepaid SIM card is also very popular and convenient.  Telephone and internet facilities are available in marina Agana. 

Music/iPods  
While most of our newer boats have Bluetooth capability, we cannot guarantee all boats are outfitted with this equipment. For your convenience, we highly recommend you bring an AUX cord so you can listen to music from your mobile devices.

Electricity
230V AC, 50 HZ, two-pin plugs are standard. All yachts are equipped with power cords, a battery charger and 220V plugs. The piers in the Marina are equipped with 220 V outlets. The inventory includes an adaptor. The piers of the other marinas are generally equipped with 220V outlets. You will find numerous 12V USB ports throughout your yacht, so we recommend you bring a USB charger for your phones.

Coolers
Every The Moorings catamaran is equipped with a cooler on board. 

For more information on what’s included on your yacht, please view the full list here for Bareboat Charters or here for Crewed Charters.

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What to Bring

Customs & Immigration
Entry, exit, and visa requirements depend on the locations you are departing from and traveling to. You are responsible for having the correct documents so make sure to check with the consulate of the countries you plan to visit before you travel. Visit travel.state.gov for the latest information.

Cruising Licenses 
A formal sailing license is mandatory to charter here so make sure you pack your original sailing license. Review the power or sail requirements for Croatia while planning your holiday. Please contact our Holiday Planners at 0330 332 1513 if you have any questions.

Skippers on bareboat charters are required to have a formal VHF license. A list of officially accepted licences is available at the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs.

It is imperative that you bring these sailing certificates or sailing qualifications with you. You will not be able to sail without these papers, and failure to supply information in advance could delay your departure from the base. The sailing experience you provide on your booking confirmation is required as proof of sailing experience for the Croatian Port Authorities. Please bring any sailing certificates or sailing qualifications with you.

Luggage & Packing List 
Soft-sided luggage or duffel bags are best, as luggage storage space on your yacht may be limited. We have no facilities for holding luggage at the base. Pack lightly and review our suggested packing list for required and necessary items to bring.

• Pack essential prescription medicine and change of clothing in a carry-on bag*
• Passport and other travel documentation and original sailing license
• Tickets and paper confirmations for pre-planned activities
• Light-coloured, light-weight clothing
• Formal wear for upscale dining establishments
• Swimwear and cover-up
• Hats and sunglasses
• Sandals and flip-flops
• Athletic shoes and hiking boots
• Travel-sized toiletries and hygiene products
• Insect repellent and OTC pain relievers/ointments
• AUX cable for playing music through your device
• 12V DC to 110V AC power inverter (for boats without generators**)
• 12V to USB power adapter for charging mobile devices

*We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your luggage may arrive at the base after you do.

**All boats include a 12V DC outlet (a “car” outlet). Boats with generators have 110V outlets in the Caribbean and 220V in the Mediterranean and Exotic locations.

Drones
The use of flying drones may be restricted in some areas. For current drone regulations in this destination, please visit here.

Currency 
Official currency used in Croatia is Euro.

Credit Cards: 
Visa and Master Card are accepted. 
American Express accepted at rare locations.

Please Note: This base cannot accept cash, American Express and Diners Club.

Traveler’s Checks are not accepted. Exchange offices can be found on the airport or in numerous towns along the islands, included one in Marina Agana (open daily in high season), offering a better exchange rate than the bank. 

Gratuity 
Tipping in Croatia is expected in all establishments, especially in restaurants and nautical-related venues. 10-15% is considered polite, although it is dependent mostly on the customer’s satisfaction.

Taxes & Fees
We highly recommend bringing enough of the local currency to cover mooring fee costs as they are not always payable by debit and/or credit cards. Please see our local eGuide for additional information.

Security Deposit 
A security deposit must be paid at the base by Visa or Master Card and is refundable at the end of your charter subject to there being no loss or damage. To significantly decrease your security deposit, purchase our Yacht Damage Waiver insurance ahead of time.

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Health & Safety

Vaccination and Immunization Information
This destination is generally risk-free of contagious disease. Visit cdc.gov for the latest information.

Travel Advice   
Your health and safety are important to us. For advice on how to stay safe while on charter, please review our Travel Advice Information. Current travel and safety information can be obtained by visiting travel.state.gov

Swim Safe 

Swimming is often a fun and important part of a holiday. However local rules, flag systems, currents and where swimming may be permitted, can be different and vary from country to country. Snorkel vests, Life Jackets and Diver Down flags are all available on board. 

Children

• Talk to children about water safety at the start of a holiday, making them aware of the potential dangers.
• Accidents can happen at any time on holiday, but often they happen on the first and last day, so keep watch and do not get distracted when your children are playing by, or in the water.
• Children in or near water should always be supervised by an adult and never left unattended. 
• Get in the water with them, it is easier to keep an eye on them as well as good fun. Floatation devices are highly recommended for children but are not a substitute for supervision.

Be aware of your surroundings

• Check warning flags and signage on the beach and only swim where it is permitted. 
• Beware of dangerous currents, these can be very powerful. Not all beaches have lifeguards and/or warning flags.
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth and marine life.
• Never swim where a sign says not to e.g. in zoned areas for jet boats or jet skis.
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol.

Look out for others

• Never swim alone, ‘buddy up’ with others in your party and use the snorkel vests provided.
• Know how and where to get help. If you see someone in difficulty; raise the alarm, preferably the emergency services. Ensure you know the correct number for the country you are in.

Do not overestimate your ability

• Consider swimming lessons before you go if you think it would be useful to learn proper swimming technique.
• Even if you regularly swim in a pool, remember that open water swimming can be very different.

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets, harnesses, snorkel vests & diver down flags. You can see all this equipment demonstrated in our online safety briefing, and we strongly recommend that you make use this equipment during your holiday. This safety equipment will be displayed in the saloon of your boat on boarding – If you have any questions feel free to ask our base staff during your briefing. 

We have a very limited supply of children’s life jackets on base so highly recommend that if you are travelling with children, you bring their own. This ensures that children have correctly fitting jackets that are comfortable for them.  

Children should not be allowed in the dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and should wear a buoyancy aid or harness whilst on deck. 

Children under the age of 16 should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy. 

Travel Insurance 
The Moorings offers comprehensive travel insurance for your peace of mind. If you have your own travel insurance, verify that it covers the destinations and activities of your Moorings holiday.

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Base Guide

Whether this is your fifth trip or the first of many, we want you to feel at home when you’re at a Moorings base. At Marina Agana, we welcome you to explore the base before boarding and setting sail from Agana. You may also wish to read our base eGuide for local information that you can download as pdf and even print a copy to bring with you.

About the Moorings Marina Agana Base

Address  
Marina Agana, Marina  
Dr. Franje Tudmana 5  
21222 Marina, Croatia  
Tel: 00 385 21 889 477

The What3Words code for the reception at our Agana base is strands.vineyards.swoon

Time Zone 
UTC/GMT +2 hours

Base Hours

This destination is closed from mid-November to the end of March, but in the high season, the base is open from Sunday-Thursday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and Friday-Saturday from 8.30am to 7pm. If you are arriving at our base outside of working hours, please try to inform the base staff beforehand.

A letter of arrival will be waiting for you on the reception doors, detailing the whereabouts of your yacht and further procedure. The yacht will be prepared for you with lights left on and the name of the head charterer written on a table visible from the dock.

Should you need support during your holiday, contact the Tourist Information Center. You can get in touch with the Tourist office in Marina on  
+385 983 605 96.

Marina Facilities

Facilities in the base and Marina town include:

• Numerous restaurants and bars
• Internet access on the docks
• Toilet and shower facilities open 24/7
• Electricity and water on the docks
• Two well-stocked supermarkets
• Exchange office (open in high season)
• ATM
• Ice machine

Please note: This base cannot accept cash, American Express and Diners Club.

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Cruising Permits & Taxes

Croatian tourism tax will be collected upon arrival at the base unless you paid for it in advance with your booking agent. The cost is 10 HRK per person/per day and must be paid for the duration of your charter. There’s no charge for children under 12.

It is essential that we have all of the following details in advance for every member of your crew so that your boat papers can be prepared:

• Full name
• Date and place of birth
• Nationality
• Passport number/ID card number

It is imperative that you bring these details and original sailing license with you as the Croatian Authorities do regular checks on the water. You will not be able to sail without these papers, and failure to supply information in advance could delay your departure from the base.

Cruising Grounds

All of our yachts are licensed for sailing in Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia. If you are planning to leave Croatian waters please contact our reception at least one week in advance so that we can prepare cruising permits and the necessary documentation. 

A formal sailing license is mandatory to charter in Croatia. Review the power or sail requirements for Croatia while planning your holiday to ensure you have the necessary skills and qualifications to take the helm and sail into the sunset! Please note that it is strictly forbidden to sail alone, we require two persons minimum on board at any one time.

There are no special restrictions in Croatian waters, although please pay attention to protected areas like Natural and National Parks that require additional tickets for your yacht. Also, National park Kornati and Nature park Lastovo are outside of the sailing region, so The Moorings  4-hour commitment doesn’t apply. 

There is no law in Croatia that forbids night sailing, however, we advise strongly against it due to insurance. The base doesn’t give out permissions for night sailing. 

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are to be found onboard, including small and big scale charts, pilot book and chart book, all issued by the Croatian government and up-to-date.

For more information on preparing for your dream yacht charter in Croatia, download The Moorings Agana Cruising eGuide or contact our holiday Planners if you have any questions.

Around the base

Some of our local accommodation options include:

• SKY beach hotel (just 3 minutes by car from Agana base)
• sky-beach.com 00 385 97 74 40 500 holiday@sky-beach.com
• Hotel Pašike in Trogir hotelpasike.com 00 385 21 885 185 info@hotelpasike.com
• Hotel Ola in Trogir (adults only) hotelola.hr 00 385 21 798 600 ola@hotleola.hr
• Radisson Blu in Split radissonblu.com 00 385 21 303 030 info.split@radissonblu.com
• Cornaro Hotel in Split cornarohotel.com 00 385 21 644 200 info@cornarohotel.com
• Perla Resort in Rogoznica perla-resort.com 00 385 99 293 8743 perlaresort@kruscica.com
• Hotel Zora in Primošten hotelzora-adriatiq.com 00 385 (0)22 581 111 hotel-zora@adriatiq.com

Marina town doesn’t have any banks. The closest ones are found in Trogir town to the south or Rogoznica and Primošten towns to the north.  

The post office is next to Studenac supermarket. Open Mondays 8am to 5pm, Tuesday – Friday 8am – 2.30pm but closed on the weekend.

Food and Drink

Marina Agana is situated in the center of a lovely village with a couple of very nice restaurants. If you need a table for a group, reservations are required. The base customer service will be pleased to book a reservation for you.

Here are some of our favorite suggestions:

• Kod Duje 00 385 21 889 563
• Konoba Marina 00 385 91 5142 749
• Konoba Hila 00 385 91 7820 076
• Sky rooftop bar & restaurant 00 385 97 7440 500

There are also two well-stocked supermarkets in Marina town, both just a 5 minute walk away from the marina. Tommy Store will let you borrow their shopping trolley and leave it in the base while Studenac supermarket will do a free-of-charge delivery to your yacht!

At The Moorings, to make your trip smooth sailing, we also offer online provisioning. Your provisioning must be ordered 3 days prior to the start date of your Agana yacht charter. Learn more about The Moorings provisioning and getting delivery direct to your yacht.

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Cruising Conditions

The popularity of the Croatian coast as a sailing destination lies as much in the ideal climate as in the beauty of its shores and variety of sailing conditions. With glorious temperatures, a small tidal range and a long sailing season, the cruising conditions in Croatia are truly wonderful.

What is the weather like in Croatia?

The sunny Adriatic enjoys an average of 315 cloudless days per year! In April-May, you’ll enjoy warm temperatures from 22-28 C, winds generally between 10-20 knots (sometimes up to 25 knots) and only occasional showers.

If you’re planning to sail the open waters in June-August, you’ll be able to soak up the sun with beautiful blue skies every day and sizzling temperatures between 26-30 C. Similarly to April-May, you’ll find winds of around 10-20 knots.

Towards the end of the sailing season in Croatia, you’ll enjoy lovely temperatures of 14-25 C in September and 10-19 C in October. Winds in September-October are generally the same as April-May and July-August, but they can be stronger, with rain possible in late October.

When is the best time to sail in Croatia?

Croatia’s sailing season runs between April-November. During this very popular chartering season, blue skies and warm weather prevail. Summers are hot and dry whereas winters are very mild with short spells of rain as in the Balearics or Corsica. Sailors must however be careful as the weather can change very quickly.

What are the dominant winds in Croatia?

• The Bura: A dry, cold wind. As it is north-easterly, it mainly blows from the east coast of the Adriatic from land to sea. It brings fine weather and, because of the configuration of the land, it blows locally with varying force and from various directions ranging from N to ENE. 
  The relief of the east of the Adriatic causes the local Bura winds to blow in strong gusts and to begin unexpectedly. The force of the Bura may vary from a light breeze to more intense.
  
• The Sirocco: A warm, humid wind blowing from ESE to SSE. It blows the entire length of the Adriatic coast and brings rough seas. The sky thickly clouds and there is almost always prolonged rain. It reaches its greatest force in the South Adriatic. It can blow at any time of the year. On average it blows at force 16-20 knots.
• The Maestral: By day, the land surface gets more heated than the surface of the sea and, as a result, air currents begin to rise up from the land and at a certain distance are drawn down towards the sea, causing land-sea circulation. The Maestral is usually characterized by white cumulus clouds denoting fine weather. It begins usually to blow between 9-10 am and reaches its maximum force about 2 pm. Its usual force is around 16-20 knots, but it always dies away before sunset.

Concerned about navigating the dominant winds in Croatia? Relax in the knowledge that our experienced base crew will support you every step of your holiday, and you can even hire a skipper to guide you around the majestic Dalmatian Islands!

Historical Weather (Averages by month):

Month	°F Max	°F Min	°C Max	°C Min	Ave Precip (in)	Ave Precip (mm)	Ave Water Temp (°F)	Ave Water Temp (°C)	Ave Wind Speed
January	46	34	8	1	3.7	95	57	14	6
February	50	36	10	2	3.4	86	57	14	6
March	54	39	12	4	3.5	89	57	14	9
April	61	46	16	8	3.2	82	57	14	9
May	70	54	21	12	2.7	69	63	17	8
June	77	59	25	15	2.9	74	70	21	5
July	82	63	28	17	1.8	46	75	24	5
August	82	63	28	17	2.5	64	77	25	5
September	77	57	25	14	3.0	75	73	23	5
October	66	50	19	10	4.0	102	68	20	5
November	57	43	14	6	5.3	134	63	17	5
December	50	37	10	3	5.0	127	59	15	5

What are the tides like in Croatia?

Much like our other incredible Mediterranean yacht charter destinations in Greece and Italy, the tides are relatively minimal in Croatia.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, the tidal range is very small: 30 cm to 60 cm (one to two feet depending on location) including the variation of level due to atmospheric pressure and dominant winds.

The average tidal range in Dubrovnik is around 22cm, while in Split it is approximately 23cm. Elsewhere in Croatia, you can expect to see a range of up to 47cm, such as in Rovinj.

Where can I find the weather forecast for Croatia?

When you arrive at our Agana base, we will provide you with a weather forecast for the next 24 hours. Harbour Offices receive a weather forecast regularly; this is the best and most reliable source of weather information. 

On your VHF watch channels you can follow the transmitting time of meteorological reports, and navigation warnings. This information is broadcast by mainland radio station in English at following times: 

SPLIT RADIO (Split, Šibenik, Hvar area) – Broadcasting at 7:45 14:45 21:45 on channels 07, 21, 23, 28, 81, 67

DUBROVNIK RADIO (Dubrovnik area) – Broadcasting at 8:25 15:20 23:20 on channels 04, 07, 81, 85

Of course, you can also check the weather forecast online. Check out the official Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service website for more information about Croatian weather. We also recommend participating in the local chart and area briefing for the best advice on current weather.