Tips for Fans of Boating in Croatia

Refreshing breeze, open sea, uninhabited islands, beautiful beaches with no one around. Indeed, boating sounds very inviting and a definite must-try on holiday. The lucky ones who have their own boat, love Croatia and its wonderfully indented coastline and numerous islands to explore. Still, there are a few things to bear in mind before heading to the Croatian coast by car towing a boat.

Lawfully sailing

Since Croatia became a member state of the European Union, the procedure to enter the country by a vehicle trailering a boat may have become simplified particularly for EU citizens, but Croatian laws and regulations still apply and need to be followed in any case. Upon entering the country  by land, foreign visitors can expect to go through standard procedure of passport control, but former customs regulations no longer apply. This basically means that EU citizens have the same rights as Croatians to bring their boat for personal use. 
Once the chosen holiday destination is reached and before actually setting sail, a visit to the nearest harbourmaster’s office or its branch is necessary in order to acquire the permission to sail. Even though the toll-stickers or the so-called ‘vignettes’, are out of use, boat owners have to pay certain fees in any case, such as the Navigation Safety and Pollution Prevention Fee valid for the whole year and charged according to the size and engine power of the boat. Apart from that, they also need to have evidence of seaworthiness of the boat, evidence of third party liability insurance, boat operator permit, and proof of ownership or power of attorney for using the boat. Those who haven’t had a chance to get their boat licence before the trip, can easily obtain it by passing the test at the harbourmaster’s office, which is organized practically every week during the high season. Finally, it is wise to have all the documents at hand when boating, since these could still be randomly checked by the maritime police.

Good to know's 

Better safe than sorry, or in this case, better prepared... in other words, there are a few details that are always good to note down. For example, phone numbers of harbourmaster's offices and/or their branches might come in handy, and particularly the number 195 - for search and rescue at sea. That's the one number no one wants to have to dial, but it's still crucial to know. 

In order to avoid possible fines, it's highly recommended to abide by the regulations about navigating a boat, particularly when it comes to speed or proximity to the shore. For example, speedboats shouldn’t come nearer than 300 m from the shore.

Needless to say, staying continually informed about the weather conditions is not much of a hassle, but it can make a great difference when on boat. It’s particularly important to learn about the types of wind, because noone would want to have their day tarnished by the strong bora (northwestern) wind, or the dynamic jugo (southwestern) wind, rather than simply enjoy the sea with the light northwestern maestral. 

Plain sailing 

Zaton Holiday Resort has moorings for small- and medium-sized boats available for the guests who bring their boat along, allowing them to enjoy a wonderful holiday on the coast and to use the opportunity to appreciate the lovely Zadar archipelago at the same time. And that’s a dream come true on holiday. Indeed it is.