Croatia, North Dalmatia
Zadar is the base for the Kornati and Dugi Otok: sheltered water, short passages, the emptiest islands in Croatia and the largest marina in the country ten minutes from the airport.
YACHT TYPES
Catamarans 40 to 46 ft are the most popular choice here; sailing yachts 32 to 50 ft; small motor yachts.
A typical week from Zadar
The Zadar archipelago is the gentlest cruising ground in Croatia: the outer islands take the swell, the channels between them stay flat, and there is a bay or a village every few miles.
Day 1, Sukošan to Sali on Dugi Otok (14 NM). Sali's quay and its restaurants make an easy first evening; the Telašćica nature park is one bay away.
Day 2, to the Kornati (10 to 15 NM). Buy the park ticket online, then choose between Vrulje, Levrnaka or the Opat bay in the south. Restaurant buoys and a few concrete piers, no marinas, no light pollution.
Day 3, to Žut (8 NM). The ACI marina at Žut is the only full-service stop in the Kornati and fills early; the coves on the east side are the alternative.
Day 4, to Skradin and the Krka falls (25 NM). The longest leg, up the Šibenik channel and the Krka river to the ACI marina at Skradin. The falls are a short boat ride from the marina.
Day 5, to Murter or Zlarin (15 NM). Betina and Jezera on Murter are relaxed harbour villages; Zlarin is the car-free island at the mouth of the Šibenik channel.
Day 6, to Sukošan (20 NM). Back through the Pašman channel with a lunch stop at Ždrelac or Kukljica.
The northern alternative goes to Molat, Ist and the Sakarun beach on Dugi Otok, then Veli Rat and Božava; both loops are described day by day in our Zadar itineraries.
Practical points for a Zadar charter
Licences and briefing
Same rules as everywhere in Croatia: a recognised skipper's licence and a VHF certificate aboard. Sukošan runs one of the most efficient check-ins in the country because the fleet is large; arrive with documents, a crew list and the deposit card ready.
Wind and sea
The Maestral is lighter here than around Split, 8 to 15 knots on a typical afternoon, and the islands block most swell. The Bura is the exception: it comes off the Velebit mountains northeast of Zadar and can reach 40 knots with no warning at sea level, so the Velebit channel is not a cruising ground in an unsettled forecast. The Kornati are exposed to the west; in a westerly, stay on the inner side.
Park fees and moorings
The Kornati national park charges per boat and per day, cheaper online than at the ranger boat. Telašćica has its own ticket. Anchoring is the norm in the Kornati, with restaurant buoys in the main bays; marinas exist at Žut, Sali, Skradin and Betina. Budget less than for a Split week: fewer marina nights, more anchoring.
Getting there
Zadar airport is 10 minutes from Sukošan and 15 from the city marina, with direct flights from most of Europe in season. Supermarkets in Sukošan and Zadar deliver to the marina.
Is Zadar good for a first bareboat?
It is the easiest starting point in Croatia: short legs, flat water, plenty of shelter. The one thing to respect is a Bura forecast.
Kornati or Dugi Otok?
Both in one week is normal. The Kornati are bare and dramatic, Dugi Otok has the beaches and the villages; the Telašćica bay links them.
Can we reach the Krka waterfalls by boat?
Yes, up the river to Skradin's marina; the falls themselves are visited by park boat or on foot from Skradin.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, guests and cabins, qualifications, skipper or not, and whether you prefer anchorages or harbours. From that we shortlist three yachts at Sukošan or Zadar and say which we would take.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
More destination-specific guides are being prepared.
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