Sail Split region.

Split sits in the middle of the Dalmatian coast, which is the practical reason most Croatia charters start here. You step off the plane and you're on the water inside an hour. The islands you actually want to reach — Brač, Hvar, Vis, Šolta — sit within a comfortable day's sail, so you spend your week sailing, not delivering the boat to the good stuff.

The water is clear and deep, the pilotage is forgiving, and the harbours are close together. Diocletian's Palace is worth a morning before you leave: a Roman palace with a working city built inside its walls, not a museum. Then you point south and the islands take over.

Honest note: July and August are busy, and the West Coast quays fill early. If crowds bother you, sail June or September instead.

Most boats leave from Trogir or the Kaštela bay just west of the city, or from the West Coast quays in Split harbour itself. From there the run to Šolta is short — an easy first night for shaking the boat down. Brač is next, with Bol and its shifting pebble spit at Zlatni Rat on the south side.

Hvar is the honeypot: the town quay is lively and often full, but the Pakleni islands just off it give you quiet anchorages a short hop away. Vis is the furthest of the usual circuit and the most rewarding — it was a closed military island until 1989, so it stayed unspoilt. Komiža and Vis town are both good overnight stops, and the Blue Cave on Biševo is worth the early start to beat the tour boats.

Distances are short. You can sail a satisfying loop without ever facing a long open-water leg.

The charter season runs roughly May to October. June and September are the sweet spot: warm water, settled weather, fewer boats. July and August are hot and busy but reliable.

The wind you'll work with most is the maestral, a thermal north-westerly that builds through the afternoon to 10–18 knots and dies at dusk. It's a friendly, predictable breeze that makes for good sailing and easy evenings on the quay. Watch for the bura, a cold, gusty north-easterly that can come down hard off the mountains — it's less common in high summer but demands respect when forecast. The sirocco brings warm southerly wind and rain from the south. Check the forecast each morning; the local briefings are good.

Both bareboat and crewed charters run out of the Split area, and the fleet here is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Bareboat suits anyone with the right licence and some coastal miles behind them — the pilotage is forgiving and the marinas are used to charter crews.

Crewed charters make sense if you'd rather not skipper, or want the local knowledge that comes with a captain who's sailed these islands for years. A hostess or cook can be added on the larger boats. If you hold a licence but want a steady hand aboard for the first days, a skipper by the day is an option too. Ask us on WhatsApp and we'll match a boat to your crew and plans.

Charter prices swing hard with season and boat size. A monohull in the low season (May, October) starts lower; the same boat in the first three weeks of August costs a good deal more. Catamarans carry a premium over monohulls of similar length.

Budget beyond the base fee for the things that aren't included: fuel, the end-of-charter clean, tourist tax, and a security deposit held against the boat. Marina and mooring fees add up over a week — reckon on paying to berth in the popular town quays and anchoring free elsewhere. A skipper or hostess is charged per day plus their food. For a firm figure on a specific boat and week, price on request — message us and we'll send real numbers rather than a range you can't book against.

Day 1 — Board in Trogir or Split in the afternoon, provision, and make the short hop to Rogač or Maslinica on Šolta for a quiet first night.

Day 2 — Sail across to Brač. Anchor off Bol or take a berth, and walk out to the Zlatni Rat spit.

Day 3 — Down to Vis, the longest leg of the week but still manageable. Overnight in Vis town.

Day 4 — Early start for the Blue Cave on Biševo before the tour boats, then round to Komiža for lunch and a swim.

Day 5 — North to Hvar and the Pakleni islands. Anchor off Palmižana, dinghy into Hvar town for the evening.

Day 6 — Work back towards Šolta or the Kaštela bay, with a stop for a swim wherever the wind puts you.

Day 7 — Return to base for the morning handover. Adjust the loop to the forecast — the maestral makes some legs easier one way than the other.

Split airport (SPU) sits between the city and Trogir, which is convenient: Trogir's marinas are a short taxi ride away, and Split's West Coast quays are about 25 minutes. There are direct flights from much of Europe in season, with far fewer out of it.

Check-in is usually mid-afternoon on the Saturday and hand-back is Saturday morning, so plan a night ashore either side rather than flying in and boarding the same hour. Bring your licence, an ICC or equivalent, and a VHF certificate for bareboat — the base will want to see them. Provisioning is easy: there are supermarkets near every marina, and you can order a delivery to the boat. Message us on WhatsApp before you travel and we'll confirm exactly what your chosen base needs.