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Chartering from Pula in Istria: the permit for Brijuni National Park
Short answer
Chartering from Pula puts Brijuni National Park just off the bow.
Yachts may only enter with a permit from the park authority and only to reach the harbour of Veli
Brijun; anchoring freely inside the park is not allowed.
Chartering from Pula starts at the southern tip of Istria, Croatia's westernmost peninsula, a short flight from Britain, Ireland or the Netherlands. The Brijuni islands lie only a few miles to the north west and have been a national park for decades. The rules for yachts are strict: only boats with a permit from the park authority may enter the park's waters, and then only to reach the harbour of Veli Brijun or the berths the park designates. Anchoring freely in a bay inside the park is not allowed, nor is discharging any waste or holding tank. The park charges for berths according to its own price list.
What matters is planning before you head for the islands. Entering the park boundary without a permit or anchoring in a prohibited spot can mean a fine, and in Croatian protected areas fines fall on the skipper, not the charter company. South of Pula things get more exposed: the cape at Premantura catches the sea, and anyone crossing the Kvarner to Cres or Lošinj has to reckon with the bora, especially in spring and autumn, when it can blow hard and gusty from the north east. The west coast of Istria, by contrast, has plenty of harbours.
Ask the Brijuni park authority about permits, berths and charges before you go, and mark the park boundary on your chart. Carry the paperwork Croatia expects on any charter: a recognised certificate such as the ICC or an RYA qualification, the crew list and the confirmation from the base. Check the forecast for bora before every crossing of the Kvarner. As skipper you are personally liable for damage you cause to other yachts in crowded harbours, so make sure your own skipper liability insurance applies in Croatia.
Worth remembering
Permit, berth in Veli Brijun
national park visited, no fine
No permit, anchored in a bay
fine for the skipper
Brijuni is close to Pula, but only open to yachts with a permit.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Can I take a charter yacht into Brijuni National Park?
Only with a permit from the park authority, and then only to the harbour of Veli Brijun or the designated berths. Anchoring freely inside the park is not allowed. The park authority sets the conditions and charges.
Who pays a fine in the national park?
Usually the skipper. The charter company is not responsible for offences you commit while sailing and can recover any fine charged to the boat from you.
Is the Kvarner difficult on a charter from Pula?
It can be. In a bora it blows hard and in gusts, especially in spring and autumn. With an eye on the forecast and a fallback plan in Istria, the crossing is manageable.
Related
Not sure whether you qualify?
Whether it is “Chartering from Pula in Istria: the permit for Brijuni National Park” or another question: send us your residence and the flag your boat flies. You will get a straight answer in one email; including a no, if that is the answer.
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