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Chartering from Split in Croatia: Hvar, Vis and full harbours in high summer
Short answer
Split is one of Croatia's biggest charter hubs,
and Hvar and Vis are the first stop for almost every crew.
In high summer the harbours there are full by mid afternoon.
Arriving early, booking ahead and handling a lazy line mooring well makes the week far easier.
Several large charter bases sit around Split, and on a summer Saturday a great many yachts leave at almost the same time. Most follow the same route: across to Hvar and the Pakleni islands, on to Vis and Komiža, back by Brač or Šolta. Anyone who has been there in July or August knows the result. The town harbours on Hvar and Vis are full by early afternoon, and in the bays one buoy sits next to the other. For crews flying in from Britain or Ireland for a single week, there is little slack in the plan.
The surest way to a berth is to arrive early or to book ahead; many marinas and town quays take reservations. Mooring is usually stern-to on a lazy line running from the seabed to the bow. In a crowded harbour with a crosswind that only works with clear roles on board, and this is where most scrapes on neighbouring boats happen. In summer the jugo from the south east can push swell into some harbours, and a short, violent bora from the north east is possible too.
Build slack into the week and do not head for the best known harbour every night; anchorages on Šolta, Brač or the south side of Hvar are often calmer. Tourist tax and fees for buoys and national parks come on top of the charter price, and the agreement says which of them the base covers. If you damage someone else's boat or property with the charter yacht you are personally liable, so in the crowded harbours around Split your own skipper liability insurance belongs in the preparations.
Worth remembering
Early afternoon
a free choice of berth
Evening
searching for a buoy or a bay
From Split in high summer, the crew that leaves early and arrives early wins.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Should I book a berth in Hvar and Vis?
In July and August it is worth it. Many harbours take bookings; otherwise the only answer is to arrive by early afternoon.
How do I moor on a lazy line?
Reverse to the quay, make the stern lines fast, then pick up the lazy line and take it forward to the bow. Agree roles first and rig fenders on both sides.
What winds should I expect around Split in summer?
Often a westerly sea breeze by day, at times the jugo from the south east with swell, and less often a short bora from the north east.
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