Sailing Adriatic (need help)

Posted by Warm-Buyer-8823@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 3 comments

Hi guys, I need your advice!

I have been river day sailing for a couple of years now and I would love to sail the Adriaric / Croatian coast. This is my midterm goal.

I would like to buy a cheap 6,5 - 7,5m sailboat, equipped for cruises, and 2 to 4 crew. Finding an adequate berth is the problem. So my idea is to keep it on dry land for the whole year, then lower it to sea for two-three months, sail and mostly anchor, and get it out then. I am aware that that is too big of a bite. I would be more comfortable if I could start with occasional day sails (from the place I have a house) and then build experience. But finding a berth is close to impossible.

So I am asking you if you have some advice on a road map on how to achieve experience and confidence in the next couple of years to set sail for a few months along the Croatian coast.

For now, I am about to buy a 4.5m dinghy sailboat for 4 and start introducing myself with the local sea and wind conditions. I have a berth for it that costs me nothing.

I expect some of you may suggest RYA certificate and chartering but I think I can find affordable dry dock and also by inviting few friends and charging them something symbolical I could break even or at least significantly make the whole endeavor cheaper and more enjoyable.

I appreciate any advice you may have. My budget is obviously limited. 🙏🏼

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LearyBlaine@reddit

Your message is a bit “all over the place”. But let me see if I can offer you some help. First, there are plenty of moorings available along the Croatian coast … maybe not slips, but certainly moorings. (You don’t specify what sort of “berth” you’re after.) If you’ve got a dinghy, then a mooring is fine. And moorings are plentiful.

Second, it will be hard to find a 7m cruising sailboat for sale on or near the Adriatic. Generally speaking, it’s a charter-cruising market. The locals don’t often buy sailboats for themselves, and one can’t profitably charter a 7m boat to a Czech family. None of the southern European manufacturers make boats in that size range. You’ve got to search in Poland, NL, or the UK. Which brings us to the 3rd point:

Nobody would want to cruise in a 7m boat with 4 people. That’s crazy talk. OK, you sound VERY young. So, sure, maybe a pile o’ students don’t mind sleeping and stepping all over each other, but that’s not a broad market segment. So finding a selection 7m sailboats, outfitted for cruising, which are currently for sale, at a reasonable price, right in the vicinity where you wish to sail … well, that’s a pretty tall order.

You don’t say where you’re from. Want my advice? Shop in Poland, Netherlands, and the UK for the boat. Get one with a lifting/tilting keel that’s trailerable, then drive it to the Adriatic yourself. With a trailerable boat, you’ll have way more storage possibilities.

olddoglearnsnewtrick@reddit

7m boat for a crew of 4 sounds quite cramped

Relative-Run-7376@reddit

So you have a house in Croatia and berth for 4.5m dinghy? The best way is to do a day sailing in 4.5 dinghy and once you have money/time rent a sailboat for a week or two depending on your budget. Everything else is not worth the money and the stress.