Yacht charter Sukosan

  By Lila Kergall 

April 12, 2022

Map of navigation zones in Croatia (clickable)

Summary

1. Practical information for your yacht charter in Sukošan
2. What to do in Sukošan?
3. Where to sail from Sukošan?
4. The most beautiful anchorages from Sukošan
5. Sailing itineraries
6. What are the weather conditions?

"A week's sailing is enough to visit the Kornati from Sukošan, or at least part of them. The advantage of the Kornati archipelago is that there are lots of really nice anchorages and the islands are close to each other!". These are the words of Henri, when he told me about his cruise on the side of the boat of a Bavaria Cruiser 45, from Sukošan.

Located in the bay of Zlatna luka ("golden port" in English), Sukošan is a small village in Croatia, just a few kilometers from Zadar. Home to the largest marina in Dalmatia, the Dalmacija marina, the village attracts many yachtsmen and remains an ideal starting point for a yacht charter in Croatia.

1. Practical information for your yacht charter in Sukošan

Renting a boat in Sukošan: with or without a skipper?

Average rates according to the season and the size of the boat

Here is a table showing the average prices for yacht charters from Sukošan for a period of one week. Note that these prices are approximate and may vary depending on the season, the model and the age of the boat.

The port of Sukošan

The Dalmacija marina in Sukošan is reputed to be the largest marina in Croatia. It is located in a naturally protected bay and is easily accessible, being only 5 kilometers fromZadar airport, with direct connections to the main European cities.

The marina has 1, 200 berths and is renowned for its cleanliness and professional staff. It offers a wide range of services and facilities: shore power, water, showers, toilets, fuel and Wi-Fi.

Before you leave, you can take advantage of the bars and restaurants that surround the port. My contact Tina at our partner Val Yachting recommends the Portus Beach Club & Restaurant: "The restaurant that stands out for its atmosphere is the Portus, which is located in the marina itself. It's definitely the place I'd recommend going to for a drink." The place is indeed very famous for being very lively, day and night, and offers quality cuisine and service. Around the marina, you will also find many shops for shopping or for provisions taken on board before departure: supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, fruit and vegetable shops.

Our main partners on site

• Angelina Yacht Charter was voted "best charter company in Croatia" in 2015. The company now has more than 170 sailboats, catamarans, yachts and motor boats in five nautical bases: Sukošan, Biograd, Šibenik, Rogoznica and Trogir. They select their boats carefully in order to offer quality cruises to vacationers. Filovent customers who went on a cruise with Angelina Yacht Charter gave them an average satisfaction rating of 17/20.

• Val Yachting is also a Croatian company that is renowned for its experience in nautical tourism in Croatia. Their fleet currently consists of 24 boats (sailing and motor) and is based in the large Dalmacija marina in Sukošan. The majority of Filovent customers who went on a cruise with Val Yachting were satisfied with their services, as they gave Val Yachting an average satisfaction rating of 15.5/20.

• Master Yachting is a Croatian company that has been offering yacht charters in Croatia for more than 20 years. Their base is located at the Dalmacija marina in Sukošan. Their fleet has 50 boats (catamarans, monohulls, power boats). Their team is renowned for being professional and experienced, and they will offer you a quality service. Filovent customers who went on a cruise with Master Yachting also gave them an average satisfaction rating of 15.5/20.

2. What is there to do in Sukošan?

Known for its beautiful beaches with shallow waters, such as Makarska and Zlatna Luka, the seaside resort of Sukošan will enchant adults and children alike. As you head towards Djecji Raj beach, you will quickly be tempted by a nap or a peaceful sunbath. These are also excellent points of departure for diving. The more active can try their hand at windsurfing or take part in group activities such as volleyball, football, tennis and many other leisure activities at the Tustice nature complex.

History enthusiasts will find several historical monuments in the vicinity of the village of Sukošan to enrich their cultural day, such as the remarkable remains of the Archdiocese of Zadar, former summer residences dating from the 15th century. Among its religious buildings, visit the baroque church of St. Kasijan and St. Marin, or the church of Our Lady of Grace, built in the 1650s. Don't miss a visit to the unmissable church of St. Cassian, which dates from the 17th century and hosts the annual St. Cassian festival every August.

Your stay in Sukošan will also be marked by the tasting of Dalmatian specialties accompanied by olive oil and wine, prosciutto or even lamb and cheese that you will savor in the many restaurants and taverns. The more festive among you can enjoy the nightlife of Sukošan, also known for being festive and lively with its taverns and restaurants, as well as the many events such as carnivals!

Here are two restaurants around Sukošan marina that were recommended to me by our local partner Val Yachting:

• Konoba Kod Guste
• Konoba Kaleta

3. Where can you sail from Sukošan?

The Kornati archipelago

"If you're in the area, you really must visitthe Kornati archipelago. As it is a national park, you have to pay an entrance fee (it's much cheaper if you buy your ticket in advance on the internet). The Croatian coast is really full of islands, and they are close to each other, which means you can see a lot in a relatively short time!", explains Tina from Val Yachting.

Choosing to rent a sailboat or catamaran from the Dalmacija marina in Sukošan invites you to sail in the Kornati Islands archipelago, declared a National Park in 1980 due to the exceptional nature of this site. To navigate in this area, you also have the option of leaving from the town of Murter. The archipelago is the densest in the Mediterranean and has a total of 147 islands and islets, 89 of which are part of the National Park. To navigate inside, you will need to get tickets on the park's website! Sailing in this area means a complete change of scenery. The tourist infrastructure is underdeveloped and the islands retain a very authentic feel. You won't find any towns, just a few small ports, as well as small fishermen's houses and abandoned chapels. Kornat and Žut are the two largest islands in the archipelago and their steep coasts offer magnificent anchorages.

The islands are very diverse in nature, some are very low-lying and others have huge cliffs. In terms of flora, the islands are mainly made up of olive trees (which represent 80% of the cultivated land), but also vines and fig trees. As for the fauna, many marine and land species inhabit the archipelago: fish, dolphins, turtles, seagulls, lizards and many species of butterflies!

Duji Otok and the Telašćica Nature Park

To the north of the Kornati archipelago, I invite you to discover Duji Otok, the largest island in the Zadar archipelago. The east coast of the island is very steep and has 8 villages. Three other villages are located in the northwest of the island, in the protected bays of Solišćica and Velarska. The west coast of Dugi Otok is steeper. The island is 45 kilometers long and relatively uninhabited, although it has a wealth of tourist attractions and historical heritage. You will find remains dating from prehistoric times to the First World War.

The famous Telašćica Nature Park is also located to the south of Dugi Otok. This park includes the saltwater lake Mir, the bay of Telašćica, the small neighboring islands, and the Stene cliffs. This park is the largest natural shelter of the Adriatic Sea. In terms of activities, it also ticks a few boxes with hiking and cycling trails, as well as various traditional music festivals.

Duji Otok is also a quiet and unspoiled island with quiet coves and beaches to relax on during your cruise. For this, I recommend the natural beaches of Veli Rat, Brbinj and the pebble beach Veli Žal. For diving enthusiasts, I suggest Sakarun Bay or Golubninka Cave, which is home to a rich array of underwater fauna.

The Telašćica Nature Park (YouTube video) 

 

Šibenik and the Krka waterfalls

South of Sukošan, still on the Croatian coast, you can also choose to sail to the city of Šibenik. This medieval Dalmatian city is well worth a visit! It is particularly known for its churches and its architecture, with its pretty stone buildings. While you are there, don't miss the Cathedral of St. James, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Erected between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it is probably one of the tallest buildings in the city. Šibenik is also a point of passage for visiting the famous Krka waterfalls, an attraction not to be missed during your stay in Croatia. That's what Henri advised me, when he told me about his cruise from Sukošan: "From Šibenik, it must be nice to sail up the river to Skradin, passing under the decks. Afterwards, you can continue on foot or by bike to the Krka Falls."

4. The most beautiful anchorages starting from Sukošan

The Kornati navigation zone has the advantage of islands with very indented coastlines, which means that anchored boats can easily drop anchor in beautiful coves. When he told me about his cruise in the Kornati, Henri explained that "even in July, there weren't too many people in the anchorages. There are so many that there was space almost all the time".

Sakarun, northwest of Dugi Otok

The large beach of Sakarun is known as one of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic Sea. It attracts yachtsmen because of the fine white sand and the thousands of shades of blue in the water. The diversity of the bay's seabed invites you to dive in and discover a multitude of fish. Food lovers can enjoy a meal at one of the beach restaurants!

Otok Veli Lagan - Dugi Otok

"A really nice thing to do is to go and seethe wreck north of the island of Dugi Otok. It's a wreck that almost emerges, so you shouldn't get too close by boat. It's very beautiful and we saw the most fish here! We had spotted this activity in advance on a map", Henri explained to me when he told me about his Filovent cruise from Sukošan.

Meet at the northern point of Dugi Otok to discover the wreck during a snorkeling session. This anchorage is perfect for a quick break, accompanied by a dip in the crystal-clear water!

Uvala Telaščica - Duji Otok

"It is a very large and protected bay, so a very safe place to spend the night. The bay is also part of the Telaščića National Park, it is truly a beautiful place to discover. There is a salt lake and cliffs in the area that are worth visiting," explains Tina of Val Yachting.

In Telaščića Bay, there are several coves suitable for anchorage. From Mir cove, you can visit the inland saltwater lake and take the path to climb to the top of the Stene cliffs, offering you a spectacular view of the Adriatic Sea!

Žutski otok aba

Anchored boats at the southern endof Otok Žut, in the channel between Žut and Otok Žutska aba. This pretty anchorage is well sheltered, calm and offers a good anchorage due to the sandy seabed. Go ashore on the island of Žutska aba and climb to the top of the hill, where you will be amazed by the 360-degree view of the Kornati islands.

5. Which sailing itineraries should you follow?

 One-week itinerary from Dalmacija Marina - Sukošan

One-week sailing itinerary from Dalmacija marina - Sukošan

Here is a sailing itinerary from Sukosan, inviting you to discoverthe Kornati archipelago during a week-long cruise. The Kornati archipelago is the ideal sailing area for combining calm anchorages, visits to natural parks and exceptional points of view. For a sailing itinerary of more than 10 days, it is also possible to sail to Sibenik and on the Krka river.

Total distance traveled: 103 miles

• Day 1: Marina Dalmacija → Marina Festa, Otok Zut (24 miles ~ 4/5 hours)
• Day 2: Marina Festa, Otok Zut → Uvala Magrovica, Duji Otok (10 miles ~ 2 hours)
• Day 3: Uvala Magrovica, Duji Otok → Koromans Jak (15 miles ~ 2/3 hours)
• Day 4: Day 4: Koromans Jak → Veli Rat (18 miles ~ 4 hours)
• Day 5: Veli Rat → Zadar (24 miles ~ 4/5 hours)
• Day 6: Zadar → Marina Dalmacija (12 miles ~ 2 hours)

DAY 1: A panoramic view of the Kornati Islands

Marina Dalmacija → Otok Žutska aba → Marina Festa, Otok Žut (24 miles ~ 4/5 hours)

On the first day of the cruise, we board our sailboat and set a course for the southern point of the island of Žut. After a few hours of sailing, we anchor our boat in a channel between the island of Žut and the island of Žutska aba. We enjoy a swim in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea and have lunch on the boat. We spot a hill on the island of Žutska aba and decide to climb it and enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Kornati archipelago, a great start to our cruise! After this first stopover, we book our place for anchored boats for the night at the small Marina Festa to the north-east of Žut. For the evening, we enjoy dinner at the seaside Restaurant Festa, a slightly expensive restaurant but this is justified by the setting, the quality of the service and the food.

DAY 2: Discovering the Telašćica Nature Park!

Marina Festa, Otok Zut → Uvala Mir, Duji Otok → Uvala Magrovica, Duji Otok (10 miles ~ 2 hours)

We set sail forUvala Mir on the island of Duji Otok. After two hours of sailing, we go ashore to visit Telašćica Park. We first walk towards the large salt lake Mir and enjoy a swim in the warm water of the lake. We then decide to climb to the top of the Stene cliffs and discover with admiration a breathtaking point of view over the Adriatic Sea. After spending the day walking in the park, we decide to drop anchor at the bottom of the bay, inUvala Magrovica, for a more peaceful spot. We have dinner at the Konoba "Škeba" restaurant, which we particularly enjoyed for the warm welcome of the owners.

DAY 3: Stops in the isolated coves of the Kornati archipelago

Uvala Magrovica, Duji Otok → Otocic Krava → Koromans Jak (15 miles ~ 2/3 hours)

On the third day of the cruise, we sail up Duji Otok ( ) to the small islandof Otocic Krava. As the wind is not blowing too hard, we decide to stop there. We drop anchor to enjoy a swim in the translucent water, which we never tire of, then have a leisurely lunch on the boat. After this short break, we set off in search of a secluded and sheltered cove to spend the night. We finally choose to anchor our boat in Koromans Jak, a small isolated cove on the island of Dugi Otok, north of Brbinj Bay. We cling to a buoy and enjoy the magnificent natural surroundings, with shafts of light seemingly plunging into the turquoise water. We spend a very peaceful night.

DAY 4: Snorkeling around the emerged wreck of Otok Veli Lagan

Koromans Jak → Otok Veli Lagan, Duji Otok → Veli Rat (18 miles ~ 4 hours)

Today, we continue our navigation towards the north of the Kornati islands. Arriving at the northern point of Duji Otok, we head towards a sunken shipwreck just off the islandof Otok Veli Lagan. We drop anchor at a certain distance from the wreck and dive with our masks and snorkels. This is where we saw the most fish! After this snorkeling session, we sail to Veli Rat Bay and go ashore to visit the lighthouse. Once again, we are amazed by the panoramic view of the Kornati Islands. We take advantage of the small village of Veli Rat to do some shopping.

DAY 5: Sailing towards the city of Zadar

Veli Rat → Brgulje → Zadar (24 miles ~ 4/5 hours)

We leave early for Brgulie, a quiet bay fairly sheltered from the wind. On the program: a walk on the beach, swimming and sunbathing. We have a quick lunch on the boat and set sail again for the city of Zadar for the last night of the cruise. We choose to moor at Tankerkomerc Marina Zadar, a good port for visiting the city of Zadar. We go ashore and discover this magnificent Croatian city by losing ourselves in the narrow streets of the old town. We even went to see the Zadar Sea Organ, the world's largest instrument that produces music according to the force of the waves.

DAY 6: Last wild stopover before returning to Sukošan

Zadar → Juzna frnaza, Ugljan → Marina Dalmacija (12 miles ~ 2 hours)

On this last day of the cruise, we opt for an unspoiled stopover at Juzna frnaza, a small natural anchorage on the islandof Ugljan, just opposite Zadar. We enjoy a last lunch on board and set sail again for theDalmacija Marina ( ) in Sukošan, where we fill up with fuel before spending the last night in the port.

6. What are the weather conditions?

Here is the advice of my contact Tina, from our partner Val Yachting in Sukošan:

"The best time to sail in the Kornati is between April and October, but I would say that May or September are the best months. In May, the weather is already more stable and warmer, the nature is greener and there is a special landscape that customers are sure to find fascinating, and there are no crowds yet. The disadvantage is that the sea is still quite cold. In September, the days get shorter, but the weather is generally still very nice and warm, the sea is also still warm, there are no more crowds and it is very pleasant to stay there."

Croatia enjoys a dry and sunny Mediterranean climate all year round. This makes the country an excellent area for sailing from April to October. In general, the temperature is between 20 and 30°C during the summer, and the water temperature varies around 24°C, perfect for cooling off!

As for the wind conditions, Tina from Val Yachting also explains to me that "the winds are regular: at night, you have a light northeast breeze, during the day, the wind blows from the west (mistral). It gets stronger in the afternoon and stops blowing before sunset. The maestral is perfect for sailing because it is constant and not too strong (10-15 knots)

As far as the winds in Croatia are concerned, you may encounter three different types of wind during your sailing trip. The most common in summer is the maestral: a thermal wind created by the difference in temperature between the land and the sea. The maestral blows from the northwest, picking up in the early afternoon and generally dying down at the end of the day. The second wind you are sure to encounter in summer is the Jugo, a warm wind from the south, sometimes bringing rain and a few dark clouds. Finally, I would advise you to beware of the Bora, a dry, cold wind that can be very violent (up to 200 km/h) and which blows from the north. Don't panic, this wind is not very common in summer, it tends to blow more in winter.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Henri, Michel and Rémi for their testimonies and photos, which are a perfect illustration of my article. Many thanks also to Tina from Val Yachting for her valuable advice!