Sailing from Split: Central Dalmatia Charter Routes & Best Catamarans

Sailing from Split: Central Dalmatia Charter Routes & Best Catamarans

Updated May 2026.

Split is the busiest catamaran charter base in Croatia — over 60% of national charter departures leave from one of the four Split-region marinas (Split City Port, ACI Split, Marina Kaštela, Marina Trogir) every Saturday in season. The reason is geography: Split sits at the centre of the country’s best cruising ground. Hvar, Vis, Brač, Šolta and the Pakleni Islands are all within a 4-hour sail, and Korčula is a comfortable day-three reach. This guide covers the 7-day Central Dalmatia route most boats actually sail, which catamarans handle the region best, and the practical considerations the brochures gloss over.

Why Central Dalmatia from Split

The Split cruising ground gives you four things at once: short hops between islands (most legs are 12-25 nautical miles), a serious bareboat fleet to pick from, a UNESCO old town to fly into, and the country’s strongest fresh-fish and konoba scene. Trade-wind reliability is the other quiet advantage — the maestral (north-westerly afternoon breeze) blows 8-18 knots from late morning to early evening from June through September, ideal sailing conditions for a relaxed catamaran cruise.

The brochure version says “Hvar, Brač, Korčula.” The actual best-of-Dalmatia for catamarans is more specific: Pakleni Islands (shallow draft means cats anchor in bays monohulls can’t enter), Vis (Komiža and Stiniva — the country’s most-photographed bay), Šolta (Maslinica’s seven islets), and Hvar town (the marquee night). Brač gets a brief stop at Bol; Korčula is reachable but stretches a 7-day timetable.

The 7-day Central Dalmatia route most boats sail

Saturday turnaround at Split, departure usually Sunday morning after the provisioning run.

Day 1 (Saturday-Sunday): Split → Maslinica (Šolta) — 13 nm. Easy first leg, often a half-day shakedown sail. Maslinica’s seven small islets are catamaran territory; the village’s harbour fills quickly so anchor in the bay just south.

Day 2: Maslinica → Komiža (Vis) — 27 nm. The longest sail of the week, usually maestral-assisted in the afternoon. Komiža is the trip’s quiet highlight — working fishing harbour, evening konoba scene, ferry pier mooring is reasonable. If Komiža is full, anchor in Rogac or hop to Vis town on the north coast.

Day 3: Komiža → Stiniva → Vis town or Budikovac — 8-15 nm. Morning swim at Stiniva (the famous pinched-cliff bay — arrive before 10:00 to beat day-tripper crowds). Lunch at Budikovac on a mooring ball. Night either at Vis town’s old quay or anchored at Budikovac.

Day 4: Vis → Hvar town via Pakleni — 18-22 nm. Cross to the Pakleni archipelago for lunch — Palmižana, Vinogradišće or Stipanska bays. Move to Hvar ACI Marina or anchor off in Križna Luka for the night. Hvar town dinner is the splurge night — Gariful, Konoba Menego or Dalmatino.

Day 5: Hvar → Bol (Brač) — 15 nm. Short hop north through the Hvar channel. Bol is the Golden Horn beach plus a working old town — Vidova Gora hike for the energetic crew. Anchor off the beach or take a place in the small marina.

Day 6: Bol → Milna or Lučice (Brač west) — 18 nm. Quiet anchor day on the west of Brač. Milna for a marina night with restaurants; Lučice for the wilder anchor option.

Day 7: Milna → Split — 11 nm. Easy morning sail back, fuel up at the marina’s fuel quay, return.

Best catamarans for the Split region in 2026

Central Dalmatia rewards the right boat. The combination of short hops, shallow anchorages and busy marina weekends matters.

For couples or 4-person crews (38-42 ft) — the sweet spot is the Lagoon 42, Bali 4.2 or Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42. All three have manageable docking dimensions for the smaller Šolta and Vis harbours, the 1.3m draft works in the Pakleni’s inner bays, and the weekly bareboat rate sits at €5,500-9,500 in peak July-August.

For families and 6-8 person crews (45-50 ft) — Lagoon 46, Bali 4.6, Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 / Tanna 47. Four-cabin layouts give every couple their own head; the cockpit and flybridge handle 8 adults at dinner. Peak-season rate €8,500-15,000.

For premium / 10-person groups (50-55 ft) — Lagoon 50 / Lagoon 51, Bali 5.4 with optional skipper + hostess. The 51 has become the dominant 50-foot charter cat across Europe since its 2024 launch. Peak rate €14,000-28,000 plus crew.

The boats not to book for Central Dalmatia: anything over 55 ft (too big for Šolta and Vis harbours), and any monohull with over 2m draft (locks you out of the Pakleni’s inner bays). For more boat-by-boat detail, see our future Boat Reviews category.

Catamaran vs monohull on this route

Central Dalmatia is the route where the catamaran advantage compounds. Three structural reasons: (1) Shallow draft — a 45-ft cat draws 1.3-1.4m where a comparable monohull draws 2.0-2.4m. The Pakleni’s inner Vinogradišće, the southern bays of Šolta, the eastern Hvar coast and most Vis-coast anchorages are catamaran-comfortable but monohull-marginal. (2) Space at anchor — for the same crew size, a cat gives you a flat saloon at sea level, a full-beam cockpit and a wide flybridge for sundowners; monohulls give you a heeling deck. (3) Multi-cabin layouts — the 45-50 ft cat fits 4 double cabins, each with private head; the monohull equivalent fits 3 doubles and a saloon convertible.

The catamaran disadvantage is upwind performance and marina cost (cats pay 1.5-1.8x monohull rates in busy Hvar / Trogir / Split marinas due to wider beam). For the leisurely 7-day Central Dalmatia loop with mostly downwind maestral legs, those disadvantages don’t bite.

Practical Central Dalmatia notes

Peak season. Mid-July to mid-August is busiest. Hvar ACI Marina fills 3-4 months ahead; Komiža is first-come; Stiniva mooring balls (12 only) sell out by 10am.

Maestral. The afternoon NW breeze is the maestral. It’s reliable June-September from 11:00-19:00 at 8-18 knots. Plan downwind legs east-to-west across the islands.

Marina fees 2026. ACI Marina Split €90-160/night for a 45ft cat; Hvar ACI €130-220; Komiža town quay €40-75; Maslinica ACI €100-180.

Tourist tax. Standardised since 2024 at €1.50/person/night.

Pickup logistics. Split airport (SPU) is 20 minutes from Marina Kaštela, 25 minutes from Split City Port, 30 minutes from ACI Split. Direct flights from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Munich, Zurich, Paris, Manchester April-October.

Costs and budget reality for a Central Dalmatia week

Beyond the boat charter rate, plan the following 2026 budget additions:

— Provisioning (food + drinks): €30-55 per person per day, depending on mix of konoba dinners ashore vs aboard.
— Marina fees: €400-900 for the week if you spend 4-5 nights in marinas, less if you anchor more.
— Fuel: €150-300 for the week (modern cats use 4-6 L/hour at cruising RPM, mostly run for AC and entry/exit manoeuvres).
— Skipper: €160-220/day if you’re not bareboating.
— Hostess: similar range.
— Tourist tax: €1.50/person/night.

An all-in bareboat week for 8 people on a 46-ft cat in late June 2026 lands around €12,000-16,000 total trip cost (boat €9,000 + provisions €2,400 + marinas €700 + fuel €250 + tax €85 + extras).

Pre-charter checklist for Split first-timers

Six things first-time Split charterers should sort before arrival:

— Book the marquee marina nights first. Hvar ACI for one night + Komiža (book through SkipperCity Komiža or call the harbourmaster directly) for one night should be locked in 4-6 weeks before your departure in July-August.
— Pre-arrange provisioning delivery at Marina Kaštela or ACI Split. Several services (Lidl Charter Provisioning, Provisioning Split) deliver to the pontoon 24 hours before departure. Saves your Day-1 morning.
— Print or app-save your skipper licence + crew list. The Croatian port authority requires the crew list at check-in and randomly checks during the trip.
— Pre-pay your transit log + tourist tax through the eCrew online system. Saves 30 minutes at handover.
— Pack reef shoes for Stiniva, Brbinjšćica and any pebble-beach swim stops — the bottoms are stone, not sand.
— Reserve at least one konoba ahead at Hvar (Dalmatino, Konoba Menego or Gariful) and one at Komiža (Konoba Bako, Pojoda or Jastozera) — both fill 3-4 days ahead in season.

Other Croatian charter routes

If you’d prefer a different cruising ground:

— Sailing from Šibenik: Kornati National Park & Krka routes — remote, wilder, smaller crowds.
— Sailing from Dubrovnik: South Dalmatia & Elaphiti routes — Mljet, Lastovo, Korčula, premium feel.
— Sailing from Pula: Istria & Kvarner routes — shorter distances, Roman ruins, Brijuni National Park.

Ready to plan your Split charter?

Browse the 2026 catamaran fleet on the Croatia Yachting fleet page — every boat shows live dates and base. For a custom quote with your dates and crew size, use the contact form on the site and we’ll come back within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need for a Central Dalmatia catamaran charter from Split?

Seven days is the sweet spot — the Saturday-to-Saturday charter window is the industry standard and gives you Hvar, Vis, Brač, Pakleni and Šolta without rushing. Five or six days truncates the loop — either skip Vis or skip Brač. Ten or fourteen days lets you extend south to Korčula, Mljet and the Pelješac peninsula.

What’s the best month to sail from Split?

Late June through early September is peak. Late May, June and September are the smart-money months — warm enough to swim, 20% lower rates, fewer crowds at Hvar town. October has variable weather; April and early May the water’s still cold.

Can I sail from Split to Dubrovnik in a week?

It’s possible but tight. Split → Hvar → Korčula → Mljet → Dubrovnik takes 5-6 days and leaves no margin for weather. Most charterers do this as a 10 or 14-day one-way charter (with a returning crew or a one-way fee). For a 7-day trip, pick either Split-based Central Dalmatia OR Dubrovnik-based South Dalmatia — not both.

Do I need a skipper for a Split charter?

Only if no one in your crew has a competent skipper licence (RYA Day Skipper, ICC, or equivalent). With a licensed skipper aboard you can bareboat. Without one, you book a captain at €160-220/day — worth it for first-timers regardless of licence.

What’s the difference between sailing from Split versus Dubrovnik?

Split puts you in the middle of Croatia’s island chain (Hvar, Vis, Brač, Pakleni) with shorter hops and more boat-options. Dubrovnik is the launch point for the southern islands (Mljet, Lastovo, Korčula, Elaphiti) which are quieter, more remote and have a premium feel. For first-time Croatia visitors, Split’s typically the better choice; repeat visitors gravitate to Dubrovnik for the variety.