Croatia
66 islands, 652 islets, 389 rocks and 78 reefs are more than a thousand reasons to fulfil anyone’s nautical dreams. Despite the hype, Croatia’s pleasures are more timeless than trendy. Along its 1778km coastline, a glistening sea winds around rocky coves, lapping at pine-fringed beaches. Istrian ports bustle with fishermen while children dive into the sparkling water. In Dalmatia, cities throb with nightlife amid ancient Roman ruins.
Yachts glide up the coast, movie stars discreetly arrange to buy one of Croatia’s 1185 islands and no Mediterranean cruise is complete without a stop in Dubrovnik. The interior landscape is as beguiling, even though less visited. Soak in a thermal spa at Istarske Toplice in Istria. Hike through pristine forests watered by mountain streams in the west. Let the waterfalls of Plitvice moisten your face. And then there's the culture. The country that endured Roman, Venetian, Italian and Austro-Hungarian rule has a unique and slightly schizoid identity. You’ll find a strong central European flavor in the baroque architecture of Zagreb, and Italian devotion to the good life percolates up from the coast, permeating Croatian food and style. During holidays and festivals the country’s Slavic soul emerges, as colorfully costumed dancers whirl about to traditional folk melodies.
Croatians retain a strong attachment to the land and traditions that nourished the dream of independence for so long. Even as a tide of speculators and developers wash ashore, there is a real commitment to preserving the extraordinary beauty of the coast.The ideally laid out islands, that are separated by no more than 10 nautical miles and about 1500 bays and ports, makes the Croatian Adriatic equally as ideal for sailing under full sail.
The climate on the Adriatic
The climate on the Adriatic is very much within the same parameters as the general Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by hot summers, many sunny days, and mild and rainy winters. Perfect for sailing! The warmest months are July and August, when the air temperature is between 25° C and 35° C ( 77° F - 95° F), and the sea temperature reaches up to 28° C (83° F). The rain is very rare in this time, and it is considered to be the peak of the tourist season. Averaging from 2,400 to 2,800 sunny hours per year, the Croatian Adriatic is one of the sunniest coastlines in the world.
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