Every year I spend my vacation on a sailing boat with my friends. Last year we visited Vis and Korčula and we really enjoyed our sailing trip. This year we decided to go to Croatia again since we had such a wonderful time last year when we first discovered this beautiful country. We decided to go a little bit more to the north this time. Our sailing base was the historic city of Zadar that has a well equipped ACI marina and from there we decided to explore Kornati. None of us owns a sailing yacht, so we decided to rent one in Zadar. We picked a beautiful yacht Hanse 445 and started the adventure.
Kornati islands are situated in the central part of Croatian Adriatic, just across Zadar and it's a group of around 140 islands, islets and reefs covering an area of about 320 square km. The majority of the sea area of the Kornati archipelago was proclaimed a national park in 1980 due to the wealth of the marine ecosystems, interesting geomorphology and magnificent landscape. Rugged shores with many caves and coves make the unique feature of the islands. One of the most famous phenomena found in the Kornati National Park are cliffs called the ‘crowns’ because of its shape, (locally known as krune). The highest crown is 82 m high, and in certain places cliffs descend vertically to the depth of over 90 m below sea level. Kornati islands are rocky, covered with thin grass and rare trees. There is tiny area of cultivated land with olives and vineyards, tended by those people who live on the nearby islands, such as Murter (Kornati have no permanent inhabitants).
Those who like quitter anchorages will enjoy this island paradise. There is almost nothing happening in terms of nightlife, it's rather a place to enjoy pure nature in all its glory. There are a few restaurants offering fresh fish and delicious wine, though... Most of the restaurants can be reached only by yachts. As for the marinas, there are two ACI marinas, one on the island of Piškera and the other on the island of Žut. Mooring and anchoring is strictly controlled within the park so keep that in mind. We spent 3 days roaming around the islands and discovering all the hidden coves and beaches and I think it is enough time to explore the islands.
Kornati archipelago is unique and beautiful. I've never seen anything like that before. Sailing in Kornati is a truly magnificent experience and I recommend this "jewel of the Adriatic" to all those who want to really relax and unwind.
If you are considering Croatia as your sailing destination, you can find more info here.