Sporting events in Croatia for Yacht Charter Guests

There are many ways to participate in sporting events in Croatia. You can become a part of the Croatian sailing tradition, by learning to sail, partaking in a regatta, or watching from your yacht. If you are an avid golfer, there are several excellent courses on the coastline, just ready to be played during a warm summer afternoon. If you are a more active person, consider playing tennis on tennis courts scattered all across the Croatian Adriatic coastline.

Finally, you can enjoy observing a knight’s tournament with a history of over 300 years, just miles away from your yacht, located in the quaint town of Sinj. Book a yacht and enjoy all the benefits of sporting events in Croatia.

Regattas for true Sailing or Yacht Enthusiasts

Croatia is a true heaven for sailors and yacht enthusiasts. Each sailing season, something new is added, thanks to the efforts that Croatia puts into its marine infrastructure, helping her to become an internationally-acclaimed sailing destination.

Add a flair of excitement and fun to your yacht charter holiday by participating in or observing one of many sailing regattas that take place every year in Croatia.

Vis Regatta near the island of Vis

This manifestation has a tradition from 1939, when the first Vis Regatta was held, which makes it one of the oldest regattas in the country, Usually, yacht or sailing clubs are responsible for regatta logistics, and the Vis Regatta is no different; the Labud Sailing Club is the main organiser of the Vis regatta.

Based in Split, this sailing club closely works with the township of Vis to assemble more than 200 sailing boats. The regatta takes place near the end of October, marking the conclusion of the summer season in Croatia. It mixes culture with sports in a stylised and suave manner, providing many interesting events and extra entertainment, like banquets, concerts, presentations and more.

Fiumanka Regatta in Rijeka

Also known as „Fiume“, Rijeka is a natural choice for a regatta. This is because of Rijeka`s excellent nautical position; being placed in the most indented part of the greater Kvarner Gulf, its interior archipelago is well-protected from unpredictable weather conditions, enabling the participants to focus more on their sailing and less on weather forecasts.

The conditions are marvellous – high winds develop in the channel between the Velebit mountain range and the major islands in Rijeka`s vicinity, like Krk, Cres and Rab. This event takes part in June, during the pinnacle of summer, so there is a lot more to see and do besides excellent sailing. There are yacht and business presentations, shows and lots of cultural manifestations.

This regatta does not even charge an entry fee, wanting to become a truly accessible and nationally-acclaimed sporting event. Also, Fiumanka is the only regatta in Croatia that is fully covered on television, as well as giving humanitarian donations to various organizations, children’s hospitals, and sports clubs.

Mrduja Regatta near Split

This is the most established Croatian regatta, with a history spanning from 1927. It assembles the biggest number of sailing vessels and is named after the isle of Mrduja, located on the Split channel.

Held in October, the track covers 22 nautical miles between the start and finish in Split, with the halfway point being Mrduje isle. Since its founding day until today, the regatta attracted more than 10 000 sailing yachts, with more than 450 sailboats registering every year. Sailing enthusiasts come for excellent sailing, but also numerous cultural exhibitions and shows,

Easter Regatta near Hvar island

A tradition since 1997, the Easter Regatta near Hvar island symbolically opens the sailing season in Croatia. It is a tradition where the best local sailors compete with internationally-renowned sailing teams. Being the second in a series of four regattas of the CRO-ORC Cup, the Easter Regatta is not to be missed by charter guests who enjoy the sport of competitive sailing.

Jabuka Regatta near Jabuka island

Being the furthest island in the entire Croatian Adriatic sea,  the Jabuka Regatta has been organised thanks to the efforts of the Tijat Sailing Club from Vodice. Because of this, Vodice serves as a starting point of the Regatta, with the halfway mark being the island of Jabuka.

Since Vodice is a mainland port town near Šibenik, charter guests will have no problem enjoying the amenities of their yacht while still being able to observe the start and finish of the regatta. Since the regatta takes place during November and there are more than 100 nautical miles to cover, the race starts in the evening. Also, it is characterised by powerful currents and strong winds, so watching the finish of the regatta is a really thrilling experience.

1,000 Islands Regatta

The 1000 Islands Regatta is organised by the Rijeka Sailing Club, covering the distance between Rijeka, a port city located in the Northern Adriatic, all the way to Tivat, in Montenegro. With a length of over 300 nautical miles, the halfway point marks the finish of the first stage and the beginning of the second stage of the regatta.

Starting at the end of September, the 1000 Islands Regatta still offers plenty of opportunities for yacht charter guests to catch a glimpse of the sailing track, or to intercept the racers in one of several locations. These include the islands of Unije, Susak, Permuda, Dugi Otok, Korat, Vis, Lastovo and Sveti Andrija, all of which offer an incredible venue to enjoy the regatta, but also the pristine Croatian nature and the crystal-clear sea.

Hanse Cup Adriatic Regatta near Kornati

Organised by lovers of Hanse yachts for lovers of Hanse yachts, this three-day Hanse Cup Adriatic Regatta takes place from the 9th to the 13th of October and incorporates a route that traverses the broader region of the Kornati archipelago. Since Kornati is famous for the National Park that can be found in its borders, yacht charter guests will enjoy combining the beautiful scenery and incredible nature of the Park with the excitement and thrill of watching a very dynamic regatta.

There are also added manifestations, that include culinary and gastronomical presentations, so visitors have a chance to properly introduce themselves to Croatian culture and gastronomy.

St. Nicholas Regatta near Biograd

A regatta dedicated to the patron saint of sailors and seafarers, the St. Nicholas Regatta near Biograd is a perfect opportunity for chartering a yacht in Croatia during the pre-season when the weather is equally appealing, but there are fewer people than in the peak season. For charter guests, this means enjoying all the benefits of the Zadar archipelago area (since Biograd is a coastal town located near Zadar).

Christmas Regatta (12-16 December)

The traditional Christmas Regatta takes place in Split every year before Christmas. Zenta Yacht Club in Split organises this event, which covers a route of about 13 nautical miles. Although this is not the perfect time to visit Croatia, Christmas on a yacht would be a good reason to book a yacht during this time.

Golfing in Croatia

Golfing and yachting are an inseparable pair – one is perfect with the other because both are symbols of proficiency, style and grace. That is why you should consider golfing, if you are looking for a good sporting events in Croatia.

Your level of skill does not matter; whether you are a beginner or a pro, golfing in a maritime environment is something truly special. Rely on your local charter crew to secure the best-golfing equipment or hire the most experienced golf coaches, who will take you through the best golf courses in Croatia.

If you decide to use your yacht as a golfing stage, you will be able to practice your long game from the swimming platform of your yacht. Finding your balance and the act of swinging itself will be a totally different thing, than standing on solid ground.  Your targets will be moving along with the sea – inflatable golf holes, that will float and move around the sea will be much harder to hit.

Also, you will be using bio-degradable golf balls, filled with fish food, meaning you will be doing some good for the environment.

Besides your yacht, here are some of the best Croatian golfing courses, easily accessible to yacht charter guests:

Dubrovnik Golf Course

A full golf course is under construction in Dubrovnik and is set to develop in the near future. Until then, a new golf training range opened in the ACI Marina Dubrovnik.

This training range measures the surface of one tennis court – not enough to completely satisfy a true golfer`s thirst for a good game, but still offering diversity, in regards to playing only from your yacht. By building this charming project, the ACI marina in Dubrovnik became the first harbour in the Croatian Adriatic sea with an offer that includes golfing.

Brijuni Golf Course

The National Park of Brijuni hides many secrets, among them the oldest golfing course in Croatia. Located in the heart of the National Park, the Brijuni golfing course features a full 18-hole collection of some of the most beautiful and breathtaking panoramas you may want with your golf game.

Since the weather is warm, you can enjoy golfing here throughout the entire year. An interesting thing about this course is that it takes care of itself – there is no need to water it and the grass grows without human intervention.

Istria Golf Course

The newly-built golfing course in the Istrian peninsula is located in Savudrija. Situated near the coastline, within the compound of the Kepinski Hotel Adriatic, this golf course has an 18-hole course, as well as driving and putting ranges. For true enthusiasts, a golf club and a dedicated golf shop can also be found inside the facility. Since there have been numerous environmental concerns regarding water consumption during the summer, this course is watered exclusively by harvested rainwater.

The selling point of this course is the “Monster”, a 556-meter-long 13th hole, which is an attraction that most golf lovers have to try at least once.

Split Golf Course

Split has a golf course with only 6 holes and is located in Stobreč, taking golfers only 5 minutes to reach this compact field from the centre of Split. Although there is no dress code and the course is not extraordinary, for golfers wanting a break from official and formal games, this could come as a respite, with a relaxing game where the score is second to having a good time.

You can rent all the golfing equipment on the spot, which also makes this course perfect for beginners or first-timers that are just now getting introduced to the golfing world;  charter guests can freely show up, play a quick round and be back to their yacht charter before lunch.

Watch a Prestigious Tennis Tournament

Tennis is a very popular sport in Croatia, and for this reason, Croatia managed to produce stars like Marin Čilić (winner of the US Open) or Goran Ivanišević (winner of Wimbledon). Because of Croatia`s constant involvement in making this sport popular in the country, ATP Croatia Open in Umag is held in very high regard. This tennis tournament is the oldest and most popular in Croatia, starting in 1990.

Many international tennis stars also participated in the ATP Croatia Open tournament, including Rafael Nadal, Novak Đoković, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Nikolay Davydenko. Since this competition is held in the town of Umag, which is located at the northwest tip of the Istrian peninsula, a yacht charter will have no problem arriving at this location.

An added bonus to this fact is that your yacht will be very close by, so you and your charter party can return to your yacht to enjoy lunch or a quick day trip, before the next exciting match.

Since the tournament takes place in July, tennis enthusiasts may use this opportunity to create a costume charter itinerary that would focus on the tourist offer of the Istrian peninsula, and ultimately the town of Umag and the ATP Croatia Open.

There are also plenty of accompanying programs during the competition, such as wine tastings, gourmet parties and evening social galas, where tennis lovers from all over the world gather. All of these facts give plenty of reasons for yacht charter guests to visit Umag and enjoy a tennis exhibition of the highest tier, while at the same time enjoying all the benefits of a yacht charter holiday in Croatia.

Sinjska Alka, known for its long tradition

The Sinjska Alka is an equestrian competition held in the Croatian town of Sinj every first Sunday in August since 1715. The reason for such a long tradition is that Alka is actually a celebration of a Croatian victory in the Ottoman wars. On August the 14th, 1715, a force of less than several thousand Croats and Venetians managed to defend the town of Sinj against a force of some 60,000 Ottoman soldiers.

The name Alka comes from the name of the main target used in the competition, which is a solid metal ring with different partitions, each one carrying a certain number of points, if struck by a lance.

The main goal of the competition is for the Alkars (the competing men) to strike the target and win the most possible number of points, in three rounds. It is interesting to note that only men born around the region of Sinj can take part n the Alka tournament.

The competitors charge on horseback in a full gallop down a 160-meter-long track, displaying a delicate balance of agility, dexterity and riding skill.  Alka was watched and observed by many presidents, heads of state, emperors, queens, royal families and more, making its reputation alone something that might interest a charter guest on holiday in Croatia.

Since Sinj is very close to Split, the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest port in the Croatian Adriatic sea, yacht charter guests will not have any trouble reaching Sinj in time for the Alka event. Also, you can rely on your local SuperYachts Croatia broker to procure VIP tickets, so you can enjoy the event from some of the best seats in the house.

Sporting Events in Croatia – Unique way to Experience Croatia

Yachting entails a certain lifestyle, that brings with it a certain attitude towards sports. This article tried to give some options between different sporting events for charter guests booking a yacht in Croatia.

There is a potential for joining in the fun and practising, but you can also spectate in comfortable and luxurious surroundings;  there are many ways to enjoy sporting events in Croatia.

If you plan on being active on your holiday, there is no better way of doing that than enjoying a round of golf or tennis. You can also follow the final leg of Croatia’s many regattas directly from the deck of your yacht charter; while your crew supplies you with premium champagne, enjoy the horizon filled with white sails, against a turquoise surface and the hot sun above – there is no greater scene to enjoy, particularly for yacht enthusiasts.

Also, these kinds of sports mix with culture, so you can always experience the best of both worlds in Croatia – enjoying a tennis tournament in the afternoon and going out to an exclusive seaside club in the evening. With 10 Michelin restaurants in Croatia, you can also be sure that the same standard of dining present on your yacht charter will follow you on sports excursions throughout Croatia