Krk Island - Island of One Hundred Faces
There's plenty of sailing to be done on Krk island, the largest in the Adriatic and the most populated, packed full of idyllic fishing villages that offer tourists plenty of sailing opportunities even for beginners, as the conditions here favor those who just took a passion to yacht charter Croatia. And the island is located in Kvarner Bay, famous for other sailing destinations which make offer alternatives in case you want to see more of the Croatian coast.
Sea & Coast
Largely regarded as the biggest island of the Adriatic, Krk Island can be found in Kvarner Bay in the northern part of the Croatian coastline. For a long time that tile has been held by the neighboring island of Cres but recent studies have shown that Krk is actually bigger. Apart from being the biggest, it’s also the most populated with many towns and villages which double as Yacht Charter resorts.
The island’s shores are protected to the north by the Croatian coast, to the east by the Istrian peninsula and to the west by Cres island. That means the island is very well protected within Kvarner Bay, hence the name “Golden Island” also given by Yacht Charter regulars and locals due to the sandy beaches.
The northern part of the island is more rocky and has higher altitudes, affected by the winds coming from inland while the southern side has gentler slopes and more lush vegetation. The center is characterized by hills and valleys similar to those found by Yacht Charter visitors on the mainland.
The vegetation of the island is more predominant in the south part, as previously stated, while the center is heavily wooded (31% of the Krk’s surface is covered by forests), the northern part is covered by pastures and rocky areas. These southern forests are mainly made up of tall oak trees. The southwest side also has very appealing olive groves and vineyards that are the object of many Yacht Charter groups of visitors.
The climate on the island is mild and moderate; though the northern part suffers in the winter from the cold winds the locals call the “bura”. In summer, Yacht Charter lovers can expect average temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius while water temperature is around the 23 degrees level. Apart from the bura, there’s a southern wind, the scirocco (the locals call it juga) and a daily breeze blowing inland (the maestral). Also worth mentioning is that the island is one of the sunniest places along the Croatian shores, enjoying over 2500 hours of sunshine every year.
Culture & History
There are extensive pieces of evidence that man has inhabited this island since prehistoric times. After being attested by the Greeks, the island appears in Roman descriptions as having some of the best fortifications in the region. After the Slavs took over the island and its main town Krk, came under the influence of the Croatian kings. In later centuries, the Venetians, the Austrians and even the Italians fought over the island.
Today, thanks to the presence of an airport and a drawbridge that connects it to the mainland, Krk Island and its main cities of Krk, Punat, Dobrinj, Baska and Vrbnik are mostly Yacht Charter centers. The island also enjoys a rich cultural life based on the number of churches, Roman ruins and strong ethnographical traditions.
What awaits the Yacht Charter explorer on Krk are old, Mediterranean-style towns, with narrow streets and stone buildings, while the back country is full of terraced drywalls and sheepherd’s sheep pens set on beautiful meadows. It’s also a popular destination for tourists from the former Eastern Bloc thanks to its position and its accessibility.
Seamanship & Experience
The sheltered position of the island and the overall shape of the coastline affords much protection to the Yacht Charter skipper and his boat. There are no strong winds and there are plenty safe coves where one can moor without peril. Also, the infrastructure for Yacht Charter tourism is well developed, with many marinas and harbors.
The sailing around the island shouldn’t be too demanding, even for beginner skippers, but there is a lot of traffic in the region, especially in the part connecting with the mainland, so extra care should be taking when sailing in this region.