about sailing in croatia

It comes suddenly and blows in violent busts. It can occasionally reach gale force levels. Gusts of over 200 km/h have been recorded, corresponding to the speeds of the strongest hurricanes. It blows in exceptionally strong gusts from the interior of the colder mainland mountains of the eastern Adriatic. Most often from the north-northeast to east-northeast. The strength of the Bura is due to the presence of warm air over the sea surface, and the cold air over the coastal mountain ranges, which creates a strong surge of air in order to equalize air pressure.

In the winter, Bura blows more frequently, stronger and for a longer period (from 3 to 7 days), while in the summer it is less frequent, weaker and blows for a shorter period (up to 2 days). Gale force Bura winds last maximum 2 days. Sudden appearance of the Bura wind is one of its most dangerous features. 

Strong Bura is predictable and forecasts are reliable. Find a good shelter in time.

is a strong northern to northwest wind generated by passing of the cold front over Adriatic. Of rather short duration – usually after a single day it turns into Bura – Tramuntana arrives suddenly and very soon reaches stormy force, causing gales and very rough seas. 

However Tramuntana is less common in the summer, even though its commonly mistaken for a strong Maestral, because of the terrain configuration in Croatia.

Maestral is cool wind that comes from the sea to the land, so it blows from NW in most part of Croatia, depending of land configuration. It is thermal wind that blows in the afternoon, because the land warms up faster than the sea, so the difference of pressures and temperatures creates wind. Though it’s mainly a soft to medium powered, it sometimes gets strong, especially in the narrow passes in Dalmatia such as Brac channel, and the Peljesac channel (which is why these areas are widely known windsurfing destinations).In the afternoon hours, it can achieve speeds of 20 to 35 knots.  Maestral mainly doesn’t create big waves.

In the southern Adriatic, the Mistral is more prominent than the in the north, and begins blowing earlier in the day.

 It is present from spring to autumn. It lessens the summer heat, accompanies nice and stable weather and is pleasant for sailing. 

Jugo is frequent wind in the autumn, when it blows up to 50 knots, or more. In the Summer it’s rare and mostly light. However in the late summer, strong Jugo is possible, and this should be noted, as it can be dangerous.

Cyclonal Jugo is a moderate to strong wind, sometimes reaching stormy force, blowing from ESE to SE, caused by a cyclone progressing from the west Mediterranean into the Adriatic area ,bring heavy clouds and a lot of rainfall. Cyclonal jugo is the most frequent variation of south wind in the Adriatic area. In the autumn and winter time waves reach up to 5 m in height in the open sea areas, so beware. 

Anti cyclonal Jugo is a rather rare springtime or autumn wind generated by a deep cyclone over north and northwest Europe and an anti-cyclone over the east Mediterranean. This kind of wind is typically accompanied by a slightly misty sky with rare high clouds moving fast from WSW, dry air, high temperatures. It can reach stormy force.

Unlike  Bura, Jugo never starts suddenly. It is less dangerous than the Bura because it is gradual and does not surprise. It blows more often and stronger in the southern Adriatic. It rarely remains  weak and can often reach gale force levels. It is more pronounced on the open sea. However, it can be very strong in those coastal areas where the sea is open or where the wind blows through channels. In the summer, it blows less frequently and with a lesser intensity, while in the winter it can blow for 10 days, or with small breaks for up to 3 weeks. 

Jugo has its favourite playgrounds: from Dubrovnik to the mouth of the Boka Kotorska Bay and in the wider area of the Kamenjak Cape (southern tip of the Istrian peninsula), as well as open seas of the Mid-Adriatic.

  Check forecast and stay say safe.

is a rather moderate wind blowing from the S, thermal by genesis that “follows the Sun” and precedes Maestral. With global climate changes and Summer Maestral losing regularity, Oštro sometimes keeps blowing all day long, until sunset.

It is Summer, light to moderate wind, very pleasant for sailing.

is mostly winter wind of short duration, but generating extremely rough seas and bringing heavy rainfall.
Announced by extremely high tides, Lebić also causes poor visibility.
It is generated by passing of a cyclone eye over the continental part of Croatia and progression of a cold frontal; a deep depression over the north Adriatic causes a strong southwest wind, air pressure fall and unstable cloud systems – that swiftly turn into stormy west wind. Such an occurrence in the summer months causes a very dangerous abrupt gale, inevitably causing damage on boats and on the shore.

This wind does not appear often, but when it does, it comes in force and brings lots of rain. It blows more often in the northern Adriatic. It creates big waves and storms where it passes.

It progresses in several rather unusual phases. First, the western sky is fair, there’s practically no wind, the sea is calm… then a curtain of heavy clouds comes from the west. After short wind gusts there’s a calm again  soon followed by a very strong wind creating high and long waves, extremely unpleasant and dangerous, especially in the longitudinal channels. Pulenat, as a typical storm wind, should be well respected and feared!

Levanat is the wind blowing from the East. It usually brings cloudy and rainy weather in the winter months while in the summer it blows in the sunny mornings and was usually changed by Maestral in the afternoons.