Family sailing holiday in Croatia with five adults and five children aged nought to five – deliberately chosen for the sheltered island world, short legs and the option of travelling by car. Aboard a catamaran (Excess 11) from Zadar: sandy beaches, a secret pirate bay, crystal-clear water and unforgettable family moments. The area around Dugi Otok and Ist is ideal for families with small children.

Sailing area: Adriatic, Mediterranean
Country: Croatia
Departure: Zadar
Destination: Zadar
Route: Zadar → Ugljan → Molat → Uvala Lojišće (Ist) → Uvala Slatinica → Sakarun → Božava → Zadar
Nautical miles: 100
Travel dates: 07.06.2025 – 14.06.2025
Sailing yacht: Catamaran, Excess 11, 37 ft
Charter company: Albatros Yachting
Organiser: Skipper-Alliance

Family sailing holiday – Croatia with young children
Five adults, five children aged between nought and five, one cat, one week in Croatia. It was relaxed, beautiful and one of the best sailing adventures for the kids. How does it work? With the right boat, the right sailing area and a good dose of flexibility.

Why Croatia – and why catamaran
The decision for Croatia was deliberate. Firstly: travelling by car makes the logistics with young children considerably more manageable. Secondly: the islands around Zadar are ideal for families. Sheltered waters, short passages, no long hauls that overwhelm the children. You reach somewhere quickly, have the bay to yourselves and the little ones in the water.

For family trips I'm a firm catamaran fan, and this was no exception. More space, more stability, no constant heeling, and the kids can move about freely on deck. We chartered with Albatros Yachting in Zadar for the third time. As always, everything ran smoothly and professionally, from the briefing right through to handover. Our boat: the Excess 11, a modern, spacious catamaran that proved to be a great choice for this kind of holiday.

First night at Ugljan – straight into the water
We left the jetty and, after a short sail, dropped anchor at Ugljan. The kids were already jumping into the water that afternoon, setting the tone for the whole week. Sunset, a glass of wine, and children who'd swum themselves tired and slept contentedly. It's hard to imagine a better start.

Molat – a small disappointment, met with great calm
After a brief stop, we carried on to Molat, mooring directly at the pier. As it was still slightly off-season, we'd paid full mooring fees but had neither power nor water. That's one of those quirks you occasionally come across in Croatia, and it can be mildly annoying. But if you sail, you have to be flexible. It's all part of it, and by the next sunset the whole thing was forgotten.

The pirates' cove
On the leeward side of Ist we sailed through a wonderful little world of islands. Good wind, gorgeous scenery, islands drifting past us. Then: a small bay, slightly open to the south-west – Uvala Lojišće. We had it entirely to ourselves, with no other boat in sight. We lay beneath a crystal-clear starry sky, and for the children we'd buried a pirate's treasure. The wooden chest, the searching, the finding – the kids were thrilled. An evening that will be talked about for a long time to come.

Uvala Slatinica on Olib – sandy beach and letting off steam
Because the weather window was right, we headed to Olib. And what a find: a lovely sandy beach, clear water, space to run around. For children aged nought to five, a sandy beach isn't a nice-to-have – it's worth its weight in gold. Everyone could get off the boat, everyone could let off steam, and that relaxes the whole crew. Other sailors passing by had the tip to walk up into the village and eat out there in the evening – a great idea we're keeping in mind for next time. That evening we cooked on board ourselves: spaghetti with tomato sauce, on deck, all together.

Sakarun – Beach bar & caipirinha
Heading south, another beach stop: Sakarun. Beautiful beach, well-organised mooring buoy field. And in the low season no problem with space, plus a great beach bar right on the water. Whilst the children played in the sand, we treated ourselves to a caipirinha or two. High season is likely to be much busier here.

Božava – bunkers, harbour & finale
Last stop before the return trip: Božava. A small, charming harbour that lay in off-season slumber. Catamaran berth no problem, good dinner and then a highlight: old military bunkers nearby, which we explored by dinghy. Navigating through the various chambers and side passages was equally exciting for young and old alike. A lovely, slightly adventurous conclusion.

Conclusion: Croatia with the family – highly recommended
The Excess 11 didn't quite deliver what I'd expected under sail – without a code zero and with a small jib the catamaran simply doesn't get up to speed. If you can, add the code zero. But as a family yacht she was spot on: space, stability, comfort. The region around Zadar, Dugi Otok and Ist is a wonderful sailing area for families with small children. Short passages, sheltered bays, sandy beaches, good facilities and yet real nature and real discoveries.