This is what I was able to come up with from AI assistance. I know what today might be the cheapest day to buy tickets so I wanted to get this out.

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Awesome — this is exactly the kind of pre-festival sailing that makes Defected Croatia legendary. I put together:

1. a practical 5–7 day bareboat (with skipper) itinerary that finishes at/near Tisno for the festival (Defected Croatia runs 29 July–3 Aug 2026, The Garden Resort, Tisno).
2. which airport(s) to use from North America (pros & cons), and
3. a realistic cost breakdown (boat, skipper, APA/provisions, fuel, marina fees, transfers, and flights) with conservative ranges and example per-person math for a group.

I assumed you want to sail into the Tisno / Murter / Kornati area (best for reaching the festival and boat parties). If your group size or preferences differ, you can still use these numbers as a template.

Best airport(s) to fly into

Preferred — Split (SPU). Split has the biggest number of charter bases and marinas nearby (easy transfers to the central Dalmatian marinas and a short drive to Sibenik/Murter area). Split also has steadily improved long-haul/seasonal connections from North America/Europe for summer 2026 (more flight options = usually cheaper tickets and easier luggage handling for a sailing group).

Close alternative — Zadar (ZAD). Zadar is usually a slightly shorter drive to Tisno / Murter than Split (est. ~50–75 km; ~50–75 min drive depending on route), so it’s a sensible choice if you find a better flight into ZAD. Good option if price/connection is better.

 

Why not Dubrovnik or Zagreb for this festival? Both are further from Tisno (Dubrovnik is much farther south; Zagreb is inland and requires a long drive), so only use them if you want to see those cities first or have a cheap/one-stop fare.

 

Recommendation summary: Fly into Split if you prioritize charter options and flight availability. Fly into Zadar if you want the shortest transfer to Tisno or find significantly cheaper flights.

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Where to pick up the boat (bases / marinas)

For the Tisno / Defected area the most common charter bases are on Murter island (Marina Betina, Jezera, Hramina) and nearby marinas at Pirovac / Vodice / Šibenik. These are the most convenient for reaching Tisno and the Kornati / Murter anchorages. If you fly Split, many charters will also let you pick up boats from Marina Kaštela (Split) but that’s a longer reposition to Tisno.

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6-day (5–7 day flexible) sample itinerary — built for chill sailing, anchor bays and boat parties

This is a 6-day example that’s easy on sleepers/crew and keeps hops to ~1–4 hours sailing per day. Distances/times are approximate — keep it flexible for weather.

Day 0 (arrival day) — Fly into Split or Zadar, transfer to your base (Murter / Betina / Jezera). Provision, meet the boat and skipper, safety briefing, overnight in the marina. (If you arrive early you can overnight in Split/Zadar then transfer next morning.)

Day 1 — Murter (Betina/Jezera) → Levrnaka / southern Kornati (anchor)

Short hop into the Kornati archipelago; swim, snorkel, small beach party vibe. (1–3 hours sailing depending on exact start.)

 

Day 2 — Levrnaka → Kornat / Telašćica (Dugi Otok)

Explore the rugged Kornati islands, anchor in a protected cove. Consider a dinghy swim or small shore walk. (2–4 hours).

 

Day 3 — Telašćica Bay (Dugi Otok) → Sali / Žut / Kornati villages

Visit salt lake & cliffs in Telašćica; overnight near Žut or Sali (great small restaurants). (Short hops + plenty of time ashore.)

 

Day 4 — Sali area → Šibenik channel / Kaprije / Zlarin

Work your way back toward the mainland, pick a quieter island for an evening barbecue ashore. (2–3 hours.)

 

Day 5 — Head toward Murter/Tisno area — anchor near Tisno or return to marina

Relax, pack, enjoy a last swim. If the festival boat parties are running, you can position near Tisno / The Garden Resort. (Short sail.)

 

Day 6 — Return boat to base (morning), handover and transfer to The Garden Resort (Tisno) for Defected

Drop the boat on time, transfer (short taxi/shuttle) to The Garden Resort. Enjoy the festival.

 

If you want 5 or 7 days: compress or add an extra island day (e.g., add Žut, Kornati more exploration, or Krka waterfalls day trip by car from Šibenik).

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Typical charter + trip costs — realistic, cited estimates & example per-person math

 

I show a conservative example for a 7-day bareboat + skipper (skippered) arrangement and for group splitting. Actual prices depend on boat size, season (late July = high season), and how many people share costs.

Key price inputs (sources):

Base weekly bareboat charter average (Croatia, mid/high season): ~€3,000–€5,000 / week for typical 40–50ft yachts (price varies by boat class).

Skipper: €150–€250 per day (peak summer can be toward top end). So for 7 days that’s about €1,050–€1,750.

APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) to cover fuel, food, park fees, marina dues, etc.: ~20–30% of the base charter (typical guidance). (Example: 25% of €4,000 = €1,000).

Fuel, marina & extras: often covered from the APA, but expect fuel & marinas to be a few hundred euros total depending on itinerary.

Security deposit: refundable, commonly €1,000–€3,500 held at base.

 

Flights (North America → Split / Zadar)

Ballpark round-trip economy fares in summer: US$700–1,500+ per person depending on city, routing and timing. (Transatlantic availability is increasing in 2026 — check direct seasonal routes; new services were announced for 2026). Use the low end if you book early / use connections; high end if last-minute or peak dates.

Sample budgeting scenarios (I’ll give an example for clarity; keep in mind these are estimates to help planning):

 

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Example A — mid-range charter plan (group of 12 people) — 7 days (one yacht, skipper)

 

Base charter (week): €4,000.

Skipper: €1,050 (7 days × €150/day).

APA (25%): €1,000 (used for fuel, provisions, marina fees — any unused is usually returned).

Final cleaning / tourist tax / minor extras: €200.

 

TOTAL CHARTER COST (all) = €4,000 + €1,050 + €1,000 + €200 = €6,250.

 

Per person (12 people) = €6,250 / 12 = €521 (~US$560) each for the boat week (including skipper/APA estimate).

Add flights (example): US$1,000 avg → US$1,000 (~€930 depending on FX) per person.

Add transfers (shared minivan from Split to Murter/Tisno): €20–€40 per person (shared).

 

Grand approximate cost per person = Boat €521 (~US$560) + Flights US$1,000 + Transfers €30 (~US$33) + Festival ticket €294 (~US$320) = ~US$1,913 (rough order). (The festival ticket price for 2026 is listed around €293.99 / ~US$340 at time of posting).

 

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Example B — larger group (say 16 people) — same charter numbers

 

If the same yacht can actually accommodate (often you’d need larger vessel or two boats for 16 people), but suppose you split across two boats or a catamaran that fits more:

Total charter/fixed costs rise (larger boat or two boats), but per person often drops slightly. For two similar boats totaling €8,000 + skipper(s)/APA, divide by 16 → could be ~€450–550 per person for boats. Exact numbers depend on vessel(s) chosen.

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Other cost considerations

 

If you need two boats for 10+ people (many monohulls sleep 6–8), budgets need to be doubled accordingly — catamarans and bigger yachts cost more. Check sleeping capacity before booking.

 

Provisioning per person (food/drinks): if not entirely via APA, budget €30–€60 per person per day for meals/drinks if you eat ashore and drink a fair amount.

 

Marina fees / national park fees: included in APA generally but expect modest fees at some harbors or National Park day permits.

 

Cancellation insurance / travel insurance (strongly recommended) — variable cost but plan ~US$50–150 pp.

 

Damage waiver or deposit insurance can reduce the need to block a large security deposit. Ask charter company

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Quick booking advice / logistics (practical)

Book boats early (high season July end = peak for charters and festival). Many bases sell out or require larger deposits months ahead.

Check yacht capacity vs sleeping berths — if your group is large (10–20 people per your earlier planning), you will likely need either a big catamaran or two yachts. Pricing rises accordingly.

Get a skipper unless your crew is fully experienced and certificated — local waters, narrow channels and crowded marinas in high season make the skipper a very good call.

Plan pickup/dropoff times so you can hand back the boat the morning you need to get to the festival — or drop the boat a day earlier and stay ashore near Tisno. Transfers from Murter/Tisno to The Garden Resort are short.

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