Family business
We started our charter company in 1996, but our sailing experience was gained over a few generations on our ten-meter sailing yacht, dating back to 1935. Back then, she was one of the few in the area. We started our first season with just two boats, but with every new season we added new boats to our fleet. Now we have many boats, and all of them are in top shape. The way we maintain our boats is something we are very proud of, and our customers appreciate it. None of our boats carry promotional materials, which gives our clients additional privacy and allows them to feel as if they own the boat.
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Meet the ABA VELA charter team in Split
Real People. Real Boats. Real Support. ABA VELA is a family-owned yacht charter company based in Split, Croatia, operating from ACI Marina Split. Our experienced local team ensures safe, transparent, and personal service for guests from all over Europe.
Started ABA VELA in 1996 in order to combine business with his passion for sailing. Strong perseverance enabled him to tackle business hurdles and keep moving forward, a quality he developed in rowing, his other passion, where he won a bronze medal at the 1980 Olympics.
Speaking five languages makes Tonka a true polyglot, and being welcomed in your native language after a long trip to Croatia helps create a friendly connection. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask her; she will gladly help you.
Having a passion for water sports, he has been around boats his whole life. More than 30 years in the charter business have given him enough experience to tackle any problem related to boats and charter operations. Feel free to ask our base manager any questions.
She is the cornerstone of ABA VELA. She dots the i's and crosses the t's; nothing escapes her oversight or her determination to make things right. She is loved by marina staff and even competing charter teams because of her warm nature and eagerness to help.
An army of students overwhelms the marina docks on Saturday mornings, and turning that mayhem into order requires Nataša. She is strict but fair, and she treats our cleaning staff with respect. She guarantees sparkling cleanliness on our sailing boats.
For him, there is always something more that can be done to make boats better and customers happier. He has great people skills and endless patience. He will gladly explain all the details of the sailing boat to you during check-in.
Our Office in the Marina in Split
Our office is located right next to Pier D in ACI Marina Split, the central marina in Split, Croatia. All ABA VELA sailing yachts are moored directly at Pier D, enabling fast check-in, easy luggage transfer, and a smooth start to your yacht charter in Split. Booking a bareboat or skippered charter with ABA VELA means everything is within walking distance — our office, your yacht, marina facilities, parking, restaurants, and provisioning shops. This prime location in ACI Marina Split ensures a stress-free start to your sailing holiday in Croatia and your exploration of the Dalmatian islands. By choosing a yacht in Split’s central harbour, you can conveniently visit the Old Town while waiting for check-in. Additionally, you are about one hour closer to the nearest islands, giving you more time for sailing and discovering the Adriatic.
Sailing Yacht Location – ACI Marina Split
Our sailing yachts are located directly in front of our office at Pier D in ACI Marina Split – the central and best-connected marina in Split, Croatia. All ABA VELA charter yachts are moored at Pier D, enabling fast check-in, convenient luggage transfer, and an efficient start to your yacht charter in Split.
24/7 Charter Support from Split, Croatia
ABA VELA – Yacht Charter Split is an official EmergenSea partner, providing 24/7 maritime assistance and rapid-response safety coverage across the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Charter your sailing yacht in Split with confidence, knowing professional support is available within one hour anywhere.
Since 2022, ABA VELA – Yacht Charter Split has been an official partner of the EmergenSea assistance network, ensuring maximum safety and professional support during your sailing holiday in Croatia.
With 12 strategically positioned bases along the Adriatic coast, EmergenSea can reach your yacht within one hour — day or night, in calm seas or severe weather conditions. This rapid-response system perfectly aligns with our mission to provide reliable, premium support for our bareboat and skippered yacht charter guests in Split and throughout the Adriatic.
Our EmergenSea base in Split covers all types of maritime assistance, including technical issues, mechanical breakdowns, towing, battery failure, grounding incidents, fuel delivery, and emergency support at sea. Whether you are sailing from Split to Hvar, Brač, Vis, or exploring the Dalmatian islands, you can charter with confidence knowing professional help is always nearby.
When you charter a yacht with ABA VELA in Croatia, you are not only renting a sailing yacht — you are securing 24/7 safety coverage across the Adriatic Sea.
If you ever need assistance during your charter, simply call us — help will be on the way immediately.