Bulgaria : Profile

Facts

Bulgaria is changing and there are no longer any restricted areas to visiting yachts. Once cleared in, there is no requirement to check in with any authorities at intermediate ports, except when clearing out again.
Officials are reported to be very friendly and helpful.
The best port to clear in coming from Turkey is Tzarevo, and coming from Romania is Balchik. Yachts can also clear-in at Varna and Burgas. Burgas is a large commercial harbour with limited facilities for private yachts, Sozopol would be a better place to stop.
The Bay of Burgas, between Sveti Vlas and Sozopol, is a real cruising ground where it is possible to find relatively isolated anchorages.
Great progress has been made developing facilities for cruisers with full service marinas in Sozopol and St. Vlas and finger pontoons in Balchik and Nesebar - all with water and electrical outlets and Wi-Fi.
On January 1 2007 Bulgaria joined the European Union.
See the Publications section for the latest cruising guides to the Black Sea. A particularly useful source is the RCCPF files.

Updated August 2011.

The climate is similar to the Northern Mediterranean, with very hot summers, but colder winters. The prevailing winds of summer are north east, although there is a daily alternation of land and sea breezes.

Weather Broadcasts from Varna Radio broadcast at 10:30, 16:30, 20:30 local time on VHF 26.

Istanbul Broadcasts at 10:00, 16:00, 22:00 local time on VHF 67 sometimes in English and always in Turkish.

www.meteor.gov.tr (Turkish, English or German) provides a good 3 day forecast for the Black Seas Regions.

Navtex out of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey also covers the region.