Dugi Otok

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Dugi Otok Island, Croatia Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Dugi Otok Island in Croatia.

Click links for more information
	43°59.64′N, 15°05.34′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
	Interactive map of harbours and anchorages

The island of Dugi Otok (‘Long Island’) lies 10 miles SW of the city of Zadar on the mainland of Croatia. Its SE extremity is just a mile N of the island of Kornat and Dugi Otok is in that sense the northern gateway to the Kornati Islands and their associated national park. Like most of the islands along this coast, it is formed from a submerged mountain ridge extending for 24 miles on a NW/SE axis; its widest point at the settlement of Sali is little more than two miles across and its narrowest opposite the island of Ugljan under a mile. Most of the island’s west coast is steep and rocky, and the main settlements and anchorages are along its NE side facing towards the neighbouring islands of Ugljan and Pasman and the mainland beyond. Both its NW and SE ends are deeply indented, the inlet of Luka Soliscica in the NW offering several sheltered anchorages as well as the marina of Marina Veli Rat, while the inlet of Luka Telascica at the SE end has numerous anchorages on either side of its four mile length as well as others around the islet of Katina at the entrance. The island’s main settlement of Sali is situated four miles NW of the entrance to Luka Telascica and, continuing NW along this coast, there are smaller harbours suitable for visiting yachts at the settlements of U. Triluke, Zmanscica, Luka, Savar, Brbinj, U. Lucina, U. Dumboka and Bozava. The island has less of the quaint Venetian architecture of some of the other Croatian islands and is therefore somewhat quieter and more peaceful during the summer months. The island has no natural springs and consequently its water supply is supplemented during the summer by deliveries from the mainland.

The W side of Dugi Otok is mostly steep-to
Click for larger view

Charts

British Admiralty

2711

2773

515

Croatian chart

MK13

MK14

Imray

M25 (Otok Rab to Sibenik)

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Weather

Diurnal winds among the islands are mostly moderate during the summer months, predominantly from NW and rarely exceeding force 4/5, although gusting is common in narrow channels between islands and on the lee side of headlands. At night, katabatic winds off the mountains affect some of the islands close to the mainland coast. During early spring and (especially) autumn conditions can be more unsettled, occasionally accompanied by violent thunderstorms - luckily of short duration - with winds of 30-35 knots or more and vicious, steep seas. In the winter the sudden, violent N wind off the mountains, the bora, is much to be feared, especially along the coast from Rijeka down to Zadar, although its effects can be felt as far south as Split.

Equally prevalent in winter - although not uncommon in summer - is the scirocco, a S/SE wind that blows up from North Africa, usually in advance of a depression moving E across the Mediterranean. Unlike the bora, the scirocco only occasionally exceeds gale force, but is still a phenomenon to be wary of, especially if on a lee coast.

For sources of weather forecasting, see Croatia.

Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)

The nearest year-round port of entry is Zadar. During the summer, a yacht can also clear in at Sali or Bozava on Dugi Otok.

Berthing options

There are numerous berthing options for yachts visiting the island, virtually all of them in the harbours conveniently spaced along the NE coast and the two large inlets of Luka Soliscica and Luka Telascica at either end. Click on link at top right of page for Interactive map of harbours and anchorages or for full details see below.

Note: U. (short for Uvala) = cove.

Ports

Ports are listed anti-clockwise starting from Sali.

• Sali
• Zaglav, U. Triluke
• Zmanscica
• Luka
• Savar
• Brbinj, U. Jaz
• Brbinj, U. Lucina
• Dragove, U. Dumboka
• Bozava

Anchorages

Luka Telascica

43°53.1′N, 15°12.18′E (entrance)
Luka Telascica at the SE end of Dugi Otok is one of the most beautiful and popular cluster of anchorages in the Croatian islands. The whole inlet is a national park and a daily charge is made per person for visiting (60 kuna in 2012). Nearly four miles in length, there are several coves and inlets around its perimeter where a yacht can anchor or pick up a mooring buoy in complete shelter. For more details click Luka Telascica.

Luka Soliscica

44°09.48′N, 14°51′E (entrance)
Luka Soliscica at the NW end of Dugi Otok, while less popular and offering poorer shelter than Luka Telascica in the prevailing NW winds, is nevertheless an attractive cruising ground with a greater variety of anchorages and the marina of Marina Veli Rat. There are a number of dangers in the approach and careful attention to the chart is necessary. It consists of two bays, the westernmost one of which contains the anchorage of Zaljev Pantera, the marina of Marina Veli Rat and the shallow anchorage of U. Cuna. In the E bay is the hamlet of Soline and the inlet of U. Lucica. For full details of the individual anchorages, see below or, for a zoomable summary map of all the anchorages in Luka Soliscica, click on: Map of anchorages in Luka Soliscica.

Zaljev Pantera

44°09.48′N, 14°49.68′E
The anchorage of Zaljev Pantera is entered by rounding a starboard buoy at the end of a low rocky spit extending for half a mile SE from the headland on the W side of the entrance to Luka Soliscica. After rounding the buoy, head NW for a mile into the anchorage. Anchor in depths of 5.0 metres or, alternatively, pick up one of the mooring buoys provided for visitors (a charge is made). Holding is good in sand. Shelter here is good in all conditions, although strong N winds blow straight over the low lying land on the N wide of the anchorage.

Marina Veli Rat

44°08.64′N, 14°50.76′E
Marina Veli Rat lies at the S end of the W bay, past the anchorage of Zaljev Pantera. See separate entry for Marina Veli Rat for details.

U. Cuna

44°08.34′N, 14°51.48′E
U. Cuna is a totally enclosed cove - virtually a ‘hurricane hole’ entered via a narrow channel that continues SE past the marina and village of Veli Rat. The entrance is only suitable for shallow to moderate draft yachts as depths in the marked channel are less than 3.0 metres. Once inside the cove, either anchor in 2.5 - 3.0 metres or pick up one of the numerous mooring buoys laid along the W and NE shores. Holding is excellent in mud, as is the shelter. Restaurants ashore.

U. Soline

44°08.46′N, 14°52.68′E
The hamlet and anchorage of Soline lies at the SE end of the E bay of Luka Soliscica. Anchor off the village in 6.0 - 8.0 metres. The holding is good in sand and weed. Shelter here is good in all conditions except strong NW winds, when U. Lucica offers better shelter. No facilities ashore.

U. Lucica

44°08.52′N, 14°51.9′E
U. Lucica lies about half a mile WNW of Soline in an inlet protected from all except strong E winds. Anchor 6.0 - 8.0 metres, being careful to avoid the sunken wreck in the centre of the inlet. The holding is moderate to good in mud and weed.

Offshore Islands

• Ugljan
• Pasman
• Kornat
• Molat

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Marina Veli Rat

Yacht Services and Repairs

• Limited emergency repairs in Sali.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

in U. Triluke only (depths of 2.0 metres at fuel berth)

Water and Electricity

see harbour and marina entries

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Dugi Otok has less of the quaint Venetian architecture of some of the other Croatian islands and, as a result, has less tourism. It is arguably more unspoilt therefore than some of its neighbours where tourism is rampant. A visitor by yacht experiences some of the best of the landscape, particularly in the beautiful inlet of Luka Telascica with its numerous coves and its remarkable salt lake of Mir and in the peaceful anchorages of Luka Soliscica. Over the weekend prior to the feast of the Assumption (15 August), the town of Sali hosts the festival of Saljske Uzance, when locals dress in traditional costume and music and dancing is followed by a candlit procession of boats around the harbour.

Donkey racing is a highlight of the Salskje Uzance festival
Click for larger view

Grocery & Supply Stores

See harbour and marina entries

Eateries

See harbour and marina entries

Internet/WiFi

See harbour and marina entries

Laundry

See harbour and marina entries

Motorbike & Car Rentals

• Rental outlets in Sali.

Transportation

• Daily ferries from Zadar to Brbinj, Zaglav (U. Triluke) and Sali.
• Seasonal fast ferries from Zadar to Sali
• Seasonal hydrofoil from Bozava to Zadar, Rijeka and Ancona in Italy.
• Local buses Brbinj - Bozava - Veli Rat, Sali - Zaglav - Luka and some fewer connections between Brbinj and Sali [1]

Routes/Passages To/From

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

• Croatia Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum

External Links

• Telascica Nature Park
• Kornati National Park
• List of all Croatian marinas
• List of government-owned ACI marinas
• Croatian National Tourist Board
• Find Croatia travel guide
• Wikipedia - Croatia
• Anchorages map in Kornati and Telašćica - Vadp

References & Publications

See Croatia.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• August 2005 --Athene of Lymington 15:39, 16 August 2011 (BST)

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