Umag

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Umag, Croatia

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	45°26.02′N, 13°31.00′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet

The bay and marina of Umag - click for larger view

The town of Umag is the first harbour a yacht will encounter on crossing the border from Slovenia on the way south into Croatia and is a port of entry. It lies around six miles SW of the Slovenian port of Portoroz and ten miles N of the harbour of Novigrad. Like many of the harbours along the coast of Slovenia and Istria, Umag was originally an ancient island settlement, passing through the hands of the Byzantines, Lombards and Franks before becoming part of the Venetian republic by 1269. The period of Venetian rule lasted until the arrival of Napoleon’s troops in 1797, after which the whole of Istria passed under Austro-Hungarian control, which lasted except for a brief period of French rule in 1806-13 until 1918, when the area became part of the Kingdom of Italy. As with most of the towns along the Istrian coast, however, most of the remaining Italian population left in 1954 when the town was ceded to the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. With the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, Istria became part of the new Republic of Croatia with Umag as its most northerly harbour. Today Umag is an important agricultural area, with substantial olive oil and wine production, as well as a growing tourist centre, the latter boosted by the development of the ACI Umag Marina, offering 494 berths for yachts of up to 20.0 metres, plus a hard standing area that can winter around 90 yachts.

Charts

British Admiralty

1471

204

201

Croatian charts

100-15

11

Italian charts

924

39

Imray Nautical Chart

M24

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Local Weather

Diurnal winds along the coast are mostly moderate during the summer months, predominantly from NW and rarely exceeding force 4/5. At night, katabatic winds off the mountains are a feature of some of the harbours along the NE Adriatic 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.

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.

Approach and Navigation

The bay of Umag is easily distinguished by a large cement works about one mile S of and on the N side by the large hotel complex of the Hotel Adriatic. In the approach from N, the dangerous rocky shoal of Secca Peklena extends for 300 metres off the headland at the N end of the bay; it is marked with a red-painted pillar mark. Closer in to the harbour entrance there is a further shoal patch just off the northern breakwater, which is marked with a S cardinal mark. There are additional isolated dangers in the approach from S and yacht should keep at least half a mile offshore to avoid them. The harbour is entered from SW on a course of around 60 degrees between a pair of port and starboard buoys. Depths in the entrance are only around 4.0 metres and therefore Umag should not be entered in strong onshore winds. Once inside the harbour, pass between the end of the marina breakwater and the green starboard buoy marking some further shallows. From here, turn to port to enter the marina or head SE for the town quay and anchorage.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

There are two customs and harbourmaster offices. One is on the breakwater just inside the marina (it is not necessary to berth in the marina if clearing in here). This office may close after Juky 1st 2013 after Croatia joins the EU.

The other is on the customs quay in the south side of the harbour. This quay has depth of 4m. The customs office location is obvious. However the harbourmaster's office is in an office building across the street. Go into the passage with the sign Pizzeria Passage and enter the door on the right. Up to the first floor and through the double doors on the right - still not marked as the Harbourmaster

Berthing Options

Visiting yachts have three berthing options in Umag:

Town quay

Yachts of shallow or moderate draft can berth bows or stern-to using their anchor (or alongside at less busy periods) at the town quay at the SE end of the harbour. Depths here are around 3.0 metres. Conditions here are only comfortable in settled weather and could be dangerous in a strong bora. There are no facilities other than water. Berthing charge: 8 kuna/metre per day.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

ACI Marina Umag

Marina Umag is one of the 21 marinas run by the Croatian government-owned ACI Club and offers 494 berths for yachts up to 20.0 metres in depths of up to 5.0 metres. Click on link for details. It is at the NW corner of the harbour.

Anchorages

It is possible to anchor to the N of the moorings off the town quay. Depths here are 3.0 - 4.0 metres. The holding is good in mud. Again, shelter here is poor with any N winds. Anchoring charge: 4 kuna/metre per day.

There are mooring buoys in north-west end of the harbour.

You can tie up, stern-to on the quay adjacent to the main Custom Quay.

Offshore Islands and Groups

None.

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

See entry for Marina Umag for details.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel dock on the quay NE of the marina. Water on the town quay but no electricity.

Tourism and Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The old town of Umag on the peninsula at the southern end of the bay Piran, while not the most attractive of the Venetian-style towns in Istria, is nevertheless worth exploring. There are a number of bars and restaurants on the S side of the peninsular with good views over the sea. Some good beaches are within easy reach of the town. Tennis buffs will love Umag, which has around 64 tennis courts and hosts the Croatia Open, an important tournament on the ATP circuit.

The old town of Umag
Click for larger view

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Good provisions shops in the town

Eateries

• Numerous bars and restaurants in the old town.

Internet/WiFi

In the marina.

Laundry

In the marina.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Rental outlets in the town.

Garbage Disposal

Bins in the marina and near the town quay.

Transportation

• Buses to Rijeka, Ljubljana and Zagreb
• Ferries to Venice
• International airports at Pula 80 kilometres, Trieste 65 kilometres and Ljubljana 110 kilometres.

Routes/Passages To/From

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)

External Links

Links to relevant websites.

• Umag municipal website (Croatian and Italian only)

For other useful websites, see Croatia.

References & Publications

See entry for 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:

• September 2004 and April 2005--Athene of Lymington 16:01, 9 February 2011 (UTC)

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