Brač

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Brac Island, Croatia

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

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	43°19.56′N, 16°37.68′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet

Brac Island lies 10 miles SE of the city of Split on the mainland coast of Croatia, immediately E of the smaller island of Solta, from which it is separated by a channel barely half a mile wide, and directly N of the island of Hvar. The third largest of the Croatian islands after Cres and Krk, with an area of just under 400 square kms, Brac is also a very popular resort island. The stunning beach of Zlatni Rat near Bol is famous worldwide as one of the highlights of Croatia’s tourist promotion and Brac’s population of 14,400 increases by a factor of three to four during the busy summer period. Vidova Gora, the highest point on the island, at 778 metres, is also the highest peak in all the Croatian islands. Historically, the island’s main claim to fame is the quality of its white stone, which has been quarried since Roman times and found its way into buildings as varied as Diocletian’s palace in Split and the White House in Washington DC. Brac is well supplied with mooring facilities for the cruising yachtsman, with ten harbours, two marinas and numerous anchorages around its deeply indented coastline.

The world-renowned beach of Zlatni Rat on Brac
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The US president is protected by Brac stone
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Charts

British Admiralty

2712

Croatian charts

MK18

Imray

M26 (Split to Dubrovnik)

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)

Split is the nearest all-year round port of entry. During the summer, Hvar, Vis and, if arriving from N, Primosten on the mainland are also ports of entry.

Berthing options

There are 14 principal berthing options on the island, the harbours of Supetar, Sutivan, Bobovisce, Milna, Bol, Sumartin, Povlja, Pucisca, Postire and Splitska and anchorages at U. Luka, U. Rasotica, U. Studena and U. Lucice amongst others. The harbour of Milna also contains two small marinas. For full details see below or, for a zoomable summary map of all the harbours and anchorages on Brac Island, click on: Map of marina, harbour and anchorages on Brac Island.

Ports

The ports on Brac are listed anti-clockwise from the main ferry port of Supetar. See links below.

• Supetar
• Sutivan
• Bobovisce
• Milna
• Bol
• Sumartin
• Povlja
• Pucisca
• Postire
• Splitska

Anchorages

The main anchorages on Brac island are as follows (anti-clockwise from Supetar):

U. Stipanska 43°22.5′N, 16°26.52′E
The narrow inlet of U. Stipanka lies around 1.5 miles NNW of the harbour of Bobovisce and offers good shelter in all but S winds. Anchor towards the head of the inlet in 3.0 - 4.0 metres with a line ashore if the anchorage is busy. The holding is good in sand and weed. No facilities ashore.

U. Lucice 43°18.6′N, 16°26.76′E
U. Lucice is a multi-branched inlet a mile due S of the harbour of Milna (although a trip of some five miles round the headland separating it). The best shelter is in the westernmost branch of the inlet, where there is a restaurant and several mooring buoys for visiting yachts. Alternatively anchor with a line ashore in this or the next branch to the E. Depths are 10-12 metres and the holding is good in sand and weed. The anchorage becomes uncomfortable with fresh to strong S winds.

U. Studena 43°16.38′N, 16°50.52′E
The anchorage of U. Studena is situated at the SE end of the island, a mile or so SW of the port of Sumartin. It offers good shelter in all but S winds. Anchor at the head of the inlet in 6.0 - 8.0 metres, preferably with a line ashore. Holding is good in sand and weed.

U. Rasotica 43°18.48′N, 16°53.16′E
U. Rasotica lies at the extreme E tip of the island and consists of a narrow cleft that offers good shelter from all directions in the tiny cove at its head. Anchor in 5.0 - 6.0 metres and take a line ashore to one of the stone bollards around the cove. Holding is moderate in sand and weed. No facilities ashore.

U. Luka 43°20.4′N, 16°47.7′E
U. Luka is the westernmost part of a multi-branched inlet at the NE end of the island, in the easternmost part of which is the harbour of Povlja. U. Luka reaches inland for almost a mile and is perfectly sheltered at its head. Anchor in one of the three coves at the head in 4.0 - 6.0 metres and take a line ashore if preferred. The holding is good in sand. There is a restaurant on the S side of the westernmost cove with its own quay and laid moorings in 4.0 metres. Obviously if you moor here you are expected to eat in the restaurant.

Offshore Islands

• Solta
• Hvar

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

See entry for Milna.

Yacht Services and Repairs

Limited repairs at ACI-operated Marina Milna.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel berths in Milna, Bol and Sumartin. Water and electricity at Bobovisce, Milna, Bol, Pucisca and Splitska. For details see port entries.

Things to do Ashore

See individual port entries.

Transportation

• Ferries to Split from Supetar and from Sumartin to Makarska.
• Seasonal ferries to Split from Bol and Milna.
• Internal flights to Zagreb from Brac airport (April - October).

Routes/Passages To/From

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

See Croatia.

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:

• July 2005 --Athene of Lymington 16:20, 15 November 2012 (GMT)

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