Cres

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Revision as of 19:47, 16 August 2011

Cres Island, Croatia Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Cres Island in Croatia

Map of Cres Island - click for larger view

(Click links for more information)
	44°58.92′N, 14°24.66′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet

Cres Island lies in the Kvarner Gulf off the E coast of the large peninsula of Istra in Croatia, between the peninsula and the islands of Krk and Rab. Its northern extremity is 11 miles SSW of the large commercial port of Rijeka. Cres is joined at the town of Osor along its SW coast by a lifting road bridge to the smaller island of Losinj. Although not quite the largest of the Croatian islands in terms of land area, it is the longest, with a climatic range and vegetation that range from Mediterranean at the southern end to almost sub-alpine at the northern end. The island’s main harbour, Cres Town, has a yacht jetty and 473 berth marina, but apart from the small harbours of Valun four miles SW of Cres Town and Martinscica and Osor on the SW coast, the rest of the island has only anchorages, particularly at its SE end. The island’s main attractions include the 15th and 16th century Venetian architecture of Cres Town and Osor, the tiny but beautiful settlement of Valun and, for wildlife lovers, the Eco-Centre Caput Insulae at Beli in the NE part of the island, which is dedicated to the preservation of Croatia’s endangered population of griffon vultures. Travelling around the island, you may be lucky enough to spot one of these magnificent creatures, conspicuous for their three metre wingspan.

Cres Town waterfront
Click for larger view

Berthing options

The principal berthing options for yachts visiting the island are the town quay, jetty or marina in Cres Town, the quays at the small harbours of Valun, Martinscica and Osor or the numerous anchorages at the SE end of the island. For a map of harbours and anchorages on Cres, please click on the link: [1]. For full details of the harbours and anchorages, see below.

Charts

British Admiralty 202, 2719

Croatian chart 100 - 16 (Pula - Kvarner)

Imray M23 (Adriatic Sea)

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)

Cres Town is not a port of entry. The nearest port of entry is Mali Losinj on the island of [Losinj]].

Ports and Popular Stops

Ports

Click on the appropriate link below for full details of the ports on Cres Island.

• Cres Town harbour (see also Marina Cres).

• Martinscica harbour

• Osor harbour

• Valun harbour

Anchorages

Note: U. (short for Uvala) = cove. Click on the link under Berthing Options above for the location and summary details of each anchorage or on the co-ordinates next to each anchorage for a simple map.

U. Vrc 44°39′N, 14°30.6′E

The cove of U. Vrc is situated at the SE extremity of Cres Island and is the most northerly of a series of attractive and sheltered anchorages around this deeply indented section of the coast. In the approach from N, keep at least half a mile offshore to avoid the shoal of Plicina Matesic ling half a mile NE of the cove. In the approach from S, there are shoals extending for 600 metres off the headland of Rt. Kolorat and a further shoal patch extending 300 metres off the short headland immediately E of the small islet at the entrance to U. Ul, the cove just S of U. Vrc. The best shelter in U. Vrc is in the narrow inlet extending due N at the end of the bay, although depths here are little more than 2.0 metres. Moderate to deep draft yachts will have to anchor in 4.0 - 6.0 metres in the centre of the cove. U. Vrc is sheltered from winds from N through W round to S, but open E and NE. The bottom is sand and mud and good holding.

U. Ul 44°38.5′N, 14°30.5′E

The cove of U. Ul lies immediately S of U. Vrc and extends SW for a distance of half a mile from the entrance. See approach details for U. Vrc for dangers. U. Ul is entered from NE, leaving the small islet at the entrance to port. Depths in the inlet range from 5.0 metres at the entrance to 2.0 metres at the head. Shelter is good from all directions except NE. The bottom is sand and good holding.

U. Kolorat 44°38.4′N, 14°31.7′E

The cove of U. Kolorat lies like an inverted ‘V’ just W of the headland of the same name. A shoal patch extends for 600 metres off the headland of Rt. Kolorat and needs to be avoided if approaching from S or W. A yacht can anchor in either arm of the inlet depending on wind direction. The E inlet is sheltered from all directions except NW; the W inlet is sheltered from all directions except N. Depths in both inlets range from 7.0 metres at the entrance to 2.0 metres at the head. The bottom is sand and mud and good holding.

Luka Jadriscica 44°36.9′N, 14°30.6′E

The inlet of Luka Jadriscica is a narrow cleft extending for just over a mile into the extreme SE tip of Cres Island near the hamlet of Pogana. There are extensive shoals off the coast on either side of the inlet and a yacht should not approach closer than a mile until level with the entrance. In particular, the headland to the W of the entrance has rocky shoals for over half a mile offshore. Once in the inlet, shelter is excellent from all directions except SE. Proceed as far as depths allow and anchor at the head in 3.0 - 6.0 metres. The bottom is sand and weed and good holding once through the weed. There are several jetties off the village on the E side of the inlet and it may be possible to berth stern/bows-to the southernmost of these, where there are depths of 3.0 - 5.0 metres.

U. Martinscica 44°37.7′N, 14°28.0′E

The bay of U. Martinscica (not to be confused with the harbour of the same name) is situated on the SW coast of Cres Island, three miles NW of the entrance to Luka Jadriscica. The headland to the W of the bay has shallows extending for 250 metres off it. Also, the central headland which divides the bay into two has a reef extending for almost 500 metres due S off it. The best anchorage is in the E fork of the bay, where there are depths of 2.0 - 5.0 metres. Shelter is good from all directions except S and SE. The bottom is sand and good holding.

U. Kaldonta 44°37.98′N, 14°27.24′E

The cove of U.Kaldonta is situated just under a mile NW of U. Martinscica, on the N side of the elongated penisula that encloses the latter bay. Shelter here is good from S and SE but the anchorage is completely open from NW round to SW. Depths are 3.0 - 5.0 metres. The bottom is sand and good holding.

U. Ustrine 44°44.94′N, 14°23.1′E

Ustrine is a wide and shallow bay, almost a mile wide, on the W coast of Cres Island, three miles N of the town of Osor. The village of Ustine sits on the top of the hill in the centre of the bay. At the NW corner of the bay is a small cove offering good shelter from all directions except S. Depths are 3.0 - 6.0 metres. The bottom is sand and weed and good holding once through the weed.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Marina Cres

Yacht Services and Repairs

• See Cres Town

Marine Stores

• See Cres Town

Repairs/Yards

• See Cres Town

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel in Cres Town. Water and electricity on jetty at Cres Town, on Valun quay and in Cres Marina.

Offshore Islands

• Losinj
• Krk
• Rab

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Cres Town is very picturesque and Italianate, with tall, pastel-coloured houses clustered round a small outer and tiny inner harbour. The narrow, tortuous lanes of the old town are full of arches and winding, dead end lanes. Like many similar towns in Croatia, the residents make up for their lack of gardens with balconies or front steps that are a riot of foliage. With transport (and if not planning a visit by yacht), the charming village of Valun four miles SW of Cres Town is worth a visit. It lies at the foot of steep cliffs and the very steep access road leads down to a small quay with around a dozen laid moorings and four or five restaurants round the harbour. The town of Osor, where a narrow canal divides Cres Island from its neighbour, Losinj, is a former Roman settlement, later deserted during the Venetian occupation and now a growing tourist destination. The village is most atmospheric and enlivened with some superb bronze sculptures around the main square, including one by Ivan Mestrović. A short walk along the coast brings you to Bijar cove, a small bay with a ruined Franciscan monastery with Glagolitic inscriptions on its bell tower. Finally, for wildlife lovers the Eco-Centre Caput Insulae at Beli in the NE part of the island is a must. Beli village itself is charming and the Eco-Centre has displays of its work as a griffon vulture sanctuary, protecting some 70 breeding pairs on Cres, the only colony in this part of the Mediterranean.

Gallery

Small craft harbour of Cres Town

Waterfront of Valun

The village of Beli

Typical beach on Cres

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Supermarket and provisions shops in Cres Town. Grocery shops in Martinscica and Osor.

Eateries

• Numerous restaurants in Cres Town and Osor. More limited in Martinscica and in anchorages.
• In Cres Town, the Riva Restaurant next to the inner harbour does a good mixed grill. --Athene of Lymington 15:53, 16 August 2011 (BST)
• In Osor, the vine-shaded terrace of Konoba Livio is a great place for lunch. --Athene of Lymington 15:53, 16 August 2011 (BST)

Internet/WiFi

None.

Laundry

None.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

• Rental outlets in Cres Town.

Transportation

• Buses to Opatija, Rijeka and Zagreb
• Ferries to Brestova on Istra, Rijeka and Krk Island

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

• List of all Croatian marinas
• List of government-owned ACI marinas
• Croatian National Tourist Board
• Find Croatia travel guide
• Wikipedia - Croatia

References & Publications

Books, Guides, etc.

• Adriatic Pilot (Imray) - Trevor & Dinah Thompson 5th edition 2008
• 777 Harbours & Anchorages - Karl-H. Bestandig 4th edition 2010-11
• Croatia Cruising Companion (Wiley Nautical) - Jane Cody and John Nash
• Adriatic Sea Pilots Volume 1 and 2 (Croatian Hydrographic Office)

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 2004 and May 2005 --Athene of Lymington 15:39, 16 August 2011 (BST)

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