Cres Town
From CruisersWiki
| Cres Town
| |
   
| |
 Cres Town waterfront |
The harbour of Cres Town lies at the head of a narrow inlet on the E side of the large Gulf of Valun on the NW coast of the island of Cres in Croatia. The E coast of the Istra peninsula on the mainland is only 12 miles to the W. Like most of the island capitals, Cres Town owes its architectural legacy and therefore much of its charm to the Venetians, who ruled in this area for nearly four centuries from the 15th almost to the end of the 18th century. Today the town is popular with Italian and Austrian tourists as well as yachtsmen from all nations, attracted to the well-sheltered harbour and the 473 berth marina.
Charts
See Cres.
Weather
See Croatia.
Passages
See Croatia.
Islands
Communication
Add here VHF channel for the coastguard, harbor masters. etc.
Also see Cruiser's Nets
There are no dangers in the approach to Cres Town. The narrow 500-metre wide inlet leading to the town is entered from NW and opens out into a wide bay at the N end of which the town sits. The sides of the inlet are shallow, with rocky obstructions, especially on the N side, and a yacht should enter down the centre of the channel. The town and its small, shallow harbour lie just under a mile from the entrance on the NE side. The inlet narrows again after the harbour of Cres Town and continues SSE to the pontoons of Marina Cres.
Entrance
Cres Town is not a port of entry. The nearest port of entry is Mali Losinj on the island of [Losinj]].
Berthing
From N to S the options in Cres Town are as follows:
Harbour Breakwater
Moderate draft yachts can moor on the outside of the long western breakwater of the harbour. Depths inside are too shallow for most yachts and there is in any case rarely any space. There are laid moorings for around 10 yachts along the breakwater. Depths here are around 3.0 metres. Water and electricity are available along the breakwater. Shelter here is good in most conditions, although an uncomfortable swell sets into the bay with anything W in the wind. Strong southerlies also make it uncomfortable here in view of the half-mile fetch across the bay.
- Harbour Master Tel: +385 (51) 571 111; VHF channels 10 & 16
Harbour Jetty
Boatyard
The boatyard (Brodogradilište) of Cres is immediately E of the jetty has around 20 berths, complete with laid moorings, water and electricity, toilets and showers, which can be used by visiting yachts if space is available. Depths are 4.0 - 5.0 metres. Shelter is good from all directions except from the W. Go to the quay just behind the harbour jetty.
- [email protected]; Tel/Fax: +385 (51) 571 544; VHF channel XX
- Address: "Brodogradilište Cres" d.d. Cres Peškera 2, 51557 Cres, Hrvatska, Croatia
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
- Marina Cres - The ACI-owned Marina Cres has 461 berths for yachts up to 25 metres and a maximum draft of 5.0 metres. Shelter here is excellent and it is the best (if the most expensive) place to be if bad weather is forecast.
Anchorages
It is possible to anchor in the bay off the town, just E of the small headland of Rt. Melin, where the shelter is good from all directions except NW.
Warning: There is a reef extending 100 metres due to the S from Rt. Melin. Depths in the anchorage are 4.0 - 6.0 metres and the holding is good in mud and sand.
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Water | On the Breakwater, Jetty, and in Marina Cres |
| Electricity | On the Breakwater, Jetty, and in Marina Cres |
| Toilets | In Marina Cres |
| Showers | In Marina Cres |
| Laundry | In Marina Cres |
| Garbage | Bins near the harbour and in Marina Cres |
| Supplies | |
| Fuel | Fuel station at the root of the long Jetty and in Marina Cres |
| Bottled gas | Gas replacement at fuel dock in Marina Cres |
| Chandlers | In Marina Cres |
| Services | |
| Repairs |
|
| Internet | WiFi In Marina Cres and in the Boatyard |
| Mobile connectivity | ? |
| Vehicle rentals | Rental outlets in the town |
Provisioning
- Small supermarkets and good provisions shops in the town
- A bigger 'Konzum' supermarket is 700m SE of the Boatyard (address: Put Brajdi 3-5, Cres). Open: 07:00-21:00 (Sun 07:00-14:00)
- Minimarket in Marina Cres
Eating out
- Several cafes and restaurants around the harbour and 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)
- Café in Marina Cres
Transportation
Transportation (local and/or international)
- Buses to Opatija, Rijeka, Osor, Mali Losinj and Zagreb. See [1] for other destinations.
Tourism
Places to Visit
Cres Town is very picturesque and Italianate, with tall, pastel-coloured houses clustered around 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. There are also occasional buses to Beli, a hilltop settlement at the NE end of the island, where there is a famous griffon vulture sanctuary.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Cres Town at the Wikipedia
- Cres tourist board
- List of all Croatian marinas
- Croatian National Tourist Board
- Find Croatia travel guide
- Noonsite
References
See entry for Croatia.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Cres Town and this page's details validated:
- August 2004 and May 2005 --Athene of Lymington
- September 2014 --Vadp
| This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
 Contributors to this page |
|---|
|
Names: Athene of Lymington |
