Lošinj

From CruisersWiki

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

Lošinj/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj

Lošinj 44°34.14′N, 14°25.01′E44.569;14.416833333333 destination

Harbour of Mali Losinj - Click for larger view

Losinj Island lies off the mainland coast of Croatia, immediately W of the island of Cres, to which it was once joined and from which it is now separated by the narrow canal at the town of Osor in Cres. Five miles to the W are the small islands of Unije and Susak and just over a mile SSE is the equally small island of Ilovik. Losinj is a popular tourist destination, especially in July and August, when hordes of Italian holidaymakers flock to the island using the regular ferry service from Venice. The island’s principal town, Mali Losinj, is also the main port of entry in this part of Croatia and is thus a much-frequented port of call by yachts crossing from the Italian coast between Ancona and Venice. The island’s main attractions are to be found in the two settlements of Mali Losinj and Veli Losinj and tripper boats to the offshore islands of Unije, Susak and Ilovik are also busy during the summer. Most visiting yachts head for the main harbour of Mali Losinj (Veli Losinj has little space for a visiting yacht) although there are smaller harbours at Nerezine (where there is also a small boatyard and marina), Sveti Martin and Rovenska as well as several attractive anchorages along the SW coast of the island.

Charts

British Admiralty

202

Croatian charts

MK 6 (Cres Island)

Imray

M24 (Gulf of Trieste to Losinj and Rab)

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)

Mali Losinj is a port of entry. The customs and police are based at Mali Losinj Marina (the second on the left on the approach to the town, just E of the narrow canal), where there is a customs quay.

Berthing options

The harbour of Veli Losinj has little space for yachts

Rovenska harbour is filled with small craft

The tiny harbour of Sveti Martin

The principal berthing options for yachts visiting the island are the three marinas established in the inlet of Mali Losinj, Marina Losinj and Mali Losinj Marina on the NE side of the inlet in the approaches to the old harbour and Yacht Club Marina at the head of the inlet in the old harbour itself. The first two marinas are around a mile from the town centre. Smaller harbours are to be found at Nerezine, Veli Losinj, Sveti Martin and Rovenska on the E coast. Most of the anchorages are on the W coast of the island, both N and S from Mali Losinj. Click on link at top right of page for Interactive map of harbours and anchorages or for full details see below.

Ports

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

• Mali Losinj
• Nerezine
• Veli Losinj
• Sveti Martin
• Rovenska

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Marina Losinj
• Mali Losinj Marina
• Yacht Club Marina

Anchorages

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

U. Artaturi

U. Artaturi/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj#U._Artaturi

anchorage U. Artaturi [[Lošinj#U. Artaturi|U. Artaturi]] 44°34.39′N, 14°24.6′EU. Artaturi44.573166666667;14.41

The inlet of U. Artaturi is situated one mile NW of the entrance to the inlet of Mali Losinj and extends for nearly a mile N from the open sea. It offers good shelter in all winds except strong southerlies. Anchor at the head of the inlet on either side of the central rocky spit. Depths are between 4.0 and 10.0 metres and the holding is good in sand. The bay is popular with both cruising yachts and holidaymakers and parts of it are taken up with moorings. - Chartlet

U. Liski

U. Liski/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj#U._Liski

anchorage U. Liski [[Lošinj#U. Liski|U. Liski]] 44°35.47′N, 14°22.94′EU. Liski44.591166666667;14.382333333333

U. Liski lies on the NW coast of the island around five sea miles from the entrance to Mali Losinj. Note that a small islet, with dangerous shoals between it and Losinj Island, lies just under a mile SW of the inlet. Shelter in U. Liski is good from S and W but poor in northerly winds. Depths are 4.0 - 8.0 metres, Holding is good in sand and weed. - Chartlet

U. Sv Jakov

U. Sv Jakov/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj#U._Sv_Jakov

anchorage U. Sv Jakov [[Lošinj#U. Sv Jakov|U. Sv Jakov]] 44°38.94′N, 14°23.82′EU. Sv Jakov44.649;14.397

The bay of Sv. Jakov lies on the NE coast of the island in the southern approaches to the Osor canal, about one mile S of the harbour of Nerezine. The bay is protected from N by an island joined to Losinj by a sandy spit. Shelter is good in winds from W and N but poor in southerlies and strong NE winds. The best anchorage is at the head of the bay just off the beach in depths of 5.0 - 7.0 metres. Holding is good in sand and weed. The surroundings are attractive and wooded, but the anchorage is surrounded by holiday villas. - Chartlet

Luka Balvanida

Luka Balvanida/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj#Luka_Balvanida

anchorage Luka Balvanida [[Lošinj#Luka Balvanida|Luka Balvanida]] 44°29.5′N, 14°30.12′ELuka Balvanida44.491666666667;14.502

The inlet of Luka Balvanida lies on the SW coast of the island and offers good shelter in all but strong W or SW winds. Anchoring depths are 5.0 - 8.0 metres and the holding is good in sand. The anchorage is good for swimming off the boat. - Chartlet

Luka Krivica

Luka Krivica/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj#Luka_Krivica

anchorage Luka Krivica [[Lošinj#Luka Krivica|Luka Krivica]] 44°29.87′N, 14°29.65′ELuka Krivica44.497833333333;14.494166666667

Luka Krivica is a deep, dogleg inlet on the SW coast of Losinj, just half a mile NW of Luka Balvanida. The inlet is open SW, like Luka Balvanida, but it is possible for relatively shallow draft yachts to anchor at the head of the inlet to obtain better shelter if the winds turn W or S. Depths in the inlet are 5.0 - 8.0 metres but only 2.0 - 3.0 metres at its head. The anchorage is usually very busy during the season and it will probably be necessary to take a line ashore. Holding is good in sand and weed. - Chartlet

Luka Cikat

Luka Cikat/wiki/Lo%C5%A1inj#Luka_Cikat

anchorage Luka Cikat [[Lošinj#Luka Cikat|Luka Cikat]] 44°31.81′N, 14°27.39′ELuka Cikat44.530166666667;14.4565

The bay of Luka Cikat lies half a mile SE of the resort of the same name, on the W side of the peninsula that encloses Mali Losinj inlet. The bay offers good shelter from most directions but is completely open W. Depths range from 4.0 metres inshore to 18.0 - 20.0 metres in the centre. Holding is good in sand and weed. Note: anchoring here is forbidden during the holiday season of May - September. - Chartlet

Offshore Islands

• Susak
• Cres
• Ilovik

Yacht Services and Repairs

• See marina entries.

Marine Stores

• See marina entries.

Repairs/Yards

• See marina entries.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel berths in Mali Losinj close to Marina Losinj and YC Marina. Fuel berth also in small marina of Nerezine. Water and electricity in all marinas.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Valdarke cove on the lungomare, Losinj

Cikat still has a few palatial villas

The main town of Mali Losinj is, like most of the Croatian island capitals, an attractive mediaeval town, nestling at the SE end of a deep natural inlet. Its busy waterfont is lined with the pretty, pastel-painted houses of former merchants and ships captains. Within easy walking distance along a lungomare which winds along the N coast of the island are the equally attractive and often quieter former fishing villages of Veli Losinj, with its impressive Baroque church of Sv. Antun, and Rovenska. The settlement of Cikat on the other side of the peninsula a mile W of Mali Losinj is a pleasant resort, with several villas formerly owned by Austrian and Italian aristocrats, although now fringed with ugly campsites.

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Several supermarkets and provisions shops in Mali Losinj.
• Smaller provisions shops at Veli Losinj and Nerezine.

Eateries

See port entries for details.

Internet/WiFi

In all marinas (but poor).

Laundry

In Mali Losinj.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Rental outlets in Mali Losinj.

Transportation

• Buses via Cres to Rijeka on mainland and Zagreb.
• Seasonal car ferries from Zadar and Pula on mainland to Mali Losinj and on to Venice.

Routes/Passages To/From

See Croatia.

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

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

References & Publications

See 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.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2015 ----Athene of Lymington

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington