Bays, Coves & Anchorages

A quiet, practical overnight stop with easy approach, shallow water, and little drama — exactly the sort of place one appreciates more after sunset than from the chart alone.

• Shelter: not perfect, but fair in calm weather
• Bottom: sand
• Depth impression: rather shallow
• Nice to know: Swimming area; 2 basic berths along the breakwaters
• Watch out for: NW: Protected area – navigation prohibited

A modest, quietly tucked-away anchorage near Bizikovica — shallow, straightforward, and best appreciated for its calm simplicity rather than spectacle. The kind of place that works when the weather behaves and one keeps expectations grounded.

• Shelter: acceptable in settled conditions; open to some directions
• Bottom: sand, holding generally fair but not uniform
• Depth impression: around 7 m, with shallower patches
• Nice to know: quiet surroundings; occasional use for swimming; limited space near breakwaters
• Watch out for: uneven ground

A striking, almost theatrical inlet on the southern coast of Brač — steep slopes, clear water, and a sense of quiet isolation once the day boats leave. Space is limited and often shared, making stern lines less a choice than a necessity. The real reward lies ashore: a rugged, memorable hike up to the Blaca hermitage, where the landscape turns austere and unexpectedly contemplative.

• Shelter: good in calm conditions; enclosed but not fully protected
• Bottom: mixed sand and rock; unreliable in some places
• Depth impression: moderate, quickly deepening towards the center
• Nice to know: scenic anchorage; access to hike leading to the Blaca monastery (~45 min inland)
• Watch out for: limited swinging room; other yachts; anchor may require a second attempt

A functional but reliable refuge between Ilovik and Sveti Petar — more a place of purpose than romance. In strong bora conditions, the channel offered us a surprisingly calm and controlled environment, despite being open at both ends. In our case, what is usually a crowded mooring field turned into a quiet, almost solitary stop.

• Shelter: open to two directions, but generally well protected within the channel
• Bottom: mixed; anchoring secondary due to extensive mooring field
• Depth impression: moderate, consistent through the channel
• Nice to know: large buoy field; lively in season, surprisingly quiet off-season
• Watch out for: ferry traffic; designated fairway; anchoring restrictions near the harbor and channel

A small, rather technical bay just west of Sveti Juraj — less inviting at first glance, but ultimately the more workable option. After aborting our initial attempt in the neighbouring double bay, where rapidly shoaling rock near the shore made a stern line approach feel questionable, we relocated here to continue anchoring practice under more predictable conditions.

The anchor set immediately — a welcome contrast — but the seabed drops off quickly, leaving little margin for error in positioning. We anchored stern-to into the bay, exposing ourselves to wind and light swell, while the opposite direction offered poor prospects for holding due to the steep gradient.

• Shelter: limited; some protection from northerlies depending on position
• Bottom: mixed; holding acceptable, but depth increases rapidly
• Depth impression: steeply shelving — careful positioning required
• Nice to know: suitable for anchoring practice; clearer conditions at nearby Sveti Juraj
• Watch out for: steep drop-offs; limited holding area; exposed when stern-to; consider a stern line to shore for longer stays

For anything beyond a short stop, this is not an ideal overnight anchorage — the neighbouring Sveti Juraj remains the more suitable choice, despite its own challenges.

A remarkably well-protected bay on the eastern side of Ugljan — calm, enclosed, and almost unnervingly still. The kind of place that feels less like an anchorage and more like a pause in time.

Even with its established mooring field, the bay can feel entirely empty out of season. During our stay, we had the place to ourselves — no movement, no noise, just a flat sea reflecting sky and shoreline with quiet precision. It is, quite simply, what one imagines sailing to be.

• Shelter: excellent in almost all conditions; very well enclosed
• Bottom: not assessed (mooring used)
• Depth impression: moderate and even within the bay
• Nice to know: mooring field available; anchoring possible
• Watch out for: slight exposure to southerly and south-easterly winds, though rarely problematic

A deeply indented bay on Šćedro, structured almost entirely around its mooring field — practical, well-organised, and after a long and demanding night at sea, exactly what was needed: a controlled arrival and a quiet rest.

The buoy we picked up proved entirely reliable and held without issue. In early season, the bay was calm and sparsely occupied, though it is known to be considerably busier in summer. Anchoring is effectively not an option here, as the usable depths are occupied by buoys and anchoring within buoy fields is prohibited.

• Shelter: good overall; some exposure depending on wind direction (bora, jugo, and westerlies can create gusts)
• Bottom: not relevant; buoy field dominates anchoring area
• Depth impression: deeper central basin (~20–30 m), shallower towards the edges
• Nice to know: organised buoy system (bow/stern lines); several small konobas along the shore
• Watch out for: gusty winds in certain conditions; tight spacing between boats; submerged lines between buoys

A curious footnote: there are reports of rats making their way onto boats at night. We neither invited nor encountered any — but it is the sort of detail one files away nonetheless.

The southern arms of Luka Pod Sv. Križ form a wide, forgiving anchorage area — flexible, spacious, and almost always offering a workable option. When the buoy field at Kolorat filled up early in the afternoon, we simply moved deeper into the system and found better conditions.

In Uvala Melici, the anchor set immediately and held without issue. Plenty of room to swing, even with other boats around. The bay tolerates multiple setups — deeper draft yachts outside, shallower boats pushing further into side arms.

However, the protection is not absolute: once the wind shifted northerly, a noticeable swell built up. Not dangerous — but uncomfortable enough to leave. This bay rewards attention to wind shifts.

• Shelter: very good overall; choose sub-bay depending on wind
• Bottom: good holding; anchor sets reliably
• Depth impression: moderate; shallower further inside
• Nice to know: large area with multiple fallback options; buoy field fills early
• Watch out for: swell when wind shifts to north; limited comfort despite apparent shelter

In calmer conditions — especially in autumn — the bay becomes almost unnaturally still. One of those rare places where anchoring feels effortless.

The northern end of the bay is a different beast: tighter, more technical, and far less forgiving. With limited space and increasing depth, anchoring becomes a matter of precision rather than routine.

Our anchor refused to hold on the first attempts — depth, scattered weed, and position working against us. The solution: stern-to with a line ashore. Improvised, slightly chaotic, but ultimately effective.

Once secured, the night was calm and quiet — though waves hitting the stern made their presence known. A classic trade-off: security versus comfort.

• Shelter: very good once secured; exposed stern-to depending on setup
• Bottom: mixed with weed; unreliable for pure anchoring
• Depth impression: quickly increasing; limited anchoring zone
• Nice to know: ideal for practicing stern line manoeuvres
• Watch out for: submerged rocks and razor-sharp shallows on approach; tricky holding conditions

The surrounding landscape adds a quieter layer: dense vegetation, wildlife (red deer reported), and hidden coastal features — including a small sea cave that invites curiosity, but not necessarily entry.

A low, unassuming inlet on the northern side of Kakan — less a destination than a temporary refuge. After building sea and an increasingly uncomfortable crew situation, it offered just enough relief to pause, regroup, and let things settle. Not a place to linger, but useful when conditions demand a break.

• Shelter: noticeably calmer than outside; partial protection from open sea
• Bottom: mixed with poor holding; anchor unreliable
• Depth impression: moderate, fairly even
• Nice to know: good as a quick stop to recover from swell or seasickness
• Watch out for: anchor dragging; limited trust in holding; not suited for longer stays