Cres Island

The islands of Cres and Losinj used to be one island, but very early the Romans separated them by a channel. The northern part of Cres protrudes deeply into the bay of Rijeka and is exposed to strong gusts of northerly wind. In winter the peaks are often white. Snow on a Mediterranean island! The southern part is protected from the wind so the climate there is Mediterranean. Mali Losinj is among those places with the most sunny days per year in Europe. The woods of Losinj provide precious shelter from the blazing sun. One of the special attractions is a very unusual natural phenomenon: the freshwater lake of Vrana (Vransko jezero) on the island of Cres (5.75 sq. km). The surface level of this lake is above sea level, and its bottom is 74 meters below. This is one of the last habitats of a very rare bird, the whitehearled vulture.

The old town of Cres in the center of the island, can be entered through three gates. Its past is visible wherever you go. Monuments bear witness to the local industries, and family coats of arms carved in stone over doorways show tools of blacksmith or carpenter or the retch of fishermen. The repetitive rise and fall of Osor, once a small town, today but a village, is tied to its maritime tradition. When ships grew too large for its narrow canal, its importance diminished. Each summer, the walls, churches, inscriptions, sculptures, cathedral and other trappings of its rich and turbulent history are revitalized in "The Evenings of Osor" (Osorske veceri) pageant. The narrow streets and houses are adorned with multicolored, fragrant flowers and briefly the village becomes a capital of culture. One of the first habitations on Cres was Lubenice, built on a rock 387 m above the sea. This fairy-tale village with a square, spire and Gothic church of St. Anthony, dating from the fifteenth century, braves the lightning, thunder and clouds which tear at its rooftops. More and more people are moving away. In contrast, the town of Beli is among the protected relics of the island, with unique and well preserved architecture from centuries past.

Anchorages
Place Position Adress Information
 
Merag 44° 59'N 14° 26.5'E village and car-ferry harbour in the small cove of the same name on the NE coast

The cove is partially protected from S winds but is exposed to N wind.

Facilities: Provisions available in the local shop and restaurant.
Koromacna 44° 47'N 14° 27.5'E  cove and anchorage on the E coast of the Cres island, W of Sv Duh point

The cove offers shelter only from N winds. The small harbour on the W coast of the cove is sheltered from all winds except the north-westerlies. Smaller vessels can anchor (only with the northerlies) in the NW part of the cove. The cove is not safe in the sirocco.
Kolorat 44° 38.6'N 14° 31.5'E anchorage in the indented cove on the SE coast

The anchorage is sheltered from all winds. Smaller craft can anchor off the NE coast in depth of 3.5 m; good holding.
Jadriscica 44° 37'N 14° 30.4'E cove in the SE part of the Cres island, NE of Suha point

The cove is protected from all winds. With the sirocco a slight swell enters. Larger yachts can anchor stern-to NW off the first cluster of houses of Bokinic hamlet, to the right of the entrance, in a depth of 12 m. Smaller vessels can anchor off the second cluster of houses of Pogana hamlet, stern-to the water- front (also NW), or moor on the inside of the small breakwater (depth up to 2.5 m).

Facilities: The Baldarin camp site and post office at Punta Kriza, 2.5 km SE of the cove; restaurant, sports grounds and shops.
Martinscica 44° 37.5'N 14° 27.8'E cove on the island of Cres, SE of Kaldonta

 

it is well sheltered from the bora but exposed to the sirocco. Stretching from Plantur point southwards is a submerged reef; there is another reef in the cove. Yachts can anchor at the entrance to the cove in depth of 10-20 m; good holding.
Kaldonta 44° 38'N 14° 27'E cove and point in Losinjski kanal on the SW coast

The cove is sheltered from all winds and offers good anchorage to smaller yachts, which can anchor in the middle of the cove or use the bollards (four-point moor) at the far end of the harbour, bows-to SW.
Cres  44° 57'N 14° 24'E town (pop. 2,234 in 1991) and harbour in a cove in the bay of Cres

The harbour offers shelter from all winds, but a strong sirocco causes waves up to 1m high that flood the waterfront. It is recommended to moor in the Cres marina. In the Priprajena cove there is 25 m stretch of the mainland for yachts drawing up to 3 m. Yachts can use the following anchorages: Gavza cove, some 0.8 M north of Kovacine point (depth 12-15 m) and Nedomisje cove (depth 8-10 m), some 1 M south of Krizice point.

Facilities: Harbour master's office, post office, medical service, chemist's; several hotels, camp site, tourist office, shops, duty-free shop. Parangal Fishing Club. Water from the hydrant in the harbour, fuel at the petrol station on the waterfront. Repairs and hauling out of vessels up to 400 GRT can be carried out in Cres shipyard, which specializes in wooden vessels; situated in the harbour, it also carries out engine repairs and provides dockage over the winter; dock for vessels up to 1000 t; hoists (5 ans 7 t).