Rab Island

As early as 1889, the city council of Rab, the next island south in the Kvarner archipelago, proclaimed it a seaside and health resort and established a committee to manage roads, beaches and rooms for guests. Thereby the people of Rab, famous for their hospitality, chose their destiny. The British King Edward VIII stayed on Rab with his American friend Wallis Simpson and swam naked there, thus making a substantial contribution to the popularity of naturist tourism as it is enthusiastically enjoyed today. Rab is separated from the mainland by Podvelebitski Kanal (the Velebit Channel). Your stay is made more beautiful by the sight of snow on the nearby Velebit Mountains. But don't worry, temperatures on the island rarely fall below zero and the inhabitants have not experienced snow in the last hundred years. It is one of the most densely wooded islands, has three hundred springs, and is a veritable botanical exhibition, with plants not native to the island. The Komrcar park, with its laurel, poplar, cypress, Indian fig-tree, rosemary, pine and hundred-year-old agave is now the pride of Rab. Many myths and stories surround its history. One of them is written in the sculptures near the fountain on the square of St. Christopher. It is the story of the chaste Draga and the passionate Kalifront. Draga, who had promised herself to one of the goddesses, could not give her love to Kalifront, so the goddess turned her to stone to save her from the temptation. We can only guess what other vows were taken here. The small town of Rab is encircled by medieval walls, Romanesque church towers, churches and palaces, stone streets and ancient facades. In summer, the streets and squares are turned into a huge gallery. Many painters exhibit their works, some of them self-styled, others who will soon exhibit in famous galleries around the world. Here in the crowd it is difficult imagining escaping from people. But there are places on Rab, a solitary beach, a park, that you can turn into your own secluded part of the world. Splendid beaches and clean sea are characteristic features of the island of Rab. This sunny island, which has more than 2,400 hours of sunshine a year, can offer accommodation to more than 30,000 tourists per day. A variety of cultural events is also offered, from which "The Musical Evenings of Rab" and "The Knightly Games of Rab" are highly recommended events.

Anchorages
Place Position Adress Information
 
Rab 44° 45'N 14° 46'E town and harbour (pop. 592 in 1991) on the island of the same name

The inner harbour is sheltered from all winds except the south-easterlies. The sirocco causes a strong swell in the harbour with waves flooding part of the W waterfront. It is therefore recommended for yachts to go to the Rab marina. The best anchorage for larger yachts is in the nearby Sveta Fumija cove (depth 4-28 m) and NW of Tunera islet at the entrance to the harbour.

Facilities: Harbour master's office, post office, several hotels and restaurants, various shops, medical service and chemist's. There is a naturist hotel complex on Frkanj peninsula. Kanjac Fishing Club. Provisions are available in shops. Water from a hydrant, fuel from the pump in the Rab marina. Several boatyards at Banjol make and repair boats, speedboats and small wooden and plastic yachts.
Sveta Mara 44° 47'N 14° 40'E cove, some 0.7 M east-southeast of Donja punta point (white coast light) on the SW coast of Rab

The cove offers good shelter for smaller yachts from the bora and the sirocco. Smaller yachts can anchor in the middle of the cove, securing stern to the bollards cut out in the rock.
Kamporska Draga 44° 47'N 14° 42'E cove E of Kalifront point on the NW coast

Because of the shoals fringing the NE and SW coast of the cove and off the islet of Maman, Kamporska draga does not afford good anchorage. It is exposed to the north-westerlies which cause a considerable sea; the bora and the sirocco are strong but do not create a sea. Smaller vessels can anchor S of Kastelina point securing stern to the bollards on the coast.

Facilities: Supermarket in the W part of the village of Ruzici (pop. 1,102 in 1981).
Supetarska Draga 44° 48.5'N 14° 42.5'E town (pop. 1,114 in 1991), cove and marina in the NW part of Rab, some 2.5 M southeast of Sorinj point

The cove is exposed to N and NW winds, the bora and the sirocco are violent in it but do not cause a sea and are not dangerous for yachts lying at anchor. The best anchorage for smaller yachts (sheltered from NW winds) is in the middle of Dumici cove (S of the islet of Sajlovac). Larger yachts can anchor in the middle of Supetarska draga (depths 21-28 m).
Lopar 44° 50'N 15° 43'E town (pop. 1,215 in 1991) and small bay on the N coast

Smaller yachts moor at the head and the S side of the pier in front of the hotel (alongside them or by using the four- point moor); the N and outer sides of the pier are reserved for the ferry. The anchorage for smaller vessels, safe only with the bora, is in Makucina cove in the SW part of Loparski zaljev (Bay of Lopar).

In the San Marino tourist village on the NE side of Lopar there is a small harbour for yachts up to 10 m.