DAY 1 (Saturday):
MARINA PULA - ROVINJ (14NM)
Pula is a town at the end of the Istrian peninsula, a pearl of ancient history.
When visiting Pula, don't miss a visit to the ARENA, a magnificent amphitheatre dating back to the first century, which will for a moment give you the feeling that you are in Rome. The Arena of Pula is one of the best-preserved gladiatorial venues and is still the venue for many summer events, concerts, and a world-famous film festival. In the old part of town, you will find plenty of restaurants and bars. Pula's proximity makes it a popular and sought-after beginner sailing destination. From the four marinas in Pula and its surroundings you can charter your vessel and start your sailing journey. Marina ACI Pula, Marina Veruda, Marina Pomer and Marina Bunarina are waiting for you. Once you have picked up your sailboat, catamaran, or motorboat from the operators, made all the purchases and boarded, you will be ready to start your nautical holiday. Set sail in peace, sailing direction Marina ACI Rovinj!
The picturesque town of Rovinj is located on the western coast of Istria and is one of the most beautiful Istrian towns and one of the most popular tourist and sailing destinations in the northern Adriatic. The old part of town is situated on a peninsula, where the narrow streets, between the stone houses, hide excellent restaurants and tourist attractions. At the top of the town is a church, which is the main attraction of the town. Rovinj's culinary offer is exceptional, from world-class restaurants to authentic traditional Istrian cuisine. The Istrian soil and climate provide excellent conditions for wine production, rivalling world-famous wine regions. Buon Apetite and cheers!
DAY 2 (Sunday)
ROVINJ – BRIONI National Park - SOLINE (11 NM + 7 NM)
The Brioni or Brijuni archipelago lies 2 nautical miles from Fažana on the west coast of Istria.
The Brijuni Islands are a national park and one of the top 5 tourist destinations on the Adriatic. With its rich history, the Brijuni Islands have always been an exclusive destination for discerning and sophisticated guests. In Yugoslavia and later in the independent state of Croatia, they were the residence of the country's political leaders. Tito hosted many prominent personalities from the world of politics and entertainment in Brijuni. Today, Brijuni is open to all, with special attractions including a museum, a zoo with animals from all over the world, a botanical park, dinosaur footprints and a golf course. Boating in the waters of the Brijuni National Park is only allowed to enter and moor in the Marina on the island of Great Brijuni or to moor in the bay of St Nicholas on the island of Little Brijuni.
After visiting the island, you can either stay at the mooring or continue sailing past the town of Pula and anchor in the safe havens in the bay of the Soline cove in front of the entrance to ACI Marina Veruda or in the safe anchorage in the Medulin bay.
DAY 3 (Monday)
BRIONI National Park – UNIJE Island (22 NM)
Unije is the first inhabited island in the southbound course. Due to its good location, water and flat fertile soil, the island has been inhabited since ancient times. Historically, the island was called Nia, which means "field" in Greek, i.e. an island with fertile loose soil, which is characteristic of this cluster of islets such as Vela and Mala Srakana, Mal Lošinj and Suska Island. It is an island of peace and tranquillity. There is no road traffic on the island and, as a point of interest, there is a small airport on the island.
For those of us who come to Unije by boat, the western side of the island and the bay of Maracol, where there is a battlefield, is a better place to tie up. A 10-minute walk from the bay of Maracol, lies a village that has preserved the old indigenous Mediterranean style. In the village there are several konobas (fishermen's restaurants), a bakery, a mini market and a post office. The village also has a harbour called Luka Unije with a new pier with moorings, which protects our harbour from the South and West winds. The western part of the pier is used several times a day by ships of the regular line, so you should not tie up your boat here.
The ground is flat and rocky, so make sure you have a good anchor hold
DAY 4 (Tuesday)
UNIJE Island - SUSAK Island – MALI LOŠINJ Island
The island of Susak, located approximately 8 NM south-west of the island of Union, is unique among all the Adriatic islands due to its geological composition. Susak is covered with fertile loess lying on limestone rock. The island of Susak has been inhabited since Illyrian times.
At present, the island is home to only a few dozen or so indigenous inhabitants who speak in their own dialect. The locals are overwhelmingly all wine growers. The settlement on the island is Susak, divided into two parts, the upper and the lower villages. The two parts of the village are connected by stone steps. There are several good restaurants, a bakery, and a small shop on the island. The coast of the island has several nice sandy beaches and coves, and on the pier in the western part of the island, in the village of Susak, there is a pier with moorings with water and electricity.
After visiting and swimming on Susak, we suggest you continue sailing towards the island of Lošinj and the town of Mali Lošinj.(5NM)
Mali Losinj is a town on the southern part of the island of Losinj, the largest settlement on all the Adriatic islands. The fishing and shipbuilding town of Mali Losinj is the centre of western Kvarner. With its beautiful nature and crystal blue sea, beautiful beaches and coves, and world-class hotels, Mali Losinj is one of the pearls of Croatian tourist destinations. There are two marinas in Mali Losinj, Marina Lošinj and Marina YC, where there are enough berths with electricity and water, so you won't have any problems finding a safe berth. On the right side of the bay is a large INA petrol station. In the town you will find many good seafood restaurants, pizzerias, shops, bars, and a well-stocked local market with a fishmonger.
DAY 5 (Wednesday)
MALI LOŠINJ Island - ILOVIK Island - CRES Island (OSOR) (20 NM)
After leaving Mali Lošinj, we continue south towards the small island of Ilovik (10 NM). The village of Ilovik is located in a safe bay on the north side of the island. The channel between the islands of Ilovik and Sveti Petar offers a safe berth on buoys. The island of Ilovik is known for its beautiful beaches and coves, we suggest anchoring in the bay of Paržine, with its beautiful sandy beach, on the south side of the island. After a swim and a visit to the village of Ilovik, untie the boat and sail back north to Osor on the island of Cres (15 NM).
Alternatively, sail directly from Mali Lošinj via the drawbridge to Osor on Cres (10 NM)
Opening hours of the drawbridge in Mali Losinj twice a day at 9:00 and 18:00 The town of Osor is located in a narrow strait between the islands of Cres and Lošinj.
The islands are connected by a drawbridge, which opens twice a day at 09:00 - 09:15 and 17:00 - 17:15. The water depth in the Kavuda Channel is 3 metres. Osor is a true open-air museum thanks to its rich history, architecture and valuable cultural and historical sites and monuments. Osor is a very popular destination for seafarers. Once you have crossed the channel, you can safely tie up at the pier on your right. It is also possible to anchor safely 100 metres to the right of the pier. We highly recommend a sightseeing tour and dinner in a local tavern.
DAY 6 (Thursday)
CRES Island (Osor) - CRES Island (Cres) (20 NM)
On the west coast of Cres, just a few miles from Osor, one of the pearls of the Adriatic, the beach of Lubenice, is hidden beneath a medieval stone fortress at the top of the island, under precipitous cliffs 400 metres high! Lubenice Beach, or St Ivan's Beach, is listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The idyllic atmosphere, the crystal blue sea and the incredible natural scenery take every visitor's breath away. A truly unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!
Continue your journey to Cres.
The town of Cres is the administrative and cultural centre of the island of Cres, situated at the end of a large bay on the western side of the island. The local population is mainly engaged in fishing, olive-growing, and tourism. Cres is one of the oldest summer holiday destinations in Europe and is still one of Croatia's most popular nautical destinations. The stone houses and narrow streets with the beautiful town square are inviting in themselves. We suggest you stop by one of the restaurants and try their excellent culinary offer. As a safe and popular nautical destination, Cres offers a safe berth in the town's harbour or in the ACI Marina Cres.
DAY 7 (Friday)
CRES - PULA MARINA (25 NM)
We suggest you wake up early, have a coffee and head back to your home marina.
After an unforgettable sailing and exploring the beauty of the northern Adriatic, we suggest you visit the city of Pula for the grand finale. Pula is best known for its well-preserved ancient Roman buildings and the famous ARENA colosseum.
We also recommend a visit to the Temple of Augustus, the Double Gates, the Gates of Hercules, and the city's many medieval and Renaissance buildings. In Pula you can find numerous restaurants, tavernas, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs to party long into the night.
