For many crews, Krk is an easily accessible starting point in Kvarner Bay. But if you sail all the way round the island, you won’t just be passing between bathing bays and promenades. In the north-east, the Velebit Mountains drop steeply down to the Adriatic. There, the bora from the north-east can blow much more strongly than on the west coast. The route therefore requires more than just careful day-to-day planning: weather windows, alternative harbours and anchorages must be suited to the prevailing wind conditions.
The journey begins and ends in Punat. In between lie around 70 nautical miles, a third of which are in the Vinodolski Channel. The three parts of the report describe the route in geographical order, whilst also providing practical advice for crews wishing to sail round the island of Krk themselves.
Part One: The West Coast and the Northern Tip
The stage kicks off with from Punat along the west coast to the northern tip. After setting off from Marina Punat, the route heads westwards to the anchorage at Sveti Juraj. In the sheltered north-western arm, you can drop anchor in around six metres of water. The bay is very busy in summer, but considerably quieter in the early season.
Further north, the route passes the Franciscan monastery at Glavotok on its way to Njivice. The village illustrates why crews should always check harbour information against the actual conditions on the ground. Planned extensions to the facility were not visible in spring 2025. There are few options for visitors, and mooring manoeuvres at the jetty can be challenging without assistance.
Beyond Omišalj, the character of the route changes. The Vinodolski Channel, which is exposed to the wind, begins beneath the Krk Bridge. The barren north-eastern side of Krk, characterised by downslope winds, lies directly opposite the Velebit Mountains. When the bora is moderate and reliably forecast, the passage is spectacular. However, as the wind picks up, there are few safe places to take shelter.
Part Two: Klimno, Vrbnik and Mala Luka
The second stage leads along the north-east coast via Klimno to Vrbnik. Klimno is the key place of refuge here. The wide, well-lit entrance and the deep bay offer a comparatively safe haven when there is a north-easterly wind. However, there are only four berths for visiting boats at the jetty. Anyone who cannot secure one of these will find space to anchor in the bay.
Vrbnik lies further south on a rocky outcrop overlooking the canal. The harbour and the old town make it a charming stop-off point. However, when the bora is blowing, Vrbnik is not a harbour in which to ride out the storm. Even moderate winds can drive swells into the harbour basin, where they break against the rocks and leave boats tossing about. Anyone mooring there should check the forecast for further wind developments before docking and allow for an early departure.
On the south coast, Krk takes on a more unspoilt character. In Mala Luka, boats can find shelter from a moderate bora. The bay is around five metres deep and is well suited for anchoring. However, if a strong or prolonged bora is forecast, the crew should choose a better-protected alternative location. All round the bay, ruins on the slopes bear witness to ancient settlement.
Part Three: Back through the Bora’s homeland
The final stretch goes back to Punat via the land of the Bora. After a night in Mala Luka, the route takes you through the Senjska Vrata. The stretch between Krk and the mainland lies within the influence of the Velebit Mountains. Here, the bora can pick up speed particularly fiercely. For this stage, a reliable, precise weather window is more important than the desire to complete the circuit on a specific day.
On the cruise described, the bora is followed by a lull. The crew continue on calm waters towards Baška. The harbour was expanded with new jetties during the winter of 2024/25 and now offers a sheltered basin. This makes it a much better option than before in changeable weather conditions.
It is only a few nautical miles from Baška to Punat. To the south of the entrance, there are several popular anchorages set against high cliffs. Anyone anchoring there should observe the local regulations and take note of the actual water depths. The Croatian Ministry of Transport refers users to its free service for information on ports, moorings, weather and nautical advice Nautical Information Service. The current Croatian regulations on maritime safety require particular caution near the coast, in narrow channels and when approaching harbours and anchorages.
For crews: Essential preparation
A trip round Krk is not a route for rigid daily stages. The west coast offers bays, villages and places to stock up within easy reach. On the north-east side, wind, waves and places to seek shelter can change much more rapidly. With sufficient range, a firm grasp of mooring manoeuvres and a reliable Plan B, the circumnavigation becomes a varied sailing trip around the island.
The additional Area report on Kvarner Bay places Krk amongst the islands of Rab, Cres and Lošinj. The three parts of this report, however, focus on the details of the island tour: the relaxed start in Punat, the wind-swept moonlit side of Krk, and the return journey through one of the most striking wind-swept landscapes in the northern Adriatic.
Book recommendations
Coastal Guide to Croatia and Slovenia brings together information on the coastal waters between Koper and Split, including Kvarner Bay. It includes over 50 recreational boating charts as well as integrated plans of key ports, marinas and anchorages. The practical benefits for a circumnavigation of Krk are clear: approaches, depths, navigational aids, mooring facilities and provisioning options can be checked in detail before setting sail and whilst underway.
Gourmet cruises in Croatia takes a different approach. The guide brings together 66 restaurants in Istria, Kvarner and Dalmatia that can be reached by boat, complete with specialities, photos and harbour maps. It is ideal for shore excursions on this Krk circuit – for example, in Klimno or Vrbnik – and helps crews to combine their daily plans with a specific evening stop-off.
What has been your experience with the Bora in Kvarner Bay: looking for an alternative harbour, waiting for a weather window, or setting off deliberately when the forecast is moderate?
Bodo Müller
Freier Autor