Hvar Town Approaches Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

The broad channel between Hvar town and the Paklinski Islands (Pakleni Otoci) provides reasonable anchorage in 6–10m. Sand patches alternate with Posidonia — snorkel carefully to find a clean spot. The town is a 10-min dinghy ride across the channel. Exposed to S and SW — Jugo and Sirocco swell make this uncomfortable. In Jugo conditions, depart to Stari Grad or Palmižana.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Hvar Town Approaches is primarily sand and posidonia patches.

1. Approach slowly — deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m depth).
2. Drop into wind or current and pay out chain steadily.
3. Set firmly in reverse for 30–60 seconds.
4. Snorkel to verify — confirm no Posidonia. Fines up to €2,000 for anchoring on Posidonia in Croatia.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius. 85m in the channel in 6–10m. The open S exposure and Jugo swell mean this is not a reliable overnight anchorage in unsettled weather. Hvar town itself has very limited berths — the channel anchorage is the practical alternative for most boats. Monitor the weather forecast carefully. In July–August the channel is heavily used — be prepared for a crowded swinging area.

May–June and September–October for manageable crowds. July–August extremely busy — use Paklinski Islands as the overnight base and day-trip to Hvar town. The channel itself is fine in settled weather but Jugo (SE) makes it untenable.

Navigation Hazards

• S, SE and SW exposure — Jugo makes the channel anchorage uncomfortable to dangerous; depart to Stari Grad or Palmižana
• Extreme July–August congestion — 50+ boats anchoring in the channel is not unusual; swing circles overlap
• High-speed water taxi traffic across the channel at all hours — watch for prop wash
• Posidonia widespread — finding a clean sandy spot requires careful snorkelling
• Dinghy theft risk in Hvar town harbour at peak season — lock your dinghy or use the water taxi

Rules & Regulations

• Permit: No special permit required
• Anchoring fee: Free to anchor in channel
• Maximum stay: 2 days
• Restrictions: Posidonia meadows — do NOT anchor on Posidonia; snorkel to verify. High-speed water taxis and excursion boats cross the channel constantly — maintain anchor watch. 150m beach exclusion from any designated beach. No anchoring in the marked ferry approach.
• Croatian eNautička (MMPI) permit required for all foreign yachts.
• SSVO 2025: 150m beach exclusion zone Jun 15–Sep 15.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Hvar town (0.5nm)
• Restaurant/Konoba: All facilities in Hvar town — 10-min dinghy. Provisioning, restaurants, nightlife, ATMs.
• Provisions: Available nearby

Skipper's Tips

1. Anchor in Palmižana or Vinogradišće (Paklinski Islands) instead and take the water taxi to Hvar town — far better holding and less congestion
2. If anchoring in the channel, arrive by 15:00 — by 17:00 in July the channel is almost impossible to navigate for a new anchorage
3. The town comes alive after 21:00 — dinner on the main square is a highlight but book in advance in summer
4. The fortress (Španjola) gives the best view over the town and Paklinski Islands — worth the 20-min climb