Kosirača Bay Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Uvala Kosirača, Kosiraca Cove, Ist Harbour
Ist (pronounced 'Eest') is the most remote inhabited island in the Zadar Archipelago, lying some 12nm offshore in the outer reaches of the northern Dalmatian island chain. The island has a permanent population of fewer than 100 people and no tourist infrastructure to speak of — no provisions, no fuel, no marina, no ferry connection to the outer islands. Sailors who make the crossing to Ist do so entirely on their own resources and are rewarded with a pristine, utterly quiet anchorage in Kosirača Bay that represents the Adriatic as it was a generation ago. The small village is immaculate — stone houses, flowering terraces, a tiny church, and fishermen mending nets on the pier. The water is crystalline and the silence, outside of the wind and the sound of the sea, is absolute. This is the end of the road in the Zadar Archipelago, and one of the most rewarding anchorages for self-sufficient sailors.
Quick Reference
GPS
44°16.9'N 14°46.4'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand, mud
Holding
Excellent holdingProtected From
N, NE, NW, E, SE
Exposed To
S, SW, W
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Fee
Free to anchor
Permit
Yes — Croatian eNautička cruising permit required. No park fees. Standard maritime rules. Complete self-sufficiency mandatory.
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m for the bay head in 3–7m on sand/mud. The remote location and outer island position demand the highest standards of anchoring practice. Set with engine astern, snorkel to verify on sand, and give 5:1 scope minimum. Complete self-sufficiency is mandatory — no rescue services are available within a practical radius. Bura at Ist can be severe; if the forecast shows Bura above F6, do not attempt the crossing from the mainland.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeAnchoring Zones
Kosirača Bay has 2 distinct anchoring zones.
Zone 1: Bay head — pristine, remote
- Depth: 3–8m
- Bottom: sand, mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, NW, E, SE
- Exposed to: S, SW, W
- Alarm radius: 65m
The bay head in 3–7m on clean sand and mud. Excellent holding. Ist is the most remote inhabited island in the Zadar Archipelago, approximately 12nm offshore from the nearest point of the mainland coast. The anchorage is tranquil and pristine — the tiny village of Ist has a handful of permanent residents and the atmosphere is completely unspoiled. The bay is protected from Bura (NE) and Mistral (NW) by the island mass. Open to S and SW.
Zone 2: Outer approach — short stop only
- Depth: 8–16m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, NW
- Exposed to: S, SW, W
- Alarm radius: 110m
The outer approach in 8–14m on mud. Good holding. Significantly more exposed than the bay head. Suitable for a short stop only — do not overnight in the outer approach. The full protection of the bay head is essential for overnight stays.
Setting Your Anchor
Bottom at Kosirača Bay: primarily sand and mud. Deploy 7:1 scope minimum (56m at 8m). Set firmly in reverse and snorkel to verify bottom — avoid Posidonia (€2,000 fine).
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Set GPS anchor alarm to 65m radius. 65m for the bay head in 3–7m on sand/mud. The remote location and outer island position demand the highest standards of anchoring practice. Set with engine astern, snorkel to verify on sand, and give 5:1 scope minimum. Complete self-sufficiency is mandatory — no rescue services are available within a practical radius. Bura at Ist can be severe; if the forecast shows Bura above F6, do not attempt the crossing from the mainland.
May, June, September and October only — the crossing is too risky outside the settled summer season for most sailors. July–August can be attempted in stable conditions but Bura onset can be rapid. This destination is for experienced, self-sufficient offshore sailors only.
Navigation Hazards
- Complete isolation: no rescue services, no fuel, no provisions — mechanical failure here requires self-rescue or a long tow
- Severe Bura exposure: the outer island location gives no protection from the open-sea Bura run from the Velebit — crossings in F6+ Bura are extremely dangerous
- Open to S, SW and W: Jugo makes the anchorage untenable and the passage back is dangerous in Jugo above F5
- 28nm from Zadar: passage planning must account for weather windows both ways
- Night approach: attempt only in full daylight with up-to-date HHI charts — the approaches have outlying rocks
Rules & Regulations
- Permit: Required — Croatian eNautička cruising permit required. No park fees. Standard maritime rules. Complete self-sufficiency mandatory.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Restrictions: Standard Posidonia and beach exclusion rules apply. No commercial services available. Treat the village and its community with respect — this is a living community, not a tourist attraction.
- 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: Zadar (mainland) (28nm)
- Restaurant/Konoba: None on site
- Provisions: None — Zadar (mainland) (28nm)
Skipper's Tips
- Plan the passage to Ist around a confirmed 3-day weather window — the combination of Bura risk and open sea crossing demands careful weather analysis
- Carry double your expected fuel, water and provisions — there is nothing available and the passage back can be delayed by weather
- The village residents are accustomed to the occasional visiting yacht but are not a tourist facility — greet them in Croatian (dobar dan), buy nothing that is not offered for sale, and leave the bay cleaner than you found it
- The night sky at Ist, 28nm from the mainland with no light pollution, is one of the finest dark sky experiences in the Adriatic
- Snorkel the bay before anchoring — the water clarity is exceptional and you can see the bottom in 8m as if looking through glass
A note on this guide: Always check current weather, NAVTEX/VHF bulletins, and HHI charts. Use a GPS anchor alarm — never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Kosirača Bay
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position and alerts you the moment your boat drifts outside your set radius — essential in the Zadar Archipelago where Bura can arrive fast.
Download Free for iOS