PENINSULA ISTRA

DALJA (45° 22'N; 13° 33'E), village (pop. 307 in 1991), small bay and holiday centre about 2.5M north of Novigrad.

Approach: The bay can be identified by the buildings of the tourist settlement on high ground above the shore and a wide tower with a flat roof in the settlement itself. Approaching vessels should be careful to avoid the Dajla (Pasador) shoal extending 400m NW of Dajla point; the northwest edge of this is marked by a yellow conical buoy with black band round the middle. This should be left to starboard.

Mooring: This shallow bay provides good shelter from the bora and the sirocco but is exposed to W wind and sea. Yachts may land in the NE part of the harbour (Spic), and moor at the head of the small pier (four-point moor), depth 2m at pier head, or anchor in the middle of the bay (depths 78 m) with a good holding bottom.

Facilities: Local shops, water in the hotel centre. Fuel and all other requirements in Umag or Novigrad.

Sights: Ruins of ancient buildings.

NOVIGRAD (45° 19'N; 13° 34'E), town (pop. 2,522 in 1991) and harbour (on the peninsula on the S side of the bay).

Approach: Novigrad can be identified by ruins of the town walls, church belfry and white, eight-sided concrete tower (sector light) at the head of the breakwater and a white tower with column and gallery (green light) on the head of the pier.

Care should be taken to avoid two shoals at the harbour entrance: Val shoal (WSW of harbour) is marked by a cylindrical black buoy with red line roud the middle, topped with two black spheres; Meja shoal (at the root of the outer side of the breakwater). When approaching at night vessels should keep within the white sector of the light on the breakwater head. The Val shoal is covered by its red sector and the Meja shoal by its green sector.

Mooring: The harbour is protected from all winds except W and NW which cause a surge in the harbour. As soon the first signs of N and NW winds are noticed yachts should transfer to Novigrad marina. Yachts drawing up to 3.5m may moor along the breakwater, near the head, and on the NE side of the pier (four-point moor). The pier is also used by coastal and excursion boats, and in summer for customs. The best anchorage is about 200m NE of the pier (depth 34m ).

Novigrad is a seasonal port of entry; customs, harbour master's branch office, post office; medical service, chemist's. Ribon Fishing Club.

Facilities: Self-service (groceries), duty-free shop, navigation charts and publications, water and fuel in marina.

Sights: Part of walls with two towers, Sv Pelagije church (St Pelagius 8 C, with 15 C and 16 C additions, crypt), loggia and Gothic houses, stancija a typical Istrian country estate (1761) on Karpinjan headland. Town Museum in the Urizzi mansion.

NOVIGRAD MARINA is located SE of Novigrad harbour, about 100m from pier. Provides shelter from all winds and sea.

When entering harbour care should be taken of the shoals off Mujela point extending about 150m from shore and of Val shoal about 900m SW of breakwater.

The marina has 130 sea-berths (four-point moor without anchor) for smaller craft (drawing 1.5m) and room for about 50 vessels at the pier.

It has reception office; water and electricity hook-ups at the root of the pontoon pier. Slipway for small craft, crane (10 t); small repairs in marina, larger ones in Pula shipyard. Winter berthing with care and maintenance. Fuel and butane gas available. Other supplies in Novigrad.

MIRNA (45° 19'N; 13° 34'E), wide bay S of Novigrad, estuary of river Mirna.

Approach: Novigrad lies on the N point at the entrance to the bay. There are steep red cliffs E of Pod Uliki point one mile E of Novigrad harbour and a lighthouse (sector light on corner of single-storey hous of lighthouse keeper) on Zub point (Rt Zub).

Vessels approaching from the north should take care to avoid the Val shoal, marked by a cylindrical black buoy with a red band in the middle, topped with two black spheres. At night this shoal is in the red sector of the harbour light (on the breakwater) in Novigrad harbour. Vessels approaching from the south should take care to avoid the Civran and Veliki skolj shoals lying about 1.6M south of Zub point.

Mooring: Mirna bay affords small craft shelter from all winds except those from the W which cause rough water. Larger craft are advised to anchor north of Valeta cove (depth 1718m) or in front of Stari Tar village. Smaller yachts can anchor near the S shore or in the Tar cove which is shallow (alluvial deposits). Anchorage about 1.6M south of Zub point. Vessels are advised to leave at the first signs of a W wind.

On the left bank of the Mirna, below the little hill town of Motovun, there is Motovun forest, a special forestry reserve; around Istarske Toplice there is a nature reserve.