Useful Information

PENINSULA ISTRA

FUNTANA (45° 11'N; 13° 36'E), cove about 3M south of Porec. On the south-eastern shore is the little village of Funtana. In the cove Frnazina holiday centre with several hotels and an autocamp.

Approach: Funtana with its church belfry on a rise above the cove is conspicuous and on the main angled pier a red post with red light.

Warning: From Porec to the entrance to the Limski kanal there are a large number of dangerous shoals and rocks. On the N side of Funtana bay is the Janjci shoal, its northern edge is marked by a black post with two red bands and topped with two black spheres. At the southern entrance, between the islet of Veli skolj and the shore is the Funtana shoal marked by a yellow and black post topped by two black cones, their points upwards. West of the pier, about 200m from the shore there are dangerous rocks and cliffs.

The safest approach is from the west, care being taken to avoid the Janjci shoal.

Mooring: The cove is exposed to W and NW winds and boats should leave as soon as any signs of the W wind are noticed. The depth is 1.52m (four-point moor recommended). There is anchorage in them middle of the cove at a depth of 68m. Landing may be made at the head of the pier of the Frnazina holiday centre (depth 24m).

Facilities: The Frnazina holiday village has post office, medical service, shops and a restaurant. Fuel at Vrsar (about 4M); also more complete supplies.

VRSAR (45° 09'N; 13° 36'E), small town (pop. 1,624 in 1991) and small harbour 1.5M north of entrance to Limski kanal, sheltered from the SW by the islet of Sv Juraj.

Approach: Vrsar can be identified by the old castle above the town itself built on a steep hillock; On the islet of Galiner, at the entrance to the harbour, there is a square red tower topped with an iron construction (white light) and hotels S of the pier; a white tower with a red column (red light) at the head of the main pier.

Care should be taken of a whole chain of shoals 11.5M west of the harbour: Velika shoal (yellow and black cylindrical buoy), Mramori shoal (red cylindrical tower with column and gallery on a concrete base; red flashing light), Lunga rock (yellow cylindrical concrete marker with black band in middle and two black cones on top, points facing), Galopun rock (between Lunga islet and shore), Orlandin rock about half a mile SW of Galiner islet.

The safest approach to Vrsar is from NW leaving the Mramori shoal 300m to starboard; On entering the bay Galiner islet should be left slightly to port. If entrance is made from SW then the marker on Mramori shoal should be left 200300m to port and course set towards Galiner islet. At night approach should be made in the white sector of the light on Galiner islet (sector 5064° and 100116°).

Warning: It is forbidden for any vessel to sail between the isle of Sveti Juraj and the shore within a zone marked by: pier in the SE part of Vrsar harbour (sports centre of hotels) NW shore of Sv Juraj; Fornace point SE shore of Sveti Juraj. Craft of all kinds are also forbidden to sail within a zone: Bojko point NW shore of Kuvrsada islet (nets), Sjole point SW shore of Kuvrsada islet. These are forbidden zones from April 15 to October 15 every year.

There is a water-skiing track from Funtana point to Fujaga point.

Mooring: The harbour is protected from all winds except from NW. In strong south-westerlies the whole pier is flooded. Coasters and excursion boats moor alongside the pier, craft may moor along the shore (four-point moor). There is good anchorage between the islet of Sv Juraj and the shore (depth 1215m). In strong NW winds anchorage should be made on the lee side of the island.

Facilities: Post office, medical service, chemist's, exchange office, several hotels and hotel settlements, camp for motorists, duty-free shop. Food and water (hydrant); fuel pumps, butane gas. On Kuvrsada there is a naturist camp and bathing beach.

Sights: Traces of a Roman settlement in harbour and islets; Sv Marija church (12 C); Castel Vergottini medieval town gate (18 C). Kanfanar (Sv Silvestar church with medieval furniture and fittings) 28km. Dvograd (ruins of a medieval town deserted in 1630 because of the plaque) 31km.