MIDDLE ADRIATIC

STARIGRAD (44° 17.7'N; 15° 26.4'E), village (pop. 1,159 in 1991) and small harbour on the NE coast of the southernmost part of Velebitski kanal.

Approach: Landmarks: the round red tower with a column and gallery (red light) on the head of the breakwater, the church of Sv Juraj (St George) and the multi-storey Alan hotel.

When approaching from SE, care should be taken of the shoals, reefs and rocks extending some 500m offshore; the S rim of the shoal is marked by a black and yellow buoy surmounted by two black cones points downwards. A shallow reef bank stretches between the buoy and the coast.

Mooring: The harbour is exposed to the bora; the sirocco is moderate but causes waves; the westerlies blow in the summer and are strong and dangerous. Smaller vessels can moor on the E end of the breakwater (depth 2-4 m). In calm weather moor along both sides of the breakwater. The anchorage offshore is exposed to the bora and is not safe.

Warning: Mooring along the damaged E pier is prohibited.

Facilities: Harbour master's branch office, post office, chemist's, medical service, a hotel, travel agency, several shops and restaurants, camp site.

Provisions and water in the village, fuel at the petrol station on the Adriatic highway (1km SE).

Sights: Veca kula (a tower dating probably from the time of Turkish attacks in 1617 C), Sv Petar church (Pre-Romanesque, 10 C), next to it the ruins of the necropolis with 20 medieval tombstones, two pre-historic cairns at the entrance to Velika Paklenica. The Velika Paklenica National Park, a karst valley stretching for 10km in the S part of the Velebit mountain range, situated between 450-metre high hills. The cave Manita Pec, the Borisov Dom mountain lodge (550 m), starting point for climbing the peaks of Velebit.

VINJERAC (44° 15.5'N; 15° 28'E), village (pop. 273 in 1991) and small harbour 2.6M west of the entrance to Novsko zdrilo.

Approach: Landmarks: the red tower with a column and gallery (sector white light) on the head of the breakwater, church on the E entrance point.

When entering the harbour care should be taken of Stanga shoal, some 0.5M northwest of the harbour, marked by a black and yellow spar surmounted by two black cones points upwards. When approaching by night from NW keep within the white sector of the light on the breakwater. Approaching from E, keep off the shallow N of the village; as soon as you sight the red sector of the light on the breakwater, shape course for the light. A number of shoals extend about 800m offshore between Vinjerac and the entrance to Novsko zdrilo; they are marked by a conical green buoy surmounted by a radar reflector.

Mooring: The harbour is sheltered from all winds except the bora, which is very strong and a longer stay in the harbour is not recommended. Smaller yachts moor along the inner side of the breakwater and on both sides of the pier. With the bora and NW winds blowing, moor on the NW end of the pier (four-point moor). When securing, take care of the projecting underwater part of the breakwater.

Facilities: Post office, hotel, tourist office and a shop. Limited provisions and water.

Sights: The ruins of an Illyrian settlement (3/2 C B.C.), Sv Marko church (medieval, part of an ancient Pauline monastery), ruins of a Venetian palazzo of the Venier family hence the name of the village.

RAZANAC (44° 17'N; 15° 21'E), village (pop. 1,039 in 1991) and small harbour, some 5M southeast of Ljubacka vrata.

Approach: Landmarks: the ruins of the tower, the hotel, the church and the red column on the breakwater (red light). The low and bare islets of Razanac veli (white tower with a column, white light), Razanac mali and Donji skolj.

When approaching from SE, care should be taken of the shoals near the outer end of the root of the breakwater.

Mooring: The harbour is protected from all winds except the bora, which is very strong here; a longer stay in the harbour in the bora and the north-westerlies is not recommended. Moor along the breakwater; with the bora blowing, use the four-point moor securing bows-to the breakwater and stern-to the bollards on the opposite coast.

Facilities: Post office, medical service, hotel, camp site and tourist office.

Provisions and other shopping in the local shop; water from the main.

Sights: Ruins of an Illyrian fortress and tombs (3/2 C B.C.), Gospa od Ruzarija church (Our Lady of the Rosary, 1682, new church 1856, renovated in 1983); in the vicinity (2 km) Sv Andrija church (St Andrew, medieval); ruins of a defense tower against Turkish attacks (near the harbour, 16 C).