NORTHERN ADRIATIC ISLANDS

ISLAND OF CRES

CRES (44° 57'N; 14° 24'E), town (pop. 2,234 in 1991) and harbour in a cove in the bay of Cres.

Approach: Landmarks: Pernat point; the red tower on a block (white light) on Kovacine point; the green tower (green light) on Krizice point; the red tower with a column and gallery on a concrete base (red light) on Melin point; the white tower with a column and gallery (green light) on the head of the S pier.

Approach through the narrow access channel (width 400 m). Care should be taken of the shoals extending up to 100m on each side of the channel. Off Melin point (light) is a submerged reef. Do not exceed 5 knots between Kovacine point and Cres harbour.

Mooring: The harbour offers shelter from all winds, but a strong sirocco causes waves up to 1m high that flood the waterfront. It is recommended to moor in the Cres marina. In the Priprajena cove there is 25 m stretch of the mainland for yachts drawing up to 3 m. Yachts can use the following anchorages: Gavza cove, some 0.8 M north of Kovacine point (depth 1215 m) and Nedomisje cove (depth 810 m), some 1 M south of Krizice point.

Warning: Mooring along the damaged parts of the waterfront is prohibited.

Facilities: Harbour master's branch office, post office, medical service, chemist's; several hotels, camp site, tourist office, shops, duty-free shop. Parangal Fishing Club.

Water from the hydrant in the harbour, fuel at the petrol station on the waterfront.

Repairs and hauling out of vessels up to 400 GRT can be carried out in Cres shipyard, which specializes in wooden vessels; situated in the harbour, it also carries out engine repairs and provides dockage over the winter; dock for vessels up to 1000 t; hoists (5 ans 7 t).

Car-ferry lines: Porozina - Brestova (Istria) and Merag - Valbiska (Island of Krk).

Local passenger lines (only in summer): see Rijeka and Mali Losinj.

Sights: Parts of the old town wall with a round tower and a loggia (15/16 C), the church of Sv Marija Velika (St Mary the Great, built in 1554, renovated in 1828), the Romanesque church of Sv Sidar (St Isidore), the church of Sv Marija Magdalena (1402), the monastery of the Minorites (1415 C, cloisters), the Benedictine nunnery (1527, renovated after the fire in 1764), Fontik (15 C, now a hotel), Town Hall (16 C, art collection), the Arsan-Petris (15 C, now Town Museum) and Rodinis (15 C) mansions.

CRES MARINA (INA) is situated in the S part of the Cres harbour cove. Capacity: 460 sea-berths along the pontoon quays and the pier (20% transit berths), and approx. 200 dry-berths (winter berthing with care and maintenance); electricity (220/380 V), water, telephone and TV hook-ups.

The marina operates the year round.

It has reception office, restaurants, appartments, skipper's bar, supermarket, duty-free shop and various boutiques (sports equipment, boat shops, drug store); sports courts, toilets and showers with hot water; laundry; petrol and gas pump; car park; charter fleet.

Hoist (10 t), travel-lift (30 t), slipway (15 t), crane for masts (18 m); complete mechanical service (repairs).