NORTHERN ADRIATIC

OPATIJA (45° 20'N; 14° 19'E), town and holiday resort (pop. 9,073 in 1991); also a small harbour on the NW side of Rijeka Bay, about 4M from Rijeka.

Approach: The town can be recognized by the small grey stone church (without belfry with a copper dome), many hotels, the cylindrical white tower with post and gallery (red light, visible azimuth 137° through S to 354°) on the pier head a red tower with post and gallery (red light) on the breakwater head of the marina in front of the Admiral hotel.

Mooring: The outer part of the pier is for excursion and passenger boats and is suitable for mooring in good weather. The inner side of the quay is suitable for boats drawing up to 3m and is sheltered from all winds except the NE. The bora is moderately felt and always blows from the E. S and E winds cause rough sea. The inner part of the harbour is reserved for boats of local people. The best berth for yachts is in the marina fronting the Admiral hotel (0.8M southwest of the harbour). Anchorage (about 500m offshore, depth 50 m) is not recommended in strong E and SE winds.

Opatija has harbour master's branch office, customs, post office, medical centre for thalasotherapia, chemist's, medical service, banks, a large number of hotels of all categories, varied shops, duty-free shops. It is the centre of the Adriatic Yacht Club (ACY).

Jadran Yacht Club can undertake winter care of a limited number of boats. In early spring (March) it organizes an international sailing regatta for the Opatija Cup (Finn and Flying Dutchman classes).

Facilities: Fuel pumps on the outer part of the quay, hydrant on quay. Electricity connections by harbour offices. Shops of all kinds in town. Electric crane (5 t) on the inner part of the quay, manual hoist (3 t) on the outer quay. Small repairs can be effected in Admiral Marina, larger in the Kantrida shipyard in Rijeka.

Sights: The church of Sv Jakob ad Palum (St Jacob ad Palum, 1508, additions 1774, 1937), Villa Angiolina (1844, the beginning of Opatija as a seaside resort); Prvi Maj park (exotica). Veprinac (Gothic castello, town gate, loggia, St Mark church) 13km. Mount Ucka (1,396 m, sweeping views of Kvarner Bay and Istria) 20km by road. Kastav, little town with medieval remains (15 C church of Sv Fabijan i Sebastijan, 15 C loggia) 6km.

ADMIRAL MARINA (49° 19'N; 14° 18.4'E) is located in Opatija, mainly for Admiral hotel guests.

Landmarks: the large, white step-like building of the Admiral hotel standing above the marina and the cylindrical red tower with post (red light) on the main breakwater are easily visible from seaward.

The marina operates during the whole year.

It has 206 berths (four-point moor) for small yachts and boats. On shore there are a number of dry-berths for repairs and wintering.

The marina is protected from all winds and sea, but strong bora and sirocco create a swell especially at the berths beside the breakwater (nearer the sea). This makes entrance very difficult and sometimes impossible. The marina offices provide weather bulletins and forecasts.

Shops in the marina and in Opatija. Fuel available.

Crane (5 t), electricity hook-ups, water from hydrant, engine servicing, repairs to electrical installations, battery charging, sail repairs. Maintenance during wintering.