A sailing-friendly region, the Krk island in Kvarner Bay of northern Croatia has what it takes to attract large numbers of tourists year after year. That's why the Punat marina caters to these mases and has them coming back.
Location & Approach The Punat marina is located in the southeastern part of one of the biggest islands of the Adriatic, Krk Island, off the northern Dalmatian coastine, in Kvarner Bay, a well-known and busy location of the Adriatic Sea.
The marina has the coordinates 45° 01,3'N 14° 37,6' E and is located just near the town of Punat, in a naturally protected bay which has just a small opening to the sea, thus providing total protection to the mooring boats from the elements. The entrance to the bay faces south while the marina lies on the eastern shore of the bay, right next to the entry point.
Several perpendicular piers on the side of the shore make up the Punat marina which doesn’t have any breakwaters, due to the calm waters. In order to enter the bay where the marina is found, the skipper has to navigate through a narrow channel that is only 3m deep, shallower on both sides close to land. It’s well marked by lights on both sides.
Infrastructure & Ambience Open throughout the year, the Punat marina near the boatyard has 900 berths along its many piers and an additional 500 berths on land. The berths on the water are connected to water, electricity supply and even a wireless internet connection. They can accommodate boats up to 45m in length.
The usual services are provided to guests of the marina: toilets and showers, a reception office, a restaurant, a grocery shop, a chandlery (shop that sells nautical equipment and supplies), a car park with over 450 spaces and radio assistance upon arrival as well as a weather service.
The repair facilities include a 10t crane, a 40t travel lift, a 20t slipway and an air-conditioned workshop for boat body work. There is no fuel station on the marina grounds but skippers can find one 2 nautical miles away, close to the naval yard.
So why come to the town of Punat on Krk island? It’s really an easy choice, since the area seems to have been predestined for sailing afficionados and regulars. Apart from being located in Kvarner Bay which is a major part of the Croatian Riviera, there are numerous towns and resorts on Krk and on neighboring Cres, while on the mainland there are towns such as Pula, Zadar and Rijeka.
The landscape of the island is made up of thick vegetation, especially towards the center, while the coasts are dotted with small fishing and farming communities which bear that old world charm so appealing to western travelers. As a measure of the island’s popularity, you can take into consideration the sheer size of the marina, over 1000 berths to accommodate the summer crowds coming here in search of good places to sail.