Anyone know Punat?

[jhr]

All know is that (a) it's a small place on the Croatian Island of Krk, (b) that it has a large marina and (c) that we're staying there for a week in August.

Anybody on here with local knowledge about places to visit/eat/avoid? Also, is it possible to hire a small boat of any kind to explore a bit further afield? Do you need to produce an ICC or suchlike? Anything else I should know? (If you're going to say "don't go, it's a dump", please refrain from doing so, and leave me to my current state of misguided innocence )

Also, what's this Bora thingy? Is it likely to make its presence known in August?

Tia

 

[BrianH]

All know is that (a) it's a small place on the Croatian Island of Krk, (b) that it has a large marina and (c) that we're staying there for a week in August.

Anybody on here with local knowledge about places to visit/eat/avoid? Also, is it possible to hire a small boat of any kind to explore a bit further afield? Do you need to produce an ICC or suchlike? Anything else I should know? (If you're going to say "don't go, it's a dump", please refrain from doing so, and leave me to my current state of misguided innocence )

Also, what's this Bora thingy? Is it likely to make its presence known in August?

Tia

I've not entered Punat - an enclosed and very protected bay - but have often cruised the adjacent islands of Cres and Rab, which are very beautiful, Rab especially with its pine trees overall and the town of the same name is a jewel.

Renting a boat of any size will surely entail having a certificate of competence - all charter companies insist on it, but perhaps something small for day sails could be different.

The bora, a ferocious NNE katabatic wind that hurls itself down the adjacent mountains, is less prevalent in August but can occur at any time, especially in the area of the Velebitski Kanal, which Krk helps to form. I rode a 60 knot one out in July last year in Istria that caused others in the anchorage to all drag, one of them into my boat causing a lot of damage. This wind needs a lot of respect and if anchoring, do so with little fetch from the NE quadrant. It can arrive very suddenly.

It is a really lovely area and I am sure you will have memorable time there.

 

[rtchina]

I was based there for 4 years. the marina is excellent and during our time, (we left in 2011 for Greece) the food in the restaurant was good and the walk into the town was ok where there are lots of restaurants, though all basically Croatian, which is not exactly cordon blue. The only problem with the north of Croatia is the Bora, which can blow and cause problems when trying to moor up in the Marina.

 

[jhr]

Thanks, both

 

[Metabarca]

Yes, keep a weather eye on the bora. Punat is pretty small, but Krk (Veglia) town is just a few miles down the road. If you have wheels, a nice place for a day's swim and an evening meal is at Stara Baska (NOT Baska) right at the south-west tip of the island. When you get there, keep walking past the village on an old track. There is a succession of beautiful bays which are well worth the effort (although one has been ruined by some apparatchik's villa).
Scenically, Cres (Cherso) is far more spectacular. There's a ferry from just west of Krk. If you should go there, head for Valun. On the road, you should find a little eatery offering lamb (the island's speciality) cooked in the peak, i.e. in the ground with an iron lid over the top. Look out for the griffons too!