Sailing in Croatia – Around the Island of Solta

The island of Solta is often the first or last stop for many charter guests sailing from the Split, Trogir, and Kastela area. It is located just 18km away from the city of Split and has historically served as a refuge during times of plague and war.

The old settlements on the island are particularly interesting, with one notable landmark being the Martinis Marchi Castle (built in 1708) in Maslinica, which is now one of the most famous marinas in Dalmatia.

Solta was first mentioned by the Greek geographer Pseudo-Scylax in the 4th century BC, referred to as “Olyntia,” meaning “the fig island.” Later, the Romans named it “Insula Solentii,” which translates to “Island of the Sun.” The hilly landscape of the island appears lush and green, adorned with walled fields, olive groves, fig and carob trees, as well as vineyards. Historical sources remind us that honey from Solta was considered the best, much like the island’s olive oil is today. Despite its proximity to Split, the island feels secluded.

Maslinica and Sesula

We begin our sailing around the island of Solta on the west side, in the harbor of Maslinica. The entrance to the harbor is hidden behind six small islets that lie in front of the village of Maslinica. When entering, it is important to pay attention to these islets.

In the bay of Maslinica, you’ll find the popular Marina “Martinis Marchi.” Due to its proximity to the charter hotspots of Split, Trogir, and Kastela, the marina is a favored stop for charter guests on Saturdays or when returning to the harbor on Thursdays or Fridays. It is a modern and luxuriously equipped marina, which includes a hotel and a restaurant. Maslinica captivates with its beauty and relaxed atmosphere.

Contact Marina “Martinis Marchi”: 00385 21 659 093

Just a short half nautical mile to the south, you’ll find “Sesula Bay”. The bay offers good protection from all directions except southwest, where westerly winds can cause waves in the bay. It is best to anchor in the middle of the bay at a depth of 8 meters, and for added safety, a stern line can be secured to land. In the bay of Sesula there are two restaurants. Upon entering on the port side, you’ll find the “Sesula Restaurant,” and further down towards the end of the bay, nestled into the hillside, is the “Sismis Restaurant.” Both restaurants offer buoys for guests, and during busy times, 2-3 boats may share a single buoy.

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From here, a road leads to Maslinica, and the walk takes approximately 15 minutes. Currently, plans are underway to open a new marina in Sesula Bay with around 70 berths and sanitary facilities.

Contact: Restaurant Sesula: 00385 91 5575 927

North Coast of Solta Island

After the two most famous bays of Solta, Maslinica and Sesula, we continue our sailing journey around the island from the north. In the northern vicinity of Maslinica, you’ll find the Sipkova Bay, with a beach at the end. Spikova bay provides good protection only against a southern winds, and anchoring is possible only along the northeast or south coast, as there is an underwater cable running to the island of Drvenik in the middle.

Continuing eastwards on the north side of the island Solta, you’ll sail more than 3 nautical miles along Solta’s rocky coastline, covered in macchia, until you reach the Krusica Bay. The Krusica Bay is a small bay on the northern side, fully exposed to the northern winds. Anchoring is done on the sandy bottom at a depth of approximately 6 meters.

Rogac

the main harbor of Solta is Rogac, located roughly in the center of the island. This is also where the ferry port connecting the island of Solta to the mainland is situated. The Rogac Bay is divided into three branches: Kasjun, Banje, and Rogac.

Recently, the north and south docks in the port of Rogac were completely renovated. The south dock is occupied by boats from a charter company, while boats in transit can dock at the north dock, where the water depth is around 3 meters. Due to the shallow water, bow-in docking is preferred. A fuel station, several restaurants, and shopping options are located in the village, not far from the harbor.

If you can’t find a berth at the village dock, you can anchor in the adjacent Banje Bay, where the restaurant “Pasarela” is located. During the Bura wind (northeast wind), it is advisable to avoid anchoring in the bay.

Rogac itself is a small picturesque village with traditional stone houses and the beautiful St. Theresa’s Church located at the bottom of the bay. Those interested in the history and traditions of the island can take a stroll to the village of “Grohote,” a 15-minute walk uphill from Rogac.

Contact: Rogac Harbor: 091 165 4305 // Restaurant Pasarela: 091 549 4986

Necujam

Just half a nautical mile from Rogac, you’ll reach the largest bay on the island, “Necujam.” Necujam, like Rogac, is branched into several arms. Here, you’ll find a total of 5 anchor bays.

The “Piskera” anchorage is located in the far southeastern corner of the bay. Be cautious when anchoring, as there are remnants of a stone wall from the times of Emperor Diocletian. The depth ranges between 2 and 6 meters.

Right next to it, in the southwest corner, is the “Mala Maslinica” Bay. Here, anchoring is partially restricted due to a shipwreck at the bottom, which, however, is advantageous for snorkeling. The bay has two piers, usually occupied by the owners’ boats. From the two bay arms (Maslinica and Piskera), a road leads to Grohote (2km) and the village of Necujam (1km).

On the west side of the bay, there are two more bay arms. Closer to Maslinica is the “Podkamenica Bay” and at the tip upon entering is the “Sumpjevina Bay”. In both bays, it is best to anchor in the middle at a depth of 5-6m.

For a bit more security, there’s the “Supetar bay” arm on the east side of the large Necujam Bay, recognizable by the apartment resort above the bay. Here, you’ll find several buoys belonging to the restaurant at the western tip of the Supetar bay arm.

Necujam offers a variety of anchoring options. Depending on the wind, it is advisable to choose one of the bay arms to ensure a safe overnight stay in Necujam, although caution is required during the Bura wind.

Stomorska

We continue sailing along the north coast of Solta Island. Two nautical miles southeast of Necujam, you’ll find the Stomorska Bay, considered by many as the most beautiful place on Solta. In the Stomorska harbor, the stone waterfront promenade serves as a berthing place. The promenade offers a total of 25 mooring berths with electricity, water connections, and sanitary facilities. In the village itself, there is a supermarket, post office, and several bars and restaurants.

Stomorska Harbor Contact: 00385 91 980 7311

From Stomorska to the Splitska Vrata passage, there are three small anchor bays where you can enjoy a peaceful and serene atmosphere, surrounded by dense pine forests. The first anchorage after Stomorska is “Gornja Krusica,” with a depth of approximately 6 meters in the middle of the bay. At the end of the bay, there is a beautiful beach. Next are the “Vela Luka” and “Lestimerova” bays.

The South Coast of Solta Island

We pass through the Splitska Vrata passage, which separates Solta Island from Brac. The passage is only half a nautical mile wide and is very famous, with a lot of boat traffic in the summer.

Now, we sail in the opposite direction along the rugged south coast of the island, where the bays are lined up almost one after another. What they have in common is their great depth (up to fifty meters) and all of them provide excellent protection from north winds.

Livka and Vela Travna

The southernmost bay is “Livka.” As the “Livka” bay is right in front of the Splitska Vrata passage, there can be waves even during calm wind conditions due to the busy traffic in the passage. Livka is fully exposed to the Jugo (southeast wind). The depth along the rocky shore is around 7 meters, while anchoring in the middle of the bay is done at depths of 30 to 40 meters. The bay is quite large, stretching for 1 kilometer. The neighboring “Vela Travna” bay is similar to the “Livka” bay but much smaller.

The third consecutive bay is “Stracinska,” which is divided into two arms. The depth in the middle of the bay is around 30 meters, gradually decreasing to 10 meters near the shore. As with all other bays on the south side, this bay should be avoided during the Jugo wind. There are some holiday homes in the area. The clear water and small pebble beaches are great option for a swimming stop.

From “Stracinska,” you sail for two and a half nautical miles along the almost vertical coast to the next small bay called “Grabova,” followed by “Senjska” and “Lucica”.

After these three bays, you’ll encounter another beautiful bay called “Jorja”. Above the bay, there is a restaurant with a stunning view of the bay itself. Just below the restaurant, there is a pebble beach. Jorja also has several mooring buoys reserved for restaurant guests, which can be reserved in advance.

Restaurant Lero – Jorja Bay: 092 205 3460

Tatinja bay

The adjacent bay, “Tatinja,” is the most famous bay on the south coast of Solta. It is located almost in the middle of the island and extends about seven hundred meters inland.

The Tatinja Bay is divided into three arms. There is a rock formation between the two western arms and the third arm, with a depth of 3 meters between the rock and the shore. It is best to anchor at a depth of 5 to 10 meters. During the Jugo wind (southeast wind), it is advisable to moor in the easternmost branch. There is a restaurant here that provides its own mooring buoys for guests. The bay is densely wooded and has a few smaller beaches.

Restaurant Lonely Paradise – Tatinja Bay: 091 453 2010

Between Tatinja and Sesula, which we mentioned at the beginning of the blog, there are a dozen more small anchor bays, but it’s worth visiting only two more. Less than a nautical mile west of Tatinja is the anchorage “Zaglav”. Along the western shore of the bay, there is a beautiful beach and a few stone houses. The depth in the middle of the bay is 20 meters, gradually decreasing to 5-6 meters near the shore.

And the last noteworthy bay on the south coast of Solta is “Poganica”. Similar to Zaglav, it is a secluded bay with only a single cottage, where you can truly enjoy peace and tranquility even in the height of summer. It is perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling, and swimming.

If you rent a sailboat or catamaran from our charter base in Split or Trogir, Solta Island with its numerous bays is perfect for the first sailing route if you want to set sail on a Saturday or for the last day before returning to the marina.