ECC 2005

Flights

Unfortunately, Biograd does not have its own international airport. The nearest airports are Zadar (approx. 30 minutes north of Biograd) and Split (approx. 90 minutes south of Biograd). While we trust that you will understand that we will not be able to centrally organise the flights for all participants and will leave this matter to you, we envisage to organise a bus transfer from / to the two airports. We plan to have two to three transfers from / to the two airports, depending on the arrival / departure times of the various flights, meaning that some will have to wait for subsequent flights (note that such transfer is obviously subject to a sufficient amount of persons arriving within a reasonable time frame). The cost for such transfer (one way) will be 10,-- EUR per person for the transfer from / to Zadar and 20,-- EUR per person for the transfer from / to Split - payments must be made in cash upon boarding the bus.

In order to be able to organise the departure times of the "ECC Bus", we would be grateful if you could inform us - once you have organised your flights and if you are interested in such bus transfer - of your arrival and departure times. We envisage to organise the bus transfer for both Friday (06.05.2005) and Saturday (07.05.2005) before the event and Saturday (14.05.2005) and Sunday (15.05.2005) after the event.

Provisioning

There are several (smaller) supermarkets in the area, the largest being in the Biograd Marina Kornati itself and along the road passing the marina on the western side.

Furthermore, Sunsail will - for those participants who are interested - run a provisioning service. The procedure for such provisioning service will basically work either by completing and faxing an order form to be provided in the log book directly to the Sunsail Kornati Base or online via the Sunsail homepage www.sunsail.com (scroll down to "Online Provisioning" which will open a separate window - select the base "Croatia, Kornati). The orders will be placed on board of your yacht and a Sunsail representative will collect the payment for the provisioning service (note that orders have to be placed latest one week before the start of the ECC and payments must be made in cash in Croatian Kuna or Euro).

Destinations

Saturday / 07.05.2005 - Biograd (Marina Kornati)

If you intend to arrive in Biograd on Friday (06.05.2005) already (please refer to "Flights" above for the envisaged bus transfer from Zadar / Split airport to Biograd), you will be required to book a hotel for your first night in Biograd - the yachts will not be available before earliest Saturday, 12:00 noon. The following hotels are available in Biograd (we trust that you will understand that we will not be able to centrally organise the hotel bookings for all participants and will leave this matter to you):

Name
Tel.No.
Stars

ADRIA
+385 23 383-005
3

ADRIATIC
+385 23 383-062
1

ALBAMARIS
+385 23 385-179
n/a

BOLERO
+385 23 386-888
3

ILIRIJA
+385 23 383-108
2,5

KORNATI
385 23 383-168
2

The ECC yachts will be available earliest 12:00 noon and latest by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, depending on the charter situation of "your" yacht in the preceding week. We suggest that you report to Sunsail's office on the western side of the marina on Saturday after your arrival in Biograd (please refer to "Flights" above for the envisaged bus trans-fer from Zadar / Split airport to Biograd), earliest however at noon and ask for the latest information from Sunsail regarding the envisaged timing for the yacht take-over (there are a number of cafés in the area if you have to wait). Sunsail will use all reasonable endeavours to provide the yachts as early as possible, but please be patient if this proc-ess takes a little longer than you may have hoped for.

All facilities including power, water, showers and toilets are available in the marina close to the Sunsail base.
Note: Do not enter the marina on the north east - the Sunsail base has a direct access to the old town. (The pictures on the right have been made before the modernisation of the marina).

Biograd na Moru, a town and port in northern Dalmatia, 28 km south of Zadar, has a population of 5.315 inhabitants. It lies both on a small peninsula and the mainland. On its northern side is the cove of Bosana and on the southern Soline. In front of the town are the islands of Planac and Sveta Katarina with a lighthouse. Biograd is the centre of the riviera consisting of Petar na Moru, Turanj, Sv. Filip i Jakov, Biograd, Pakostane and Drage, as well as of several places on the island of Pasman and the island of Vrgada.

The picturesque Pasman Channel with a series of small islands protects Biograd and its riviera from winds from the sea. In the immediate vicinity is Vransko Lake, the largest lake in Croatia. Biograd is a local trading and traffic centre, with good connections with its hinterland, surrounding coastal villages and the island of Pasman. The local economy is based on farming, fishing and tourism.

Sunday / 08.05.2005 - Tribunj (Marina Tribunj)

After the skipper meeting in the "Fibra" café bar close to the Sunsail base (past the ferry terminal away from the marina on the town quay road), the first day will take us to Tribunj, a small island village (accessible via a little bridge adjacent to the marina) close to Vodice with a supermarket and a few restaurants in the area, including the "Pink Keel" restaurant in the very modern marina with all facilities.

Tribunj, a town and harbour on a small peninsula, 4 km west of Vodice, has a population of 1.333 inhabitants. The original settlement developed on the island in the 16th century. It was established by the refugees from the neighbouring settlements on the mainland. Fragments of the defence wall dating to the period of Venetian rule have been preserved. The old town Jurjevgrad contains the ruins of the mediaeval fortress and the church of St. Nicholas from 1452.

Tribunj can be described by the original scenery of an old Dalmatian town, the clean sea (according to the records probably the cleanest sea in the Adriatic) and rich sea flora and fauna. Tribunj has the largest fishing fleet in central Dalmatia - when fishermen return from the sea, the promenade of Tribunj turns into a shop window offering fresh fish and other catch, contributing thus to the special atmosphere of this town. The local economy is based on farming, fishing and tourism.

Monday / 09.05.2005 - Šibenik (Town Quay)

The skipper meeting in the morning will be held in the "Pink Keel" in the Tribunj marina. The day's course will, subject of course to the conditions on the day, consist of an "Olympic Triangle" on our way to nearby Šibenik, one of the oldest Croatian settlements, famous especially for the St. Jacob Cathedral and the old town square.

Šibenik is reached through the St. Ante canal and detailed instructions / procedures of how and when to enter the canal will be communicated in the morning's skipper meeting and via VHF. Please do not enter the canal before having reported to the Commodore's Boat ! The yachts will be moored (some yachts will however probably require their bow anchor) stern to the main quay by the old town (left of the fuel station) - note that there can be a lot of sea traffic in this area which requires special attention to hazards. As Šibenik is a comparatively large town (approx. 41.000 in-habitants), there are several restaurants and supermarkets in the area. However, there is no power or water supply on the quay and there are no showers / toilets in the area.

Those of you who know this area may ask why we are not staying in the Skradin marina close to the famous Krka waterfalls. Well, while the trip to Skradin through the Krk river is phantastic and the marina certainly has nicer facilities, the (motored) trip would take at least two hours of our sailing time away and hence would require shortened legs on this day and the following day - so we finally concluded to stay the night in Šibenik. For those of you interested to see the waterfalls, a trip by taxi from Šibenik will take about 20 - 30 minutes.

Šibenik, a city and port in northern Dalmatia, not far from the estuary of the Krka river into the Bay of Šibenik, connected by narrow straits with the Šibenik Channel, has a population of 41.012 inhabitants.

The city is arranged amphitheatrically around the natural harbour and on the surrounding hill slopes. The city, with the old fortresses of St. Anne, St. John and Subicevac overlooking it, consists of the Old Town, characterized by narrow and steep alleys in the west, and the modern part in the north and south-east. Šibenik is a cultural centre with amongst others the International Child's Festival.

The historic town of Šibenik, connected with the expansion and development of the early Croatian state, is rich in cultural and historical monuments. The most representative among them is the famous Cathedral of Šibenik, one of the most original architectural projects of the late Middle Ages, primarily linked to the local master Juraj Matejev Dalmatinac (George of Dalmatia). The local economy is based on industry (non-ferrous metals, aluminium), textiles and food processing as well as on shipbuilding and tourism. Šibenik is the birthplace of one of the greatest world basketball players Drazen Petrovic.

Šibenik is today a tourist centre situated in the area where the best-indented archipelago in Europe (Islands of Kornati) and karst hydrographical phenomena (Skradinski Buk, Visovac, Roski Waterfall) merge into the ecologically and aesthetically most attractive tourist and recreational zone on the Croatian Adriatic.

Tuesday / 10.05.2005 - Kornati Islands (Marina Piškera)

After the skipper meeting in one of the seafront cafés in Šibenik to be announced, the (rather lengthy - while we have plans for a shortened leg if required, we certainly hope that there is enough wind on this day...) course for the day will bring us to the National Park of the Kornati Islands with the marina Piškera being our overnight location (note that you must enter and leave the marina from the southern end of the Panitula island as the northern entrance is shallow and hides numerous rocks).

Power, water, showers and toilets are available and the marina also offers a small shop and a restaurant (which however will in no event be able to accommodate all ECC sailors, so please be prepared to cook on board if you are not among the first finishers of the day - reservations are recommended). The dinghy race will take place either here in Piškera or in the Telašcica Bay on the next night.

The Kornatski Otoci (Kornati Islands) archipelago is the most indented island group in the Mediterranean, situated in North Dalmatia, not far from Šibenik. The Kornati islands are noted for their varied unusual forms and extraordinary relief structure, and especially the high cliffs.

Beauty and singularity of the archipelago moved authorities in 1980 to proclaim a bigger part of that area national park.
Since then certain modifications of its borders were made, so that nowadays the Kornati National Park occupies the area of about 220 km2

Of the 152 Kornati Islands, 89 have been specially protected as part of the Croatian and World Heritage and proclaimed the national park. The sea world of the Kornati Islands abounds in fish and is an ideal place for fishing, diving and other water sports.

Famous for their uniqueness and beauty, the Kornati Islands are practically uninhabited. Only in the warmer parts of the year they become a temporary home for fishermen and farmers and as such are the perfect destination for those fond of vacationing in complete silence and tranquility.

Wednesday / 11.05.2005 - Telašcica Bay (Anchor)

The day will start with the skipper meeting in the marina restaurant and will then take us to Dugi Otok ("long island") north of the Kornati Islands where we will spend the night in the uninhabited nature park Telašcica Bay on the south eastern end of Dugi Otok, on anchor or mooring buoys.

Please do not enter the bay before having reported to the Commodore's Boat !

Unless already completed in Piškera or if subject to a re-match, the dinghy race will be held here.

Please note that while a little bar is available on the island, there are otherwise no facilities like showers, toilets, power, water, shops or restaurants. However, we are certain that you will nevertheless enjoy this location with swimming and snorkelling possibilities in this very picturesque natural harbour and the opportunity to see the impressive cliffs (up to 166 metres high) and the Mir salt lake.

The Telašcica, a large cove in the extreme south of the is-land Dugi Otok is around 10 km long and between 160 and 1.800 m wide, with several expansions with sandy and mud bottoms. The depth in the inner part attains 12 m, and in the outer part reaches up to 60 m. The north-eastern coast of Telašcica is predominantly bare, and the south-eastern part is covered by forest of pine, olive and fig trees.

The southern coast of Telašcica is separated from the sea by a narrow, forested crest, terminating in a 50 to 100 m high and steep seashore. A brackish lake (beach) is located in this region with an area of 0,23 km2 and a depth of 5,8 m. Telašcica is one of the largest and most beautiful coves on the Croatian coast. A path from the western part of Telašcica leads to the village Sali, situated on the eastern part of the island.

The cove has twenty five inlets, five islets and a special natural attraction - the salt lake. The medicinal lake water has a higher salt content and temperature from the surrounding sea, being thus especially attractive for swimmers.

The steep cliffs, rising up to 166 m and protecting the cove from the raging sea, are very impressive. The mysterious legends of buried gold and strange original inhabitants with five small horns on their heads fit into this marvellous and beautiful scenery.

Thursday / 12.05.2005 - Murter (Marina Hramina)

The skipper meeting for the day will be held either in the small bar on the island or via VHF. We will then exit this area between Dugi Otok and the island of Katina (note that the northern channel must be used as the southern channel is very shallow) and set our course on the peninsula of Murter with its nice bays for a swim break - after the crossing of the day's finish line of course - on the western coast (note that it is not possible to sail under the bridge at Tisno joining Murter to the mainland in the north east - this bay may look interesting on the map, but please do not try to enter).

Our overnight location will be the marina Hramina (note that there are three marinas on the peninsula - the coordinates of Hramina are 43° 49' N : 15° 36' E) with all facilities and a little supermarket and restaurant (note that it will take you approx. 20 - 30 minutes to reach the little town of Betina).

Murter, an island in the north-western part of the Šibenik archipelago with an area of 18,76 km2 (length 11 km, width up to 2,8 km) has a population of 5.192 inhabitants. The island is separated from the mainland by the narrow Murter channel. There are four towns located on the island - the older ones, Murter and Jezera, and the newer ones, Tisno and Betina. The local economy is based on farming, viticulture, fishing and tourism.

Friday / 13.05.2005 - Biograd (Marina Kornati)

The final sailing day will, after the skipper meeting in the marina restaurant, bring us back to Biograd. Once you have reached the marina Kornati, please return directly to the Sunsail base and do not fuel up the yachts, this will be handled by Sunsail after you return the yachts on Saturday.

In the evening we will meet for the farewell party at a location to be announced for a last big ECC 2005 party including dinner and of course the prize award ceremony and inauguration of the new Commodore for the ECC 2006.

Saturday / 14.05.2005 - Biograd (Marina Kornati)

All yachts shall - unless you have booked an extension week with Sunsail - be returned to Sunsail on Saturday morning (please refer to "Flights" above for the envisaged bus transfer to Zadar / Split airport from Biograd and to "Saturday / 07.05.2005" if you are staying a further night in a hotel in Biograd).