Enjoying the Gulf

The 3 large bays of the Gulf of Kotor (Montenegro) are almost like an inland sea. Any 1 of the bays can be sailed from 1 end to the other in a couple of hours. The 2 bays further in are accessed through a narrow pass and once inside, you are looking at steep mountainsides that can define these waters as fjords.

Looking up the Gulf from Herceg Novi

Small towns, some with enchanting history and classic architecture, speckle the shores. We could see defining elements in the architecture with stone walls, dormers, arches, and clay roofs.

Suitable anchorages are limited because of the steep drop offs and there is only 1 significant marina, although another is being developed at Meljine.

We chose our anchorages carefully as the katabatic winds can be strong. The bonus is that the fetch is usually not a concern. Sometimes it was evident where we were NOT allowed to anchor...

Cruising along the shore, we occasionally saw the remnants of submarine bunkers...

The tide range is only a couple of feet here and the fetch insignificant so many of the buildings on the shores are close to water level. Even a few islets where churches or monasteries got first dibbs used every square foot.

Floating monastery

We anchored a couple of nights in front of the new marina development underway at Meljine and were able to quickly dinghy over to nearby Herceg Novi to see the Citadel and fortified town that climbed up the steep hillside.

A short distance across from Porto Montenegro/Town of Tivat is the Island of Sveti Marko (aka Saint Marko or Stradioti). It was once a popular place for the most basic of travellers with thatched huts (no water or electricity) that peppered the island. Now all vacant, nature is taking them back. It provided pleasant anchorage with good holding where we spent a couple of nights listening to the gusting wind in the rigging.

Porto Montenegro, a recent comprehensive and exclusive development includes condos, shops, and eateries and a marina where yachts of all sizes berth, even the most mega. They even retained the old naval crane, painting it red and white as a noticeable feature especially with colourful night lights.

This picture here shows the Golden Odyssey at 123 m (404 ft) long, one of the largest private yachts and its support ship, the Golden Shadow, both owned by a Saudi prince involved in ocean research.

The sheik's toys

Our anchorages included:
N42°27.159' E018°33.828' Jun 19 Town of Meljine
N42°24.499' E018°41.718' Jun 21 Sveti Marko Island
N42°25.436' E018°42.030' Jun 23 Porto Montenegro