Two weeks from Dubrovnik to Vis and back

The one-week Dubrovnik loop reaches Korčula and turns home. With 14 days the same base gives you Vis, Komiža and the Blue Cave, the Pakleni islands off Hvar and the empty east of Mljet, at a pace of one leg a day with two rest days built in. Legs assume 5 to 6 knots; the maestral blows from the north-west from midday, so the outbound week sails into it in the mornings and the return week rides it home.

Saturday: Komolac to Šipanska Luka, Šipan | about 14 nm

Down the inlet and up the Koločep channel to Šipan, the largest Elaphite island, with a deep bay at its western end. Anchor or take a mooring; the village has two konobas and a bakery. An easy first night close to base.

Sunday: Šipan to Polače, Mljet | about 15 nm

Polače is the best natural harbour on Mljet, a bay closed by four islets and sheltered from every wind, inside the national park. Restaurant moorings and a quay; the park ticket covers the lakes, reached by minibus or a 45-minute walk. Roman palace ruins on the waterfront.

Monday: Polače to Korčula town | about 20 nm

West along Mljet and across the Pelješac channel to ACI Marina Korčula, booked in advance in season. Afternoon in the walled town: the cathedral, the Marco Polo house and the towers along the walls.

Tuesday: Korčula to Šćedro | about 17 nm

Up the channel and north-west to Šćedro, the small island off the south coast of Hvar with two deep coves (Lovišće and Manastir) and two konobas. Restaurant moorings in Lovišće; anchor in Manastir. No village, no shop, very quiet.

Wednesday: Šćedro to Vis town | about 22 nm

The first crossing, west across open water to Vis, the outermost inhabited island, closed to foreigners until 1989 and still the least developed. Berth on the town quay in Kut or Luka, or anchor in the bay; the harbour is open to the north-east, so check the forecast. Wine bars for the local Vugava and Plavac, and the military tunnels tour by jeep.

Thursday: Vis to Komiža | about 10 nm

Round the north of the island to Komiža, the fishing town on the west coast, facing the sunset. Town quay with lazy lines, exposed to the west and south-west. Book the Blue Cave for Friday morning here: entry is by licensed rowing boat from Biševo, and the light is best from 11:00 to 13:00.

Friday: Komiža, Biševo and on to Stari Grad, Hvar | about 30 nm

The long day. Motor 5 nm to Biševo at 09:00 for the cave, then sail east with the maestral to Stari Grad, the oldest town on Hvar, at the head of a 4-mile bay. Marina and town quay; the bay has anchorages in Zavala and Tiha if the quay is full. Rest day possible here on Saturday, with the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO) and Hektorović's fortified house.

Saturday: Stari Grad to Palmižana, Pakleni islands | about 12 nm

Round Cape Pelegrin and along the south-west of Hvar to ACI Marina Palmižana on Sveti Klement, the sheltered marina of the Pakleni archipelago. Taxi boats run to Hvar town every 20 minutes for the evening. The coves of the Pakleni islands (Stipanska, Vinogradišće, Ždrilca) are for the afternoon swim.

Sunday: Palmižana to Vela Luka via Proizd | about 14 nm

South to Proizd, the islet off Vela Luka with white-pebble coves and the clearest water of the trip, then into the bay to the town quay. Supermarkets, fuel and water: the mid-trip provisioning stop.

Monday: Vela Luka to Zaklopatica, Lastovo | about 18 nm

The second crossing, south to Lastovo. Zaklopatica's restaurant moorings, dark sky and quiet water are the reward. Enter by the eastern passage.

Tuesday: Zaklopatica to Pomena, Mljet | about 22 nm

North-east to the western tip of Mljet and the national park. Moorings and quay in Pomena; the lakes, the bikes and the monastery island fill the afternoon. Arrive early.

Wednesday: Pomena to Saplunara, Mljet | about 22 nm

Along the south coast of Mljet, the wild side with no harbours, to Saplunara at the south-east tip: a sandy bay, shallow (2 to 4 m), sheltered from all but the south-west, with two restaurants and a beach. Anchor in sand; the holding is good.

Thursday: Saplunara to Lopud | about 12 nm

Across to the Elaphites and the island of Lopud, car-free, with a long waterfront village and the sandy bay of Šunj on the far side. Moorings in the harbour, open to the north-west; anchor in Šunj if the maestral is strong.

Friday: Lopud to Komolac | about 12 nm

A morning swim at Koločep, then back through the channel and up the inlet to ACI Dubrovnik for the afternoon check-in. Fuel before 16:00. Last evening in the old town.

Variations

Swap Šćedro for Hvar town if the crew wants nightlife early in the trip. In unsettled weather, replace the Vis crossing with Korčula's south coast and Lastovo, and keep the second week inside the channels. Details of bases and fleets on our Dubrovnik charter page.