A Dubrovnik loop with the three big islands of the south

ACI Marina Dubrovnik sits 6 km up the Rijeka Dubrovačka inlet at Komolac, 30 minutes from the airport and 20 from the old town. Check-in is on Saturday afternoon, so the first leg is short. The week then runs west to Mljet, out to Lastovo, up to Korčula and back, with the prevailing summer wind, the north-westerly maestral, building every afternoon from 12 to 18 knots and dying at sunset. Times below assume 5 to 6 knots under sail or engine.

Saturday: Komolac to Kobaš, Pelješac | about 17 nm

Leave the inlet by mid-afternoon, pass under the Franjo Tuđman bridge and turn north-west along the Koločep channel, with the Elaphite islands to port. Kobaš is a small cove at the entrance to the Ston channel, sheltered from everything except the bura, with three konobas that give free moorings to diners. Oysters and mussels come from the Ston beds a few miles up the channel; this is the cheapest good seafood of the week. If check-in runs late, Šipanska Luka on Šipan (about 12 nm) is the fallback.

Sunday: Kobaš to Pomena, Mljet | about 25 nm

Sail the length of Mljet's north coast to Pomena, the village at the western tip inside the national park. Berth on the hotel quay or a restaurant pontoon, or anchor behind the islet of Pomeštak. Park tickets are sold at the entrance kiosk and cover the saltwater lakes, 15 minutes on foot; rent bikes at the Malo Jezero bridge and take the boat to the monastery island of Sveta Marija in Veliko Jezero. Pomena fills by 16:00 in July and August, so arrive early or plan for the anchorage.

Monday: Pomena to Zaklopatica, Lastovo | about 22 nm

The open-water leg of the week, south-west across the Lastovo channel. Zaklopatica is a bay on the north coast, almost closed by the islet of the same name; enter by the eastern passage (the western one is shallow) and take a restaurant mooring or anchor in 8 to 15 m. Lastovo is a nature park with the darkest sky in the Adriatic and a village 2 km uphill that is worth the walk. Provisions are limited to one small shop; fill up in Pomena.

Tuesday: Zaklopatica to Vela Luka, Korčula | about 20 nm

Round the west of Lastovo and cross north to Vela Luka, the town at the head of a 5-mile bay on the west of Korčula. Stop for a swim at Proizd on the way, the islet with the white-pebble coves off the bay entrance. Vela Luka has a town quay with water and power, a fuel station and proper supermarkets, so this is the provisioning stop. The Vela Spila cave above the town has 20,000 years of human traces and a view over the bay.

Wednesday: Vela Luka to Korčula town | about 38 nm

The long day. Leave by 08:00 and take the south coast of Korčula, past Prižba and Brna, then round the eastern cape into the Pelješac channel, where the maestral funnels to 20 knots or more in the afternoon and gives a fast final reach. Korčula town is a walled Venetian town on a peninsula; ACI Marina Korčula is just east of the walls and takes bookings, which matter in season. Evening in the old town, with the Moreška sword dance on summer Mondays and Thursdays. Shorter option: stop at Brna or Lumbarda and skip the walls.

Thursday: Korčula to Prožura, Mljet | about 27 nm

Back across the channel and east along Mljet's north coast to Prožura, a cove sheltered by the islets of Borovac and Planjak, with restaurant moorings and a quay for a few boats. Okuklje, 2 nm further east, is the alternative with more moorings. Both are quiet, dinner-and-swim stops; the national park is behind you, so no tickets.

Friday: Prožura to Komolac | about 23 nm

Cross to the Elaphites, with a lunch stop at Šunj bay on Lopud (sandy, shallow, busy) or the west side of Koločep, then run back down the Koločep channel and up the inlet to ACI Dubrovnik for the afternoon check-in. Fuel is on the marina fuel quay; queue before 16:00. Last evening on the Stradun and the city walls, which open until 19:30 in summer.

Variations

With a skippered yacht or an experienced crew, Wednesday can end at Lumbarda instead of Korčula and Thursday can add the vineyards of Pelješac (Trstenik or Žuljana). In the bura season, or with a beginner crew, stay inside the Mljet and Koločep channels and swap Lastovo for Polače on Mljet. See our Dubrovnik charter page for bases and live availability.