Cres and Lošinj are the long islands on the far side of the Kvarner, east of Istria and south of Rijeka. Cres is the larger, wilder island. Lošinj is lower and greener, with Mali Lošinj the harbour most boats know. They meet at Osor, where a narrow canal joins them. The gulf around them is one of the windiest parts of the Adriatic in a Bura. The Pula and Istria guide already says the crossing from Istria is not a casual small-boat trip. This page is for when you are on the islands, or deciding whether to be.
West of Cres is the open Kvarner toward Istria. East of Cres is the channel toward Krk and the mainland mountains, which is where a Bura comes from. Lošinj continues the chain southwards, with a more indented coast and more harbours. The Osor canal is a short, narrow cut. It is convenient and it is not a place to meet in a hurry. The south of Lošinj opens toward Ilovik and the way to Zadar, which is another open leg.
Bura. This is the wind these islands are known for. It falls from the mountains behind Rijeka and blows across the gulf, gusty and able to raise a steep sea. A bay on the east side of Cres can be violent while a west-facing cove is only gusty, or the other way round once the wind has crossed the island. Do not learn this from a single afternoon. Read the Bura guide, and treat a DHMZ warning for the Kvarner as meant for you.
Jugo. A south-easterly sends a large sea into the gulf and around the southern end of Lošinj. Harbours open to the south feel it. The sea lasts. See the Jugo guide.
Maestral. On settled summer days an afternoon north-westerly fills the channels. It is the friendly wind, and it still freshens the passages. Mornings are quieter.
Thunderstorms. Storms cross the gulf in the afternoon. Shelter is a harbour you have already chosen, not a beach you hope to reach.
On the islands, keep the day’s shape short when a Bura is possible: a harbour you can return to, and no commitment to the east coast or to the gulf crossing. In a settled Maestral pattern, move in the morning. Lošinj’s bays are the kinder small-boat water. Cres is the island you explore when the forecast is quiet, not when you are curious whether the warning applies.
Set Mali Lošinj, Cres or Rijeka on the live board. Gusts beside the average are the number that matters here. Check DHMZ before you cross the gulf.
Check today’s go/no-go for your boat
These guides describe typical patterns, not today’s weather. Navigate Boats is a planning aid, not a navigation tool: before you go, check the official marine forecast and warnings from DHMZ (Croatia), ARSO (Slovenia) or the Montenegrin hydrometeorological service, and use your own judgement.
All guides · Live board · Privacy · Terms · Support