Shabla Lighthouse Bay

About This Anchorage

Cape Shabla with its distinctive red-and-white striped lighthouse marks the northeasternmost point of Bulgaria — the first or last Bulgarian landfall for Black Sea passages. The lighthouse, built in 1856, is one of the oldest on the Bulgarian coast and still operational. The bay south of the cape exploits the natural shelter created by the headland — when the prevailing NE Black Sea wind is blowing, the cape provides a genuine lee anchorage with good holding on sand and mud. Shabla town, set back from the coast, has a small community with basic provisioning. The cape area is also notable for its coastal wetlands and the Shabla and Ezerets lakes — important bird reserves holding breeding colonies of Dalmatian pelicans, one of Europe's rarest large birds.

Hazards

• !Open to S and SE — only safe when northerly or calm; watch south-turning forecasts
• !Cape turbulence and wind acceleration around the headland
• !Remote anchorage — limited emergency services
• !Dalmatian pelican colony nearby — approach with care and minimal noise

Skipper's Tips

• →The lighthouse is photogenic — historic 1856 structure still operational
• →Excellent shelter from NE in the cape's lee — the textbook Black Sea cape anchorage
• →Dalmatian pelican sightings are possible — one of Europe's rarest birds
• →Good passage waypoint on the Varna–Romania coastal route
• →Shabla town walk (1nm) for provisions — authentic Bulgarian village atmosphere

Nearby Anchorages