Sutivan Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Uvala Tiha Sutivan, Sutivan Bay, Sutivan Brač, Luka Sutivan
Sutivan is a small, characterful village on the NW tip of Brač island, tucked into a modest bay sheltered from SW and W. The village retains a genuinely local, un-touristy feel — residents of Split have used it as a quiet summer retreat for generations. The bay is small and shallow (mostly 2–4m) with a sandy bottom giving good holding in settled conditions. The NW Brač Channel lies immediately to the N and the bay is open to Bura from this direction — experienced crews use Sutivan as a fair-weather lunch stop or a 1-night anchorage in a confirmed NW Mistral forecast but rarely as a Bura shelter. The village quay provides water and there is a small waterfront konoba and bakery. The Brač stone quarries above the village (Brač white stone was used in Diocletian's Palace, the White House in Washington, and Buckingham Palace) are worth a short excursion. Rod Heikell describes Sutivan as 'a pleasant village stopover with a local feel that the tourist-heavy S coast of Brač lacks entirely'.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
43°22.6'N 16°28.4'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand, fine gravel
Holding
Good holdingProtected From
SW, W, NW, S
Exposed To
N, NE, E
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor. Quay: small harbour due applies
Permit Required
Yes
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m in the main bay in 2–4m. The bay is small — 55m is close to the maximum useful radius before swing circles reach the beach or the quay. Tighten to 45m in the W area for smaller boats. Absolute priority: if any NE forecast develops, depart to Milna or Stari Grad — the N exposure from the Brač Channel makes this anchorage dangerous in Bura. Bura arrives with little warning here as the channel provides no barrier.
Main bay — sheltered anchorage: 55m recommended — The small bay at Sutivan provides good shelter from SW, W, and NW — making it comfortable in the summer Mistral pattern.
W of village quay — small boat area: 45m recommended — A small anchorage W of the village quay in 2–3m on clean sand.
Anchoring Zones
Sutivan has 2 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics. Choose the zone that matches your boat size and the expected overnight conditions.
Zone 1: Main bay — sheltered anchorage
- Depth: 2–5m
- Bottom: sand, fine gravel
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: SW, W, NW, S
- Exposed to: N, NE, E
- Recommended alarm radius: 55m
The small bay at Sutivan provides good shelter from SW, W, and NW — making it comfortable in the summer Mistral pattern. Sand and fine gravel bottom in 2–4m gives good holding. Shallow water (2–3m) makes this ideal for smaller yachts; larger vessels (>2m draught) should approach cautiously. Space for 5–6 yachts in the anchorage. The small village quay has room for 2–3 boats stern-to. Water available at the quay. The N and NE exposure means Bura is a significant concern — the bay opens directly to the N toward the Brač Channel.
Zone 2: W of village quay — small boat area
- Depth: 2–4m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: W, NW, SW
- Exposed to: N, NE, E, SE
- Recommended alarm radius: 45m
A small anchorage W of the village quay in 2–3m on clean sand. Very shallow — suitable only for yachts with draught under 1.8m. Beautiful sandy bottom with good visibility. Best morning anchorage for the swim ashore. The NE exposure means this position is strictly fair-weather — depart at first sign of NE conditions.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Sutivan is primarily sand and fine gravel with reliable holding when properly set.
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 2–5m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (35m chain at 5m depth).
- Drop into the wind and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back.
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
- Snorkel to verify bottom type. Posidonia is common on the Dalmatian coast — confirm your anchor is on sand, not Posidonia (anchoring on it carries heavy fines). Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade. See our guide to anchor types by bottom.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Sutivan are feasible but require monitoring — the anchorage is exposed to N and NE and E winds.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 55m radius before going below. 55m in the main bay in 2–4m. The bay is small — 55m is close to the maximum useful radius before swing circles reach the beach or the quay. Tighten to 45m in the W area for smaller boats. Absolute priority: if any NE forecast develops, depart to Milna or Stari Grad — the N exposure from the Brač Channel makes this anchorage dangerous in Bura. Bura arrives with little warning here as the channel provides no barrier.
May–June and September are ideal: stable Mistral pattern, empty bay, local village life in full swing. July–August is busiest but the bay is small enough to feel uncrowded even with 5–6 boats. Avoid October–April as Bura risk is high. Use as a day or 1-night stop only — not a multi-day destination.
Navigation Hazards
- Bura (NE): the bay faces N toward the Brač Channel — Bura accelerates through this channel and enters the bay without obstruction; F7–8 Bura events are possible and give short warning; exit to Milna or Stari Grad immediately if NE is forecast
- Shallow water: minimum 2m depth in anchorage; larger yachts (>2m draught) should approach with the lead line out; the bay shelves steeply near the beach
- Limited shelter: the bay is not all-weather and is suitable only in settled summer conditions or confirmed NW Mistral pattern; it is not a hurricane hole
- Tight swing room: 55m alarm radius approaches the beach and quay margins; careful anchor placement is essential
Rules & Regulations
- eNautička (MMPI) permit: Required for all foreign yachts — carry aboard at all times.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor. Quay: small harbour due applies
- Maximum stay: 3 days
- Restrictions: Posidonia anchoring prohibited. 150m beach exclusion Jun 15–Sep 15. Depart immediately if Bura NE develops. Very shallow bay — draught limit ~2.0m for comfortable anchoring.
- 150m beach exclusion (SSVO 2025): No anchoring within 150m of public beaches, June 15–Sep 15.
For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Available
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Sutivan village (0.1nm)
- Restaurant: Small konoba/restaurant on the waterfront (open June–September). Bakery in village. Small shop for basic provisions. No fuel on the island here — nearest at Split or Milna (fuelling quay).
- Provisions: Available
- Wi-Fi: Available
Skipper's Tips
- Sutivan is ideal as a 'first night out of Split' stop — only 14nm from the city but already in a genuinely quiet village environment; good for acclimatising to the anchor routine
- The Brač stone heritage is fascinating — ask at the village how to reach the quarry terraces above the village; the white stone glitters in the morning sun
- Excellent for a lunchtime stop on passage between Split and Milna — arrive by 12:30 before the Mistral builds and leave by 14:00 to catch the Mistral to Milna
- The konoba is friendly and unpretentious — grilled fish and local Brač wine make an excellent evening if you are confident of the overnight forecast
- Check meteo.hr for the coastal forecast before committing to overnight — you need 'light variable or NW up to F3' to be comfortable here
A note on this guide: Data has been researched from multiple sailing sources and is provided in good faith. Conditions — depth, holding, regulations — can change. Always check forecasts, NAVTEX, and current HHI charts before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Sutivan
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and sounds a loud alarm the moment your boat drifts — essential on the Dalmatian coast where bura and jugo can arrive overnight.
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