Over Bay Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Uvala Over, Over Cove, Uvala Över
Over Bay sits at the northern tip of Ugljan island, directly across the Zadar Channel from the old city of Zadar. This makes it one of the closest anchorages to a major Croatian city — Zadar's famous sea organ and sunset bell tower are visible and audible from the cockpit on calm evenings. The bay is well-sheltered from the predominant NE Bura thanks to the island mass of Ugljan, and the sand and mud bottom gives excellent holding. The atmosphere is calm, almost suburban — fishermen from the nearby village of Over use the bay, and the lights of Zadar make for a dramatic evening backdrop. A useful first-night or last-night anchorage for boats based in Zadar, and a comfortable staging post before heading out to the outer archipelago.
Quick Reference
GPS
44°09.9'N 15°08.1'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand, mud
Holding
Excellent holdingProtected From
N, NE, E, SE
Exposed To
S, SW, W, NW
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Fee
Free to anchor
Permit
Yes — Croatian eNautička cruising permit required. No park fees. Standard maritime rules apply.
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m covers typical swing in 3–7m on sand/mud with 5:1 scope. The bay is sheltered and enclosed enough that swing circles do not overlap in moderate conditions. Increase to 100m if anchoring deeper in mid-bay. Be alert for ferry wash — a brief but significant roll occurs when the Zadar–Ugljan ferry passes.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeAnchoring Zones
Over Bay has 2 distinct anchoring zones.
Zone 1: Bay head — sand/mud bottom
- Depth: 3–8m
- Bottom: sand, mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE
- Exposed to: S, SW, W, NW
- Alarm radius: 65m
The bay head in 3–7m on sand and mud gives excellent holding. The bottom is clean and sets quickly. Keep clear of the ferry lane — Zadar–Ugljan ferries pass the outer bay at regular intervals. Swing room is generous in the inner bay. The proximity to Zadar city (only 5nm) means you can hear the city at night and occasional ferry wash reaches the anchorage.
Zone 2: Mid-bay — deeper lying
- Depth: 6–14m
- Bottom: mud, sand
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E
- Exposed to: S, SW, W, NW
- Alarm radius: 100m
Deeper mid-bay in 6–12m on mud. Good holding. More exposed to afternoon Mistral from NW which can send a short chop into the bay. Suitable for overnight in settled conditions but the bay head is preferable for maximum protection.
Setting Your Anchor
Bottom at Over Bay: primarily sand and mud. Deploy 7:1 scope minimum (56m at 8m). Set firmly in reverse and snorkel to verify bottom — avoid Posidonia (€2,000 fine).
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Set GPS anchor alarm to 65m radius. 65m covers typical swing in 3–7m on sand/mud with 5:1 scope. The bay is sheltered and enclosed enough that swing circles do not overlap in moderate conditions. Increase to 100m if anchoring deeper in mid-bay. Be alert for ferry wash — a brief but significant roll occurs when the Zadar–Ugljan ferry passes.
May–October comfortable. July–August sees some day-boat traffic but overnighting is uncrowded compared to outer island anchorages. Avoid in strong S or SW conditions.
Navigation Hazards
- Ferry wash: Zadar–Ugljan ferries pass the outer bay — expect significant roll when ferry transits; ensure anchor is well set
- Open to S, SW and W: Jugo (SE) and sustained NW Mistral above F4 can make the anchorage uncomfortable
- Bura: the island mass of Ugljan provides shelter but the northern tip is more exposed to katabatic gusts than the island's lee side
- Busy Zadar Channel traffic — maintain radar watch and anchor lights at all times
Rules & Regulations
- Permit: Required — Croatian eNautička cruising permit required. No park fees. Standard maritime rules apply.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Restrictions: Keep clear of the Zadar–Ugljan ferry lane in the outer bay. 150m beach exclusion zone applies to any public beach sections Jun 15–Sep 15. No anchoring on Posidonia meadows.
- Croatian eNautička (MMPI) permit required for all foreign yachts.
- SSVO 2025: 150m beach exclusion zone Jun 15–Sep 15.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Zadar (mainland) (5nm)
- Restaurant/Konoba: Small konoba in the village of Over (5-min dinghy ride). Basic provisions available in Over village shop.
- Provisions: Available nearby
Skipper's Tips
- An ideal base for a day trip to Zadar — the ferry from Over village runs frequently and cheaply; leave the yacht at anchor and explore the city by foot
- Arrive before 17:00 to select the best spot and avoid the evening rush of local day boats returning from the city
- The sunset view across the Zadar Channel toward the old town is genuinely spectacular — Zadar is famous for its sunsets
- Check the ferry schedule at the village pier before anchoring to understand when wash periods occur
A note on this guide: Always check current weather, NAVTEX/VHF bulletins, and HHI charts. Use a GPS anchor alarm — never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Over Bay
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position and alerts you the moment your boat drifts outside your set radius — essential in the Zadar Archipelago where Bura can arrive fast.
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