Mersrags Anchorage

About This Anchorage

Mersrags is a small but well-equipped fishing harbour on the southwestern shore of the Gulf of Riga, providing one of the better overnight stops along the otherwise exposed Latvian coastline south of Cape Kolka. The harbour was developed as a timber export port in the 19th century and retains its working character, with fishing trawlers and small commercial vessels occupying the inner basin. The outer bay offers a pleasant sandy anchorage in the typical calm conditions of a Baltic summer, with good holding in sand and mud. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the pine forests of the Slītere National Park buffer zone and the expansive sandy beaches typical of the Latvian coast. A small village centre has a café and basic provisions. Mersrags sits roughly halfway between Roja (to the north) and Engure (to the south), making it a convenient stop for vessels cruising the Gulf of Riga's eastern shore. The harbour masters are generally welcoming to visiting yachts and can advise on conditions for rounding Cape Kolka. The nearby forests offer good walking and the beach stretching south from the harbour is pristine and usually uncrowded.

Hazards

• !Open to S and SW — uncomfortable in southerly swells
• !Shallow water south and west of harbour — chart carefully before approach
• !Timber floating hazards historically reported near harbour approaches — maintain watch

Skipper's Tips

• →Call VHF Ch 16 before approach — harbour master can advise on berth availability and current conditions
• →Mersrags is a good place to get local advice on rounding Cape Kolka — fishermen know the conditions well
• →The beach south of the harbour is excellent for swimming in July–August
• →Fuel is not available here — plan accordingly for the passage north to Roja and around Kolka

Nearby Anchorages