Orahovac Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Very sheltered bay with excellent thick mud holding in 4–10m. The surrounding mountain walls provide near all-round protection — the opening faces W, which admits the afternoon Maestral but is otherwise completely sheltered. In Bora, the mountain ranges block the katabatic flow effectively, making Orahovac one of the calmest anchorages in the Kotor Bay arm. The mud holding is among the best in Montenegro — sets immediately and holds with excellent security. Good swing room for 6–8 boats.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Orahovac is primarily mud with reliable holding when properly set.

1. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 4–12m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m depth).
2. Drop into the wind and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back.
3. Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
4. Set the anchor alarm immediately after setting — in the Boka Kotorska, Bora can arrive with as little as 30 minutes' warning. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain length.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade. See our guide to anchor types by bottom.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Orahovac are feasible but require vigilance — the anchorage is exposed to W winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 70m radius before going below. 70m in 4–8m on excellent mud. Very sheltered — Bora is significantly reduced here compared to the outer bay. In a Bora event, extend scope to 7:1 but the alarm radius can remain at 70m given the outstanding holding. One of the best overnight anchorages in the inner bay for security and comfort.

Excellent May–October. Rarely crowded. Best in early season when the surrounding mountains are still snow-capped — a dramatic backdrop to an already beautiful anchorage.

Navigation Hazards

• W exposure: opening faces W admitting the afternoon Maestral; benign in summer but creates gentle motion at anchor
• Depths shoal at the inner bay head — use echosounder on approach and anchor no closer than 60m from the beach
• No facilities — self-sufficient only; Kotor (6nm) for all services

Rules & Regulations

• Montenegro cruising permit (vignette): Mandatory for all foreign yachts — purchase at first port of entry. From ~€89/month. Always check current permit requirements.
• Anchoring fee: Free to anchor.
• Maximum stay: 7 days
• Restrictions: Keep clear of any local fishing boat moorings at the bay head. Depths shoal in the inner 50m — use echosounder.
• Risan Bay: Anchoring permanently prohibited in the entire Bay of Risan (underwater archaeological site). Morinj Bay is OK.

For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Kotor (6nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest at Kotor (6nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Kotor (6nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Excellent overnight stop before visiting Kotor the next day — the 6nm transit to Kotor takes less than an hour in calm morning conditions
2. The mud holding is outstanding — arguably the best in the Kotor Bay arm
3. Very quiet at night — often completely alone except at peak season weekends when local boats may appear
4. From the hillside above the bay, the views of the Kotor Bay arm and Lovćen massif are spectacular