The video shows the damage
The storm off Unije is a cause for concern for many sailors in Croatia, far beyond the island itself. During the night of 19 July 2026, a violent thunderstorm front swept across the northern Adriatic. Potkujni Bay on Unije, a mooring spot in Kvarner popular with sailors, was particularly hard hit.
The storm is breaking
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
According to media reports, at least seven yachts or boats, carrying a total of around 50 people, ran aground there. The Croatian Ministry officially states that several dozen pleasure craft have run aground in the area around Unije, Susak and Lošinj. In our first report on the storm in Croatia We had already compiled the key facts about the Nevera, the strandings and the shipwreck off Cape Kamenjak.
Panoramic view across the bay
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
When a mooring becomes the Leek coast in a matter of minutes
The videos taken that night give a clear impression of why the situation in Potkujni Bay became so dangerous. During a ‘Nevera’, the wind direction and strength can change very quickly. If the wind turns onshore, a seemingly sheltered bay can quickly become a leeward coast.
For crews at anchor or moored to a buoy, there is often very little time. The crucial factor is whether the anchor, chain, mooring lines, buoy blocks and the boat’s own manoeuvrability can withstand the strain. If a single link in this chain fails, the boat will drift towards the beach or the rocks.
Several reports mention gusts of up to 60 knots. That is equivalent to around 111 kilometres per hour. For sailors, it is not so much the figure itself that matters as the combination of darkness, confined space, choppy seas and the question of whether the mooring still offers protection given the actual wind direction.
Official reports: no injuries, no pollution
According to the Croatian Ministry, the Mali Lošinj branch of the Harbour Master’s Office was deployed to monitor the affected area. The authorities reported that, in connection with the groundings in the Unije, Susak and Lošinj areas, no deaths, no injuries and no pollution of the sea or the marine environment were recorded. Commercial assistance has been organised for most of the stranded boats, whilst part of the salvage operation is to be carried out by the owners or local charter companies.
Nevera in Croatia: What skippers can learn from it
Thunderstorms are a feature of the Croatian Adriatic. They can be localised, intense and difficult for crews at sea to assess. Anyone sailing in the Kvarner, Istria or around the islands during the season should not judge thunderstorm conditions solely on the basis of whether a bay is normally popular or well-frequented. What matters more is its position in relation to the expected or possible wind direction.
Before a stormy night, skippers should check whether there is sufficient space to leeward, whether the anchorage is familiar, whether the chain can run freely, whether the engine is in working order, and whether an anchor watch will be necessary. It is also worth taking a critical look at buoys: a buoy is only as secure as its block, line, shackle and state of maintenance.
Our guide summarises specific measures to take in thunderstorm conditions, ranging from reefing and protecting the crew to securing the electronics, What sailors should do to prepare for a thunderstorm at sea. Just how extreme such gusts can feel whilst at anchor in Croatia is also illustrated by the first-hand account of the experience, what it feels like to be at anchor in Croatia at 60 knots.
Find out how to recognise the most dangerous winds in the Adriatic – the Bora, Jugo and Nevera – by reading in this article.
A buoy field or your own anchor: which do you trust more during thunderstorms in Croatia? Please share your experiences and views in the comments.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
