San Nicola Bay is the best place on the island of Olib (Ulbo) to find shelter and drop anchor. It is sheltered from the bora and all winds except those from the west, which are, however, infrequent. The seabed provides good holding. There is also a small pier at the end of the bay with a 2-meter draft. The bay takes its name from the Benedictine monastery of the same name, built in the twelfth century. The area is inhabited only during the summer, and there are about ten mooring buoys available at a cost of approximately 10 kuna (per meter of the boat’s length) plus 5 kuna per person for the tourist tax. Water depth: 8 meters. If you’d like to walk toward the center of the island, you can reach the main village in about 40 minutes by following the designated trail.

When at anchor, you must display the black ball during the day—even though this rule is often ignored—while at night you must light the white lantern. It’s also a good idea to check your position with a compass by identifying a couple of prominent landmarks on the coast to make sure the anchor isn’t dragging. Finally, let out enough line to cover 4 to 6 times the water depth, depending on conditions.

There is also a small port on the island with the same name. Compared to the bay, it offers less shelter, but it does have access to water and electricity, as well as facilities for disposing of trash and used oil, and a couple of restaurants. Be mindful of the water supply—there is no natural spring on the island, so water comes from wells or rain. There is also a pier where you can dock in waters ranging from 2.5 to 4 meters deep; watch out for the ferry passing by on its way to Zadar. It is marked at night by a white and red flashing light that flashes every three seconds. From the village, you can also easily reach the other side of the island on foot to visit Slatinica (see video below), one of the area’s most popular tourist destinations. You can also reach Slatinica by boat, but the area is usually busy. The cost for mooring buoys is always 10 euros per meter, but you also have to pay for anchorages, which are 5 kuna per meter. Avoid staying overnight, as there is no protection from the wind.

The locals are friendly, and you can buy typical local products directly from the farmers. There is a stark contrast between the medieval ruins, the locals’ homes from a bygone era, and some newer tourist-oriented buildings, which are inhabited only during certain times of the year. There is a fairly wide selection of vacation rentals.