Jakljan is a long, narrow island, covered in thick pinewoods, which reach down to the sea on the north shore. You can anchor anywhere along this shoreline, which is protected by the islets of Tajana and Crkvina. This anchorage was known to sailors manning galleys and sailing ships, who would wait for a favourable wind before setting out, through Veliki Vratnik, towards the open sea. My favourite place to anchor is on the southeast side of Crkvina, or in coves such as Sedla, Zagorić or Veli Jakljan, which form a chain to the southeast, after Ždrijel, the passage between Jakljan and Crkvina. No one lives here, and the pines stretching down to the sea have a mystical quality, while the sea varies between dark green and cobalt blue. You will usually be alone at night, although during the day, sailors from Dubrovnik arrive to swim. Anchor in the sandy bed, covered in sea grass, or tie up stern to shore. There are three concrete piers in Zagorić, with bollards once used by navy warships. The bays are sheltered from all winds, but in Zagorić, Sedla and Crkvina, watch out for the bura. If this wind is up, move to the west side of Crkvina or seek the shelter of the largest, safest bay, Veli Jakljan. There used to be a Benedictine monastery here, which was later turned into a children’s holiday home. The sandy bed is covered in sea grass and depths are between 4 and 15 metres. During the day, there are many small boats here, but at night it is peaceful. Beware the stončica, a strong wind which blows from the NW, from the Ston Channel, and take care not to anchor near the cable running from one side of the bay to the other.