If you want to visit Pula, but do not want to use a marina, simply go to the large, well-sheltered bay of Soline, also known as Vinkuran Bay, after the little village of Vinkuran on its north point. It is not quite a mile from the quays at Marina Veruda. In summer, it is full of boats at anchor, whether day-trippers coming for a swim, or sailors avoiding marinas and spending the night at anchor. Soline is reached by the 150m wide passage (Selina) between the point of the same name and Veruda (also known as Fratarski). The other passage, Vratnik, between the island of Veruda and the shore, can only be used by vessels with a draught of 1.5m or less, as it is mostly very shallow. Soline is a bay with four arms; three to the south and one to the northeast. The houses of Vinkuran and Banjole descend to its northeast and east shores. There are many jetties, used by locals. But you can still anchor here in peace. The little island of Veruda, with the ruins of a monastery, almost touches the points of the bay, thus enclosing it and giving it a lake-like appearance. There are no high waves. So it is not surprising that, in summer, there can be a hundred or so boats in the bay. The south and east shores are densely wooded, with patches of undergrowth, while the north shore is covered in tall brush, so that the blues of the sea reflect the surrounding greenery. The bura and the jugo make themselves felt in the bay, as the 40 metre high shoreline offers them little resistance. The best spot to anchor is in Pećine, the first arm on the south shore. During the bura, anchor at the base of the bay, because the depth only 30 metres from the shore is about 5 metres. In the middle of the bay, depths reach between 12 and 16 metres. The anchor will not hold well in places, depending on whether the bed is sandy or silty. If a summer squall arises, you will be protected from the wind and waves, but not from the backwash, so take care that your anchor does not drag. It is a good idea to find a spot where you can let down a long anchor line, particularly if the bay is busy. For nightlife, visit the hotels above Veruda, a fancy restaurant like Valsabbion, in Pješćana Uvala, or Vela Nera in Marina Veruda, and Ribarska Koliba (Fishermen’s Hut) on the west shore of Veruda Harbour. You can reach all of them quite easily by dinghy.