A Personal Guide to Polish Waters
Nicholas Hill
Jastarnia
Jastarnia is a small harbour halfway along the Hel Peninsula, mainly for fishing boats and ferries from Gdynia. The town itself is very much a holiday resort, although perhaps a little more upmarket than some of its neighbours. It is a pleasant enough town, but the harbour is not that well sheltered. Pick a quiet day to visit.
The harbour lies on the inside of the Hel Peninsula, some 8 miles from the tip. It is on the edge of the shallow region of the Zatoka Pucka, but, providing you keep on eye on the depth sounder, this should not pose too much of a problem.
In common with many Polish ports, there is a fairway bouy 2NM offshore, which lies on the leading line.
Beware shallow water either side of the approach line.
berthing and facilities<
Some new pontoons have been installed on the north east corner of the harbour. However, most of these are very short, and there are only a handful which are suited to boats of 30 foot+.
The harbour is open to the south, and has little shelter from this direction. Swell rolls in and can make the berths uncomfortable.
In Portakabins, but surprisingly good - probably because they are new and little used.
Google Earth
Quality here is very good. You can see the pontoons clearly. The portakabins for the ablutions aren't on the picture; they're just to the right of the pontoons.
View from the pontoons. Taken during a thunderstorm!
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