Sukosan to Dubrovnik
Posted at 12:58 AM, May. 27, 2008
We finally departed Sukosan on Friday 23 May. We had planned to leave on the Thursday but that turned out to be a public holiday so we could not settle up payment with our maintenance guy. That did give us the opportunity for a drive to Zadar and a pizza and more of the local red vino (it was ok though) at our local pizzeria on the square in Sukosan. Weather good and we were champing at the bit to get away.
When we did get underway it was into a 10-12 knot headwind so we had an enjoyable 30 mile beat to Kaprije (or Capri) on the island of the same name. We have stopped off here previously, found it a very protected anchorage and a pleasant town not far off the coast from Sibernik.
Wife repairs the nets, husband in cafe drinking coffeee. An
early morning scene at Kaprije, Savarna in background.
Saturday we headed on southwards for Hvar and again a 10-12 knot headwind so a good sail for a while for about half the trip and then the wind died and a motor sail for the last 20 miles. Hvar harbour for a change was quiet from the perspective of being a calm anchorage and also not an excessive number of boats all vying for the same small piece of seabed. Enjoyed a dinner up the alley off the main square at Macondo where we had an excellent meal last year - the guy reckoned he recognised Pam! Great selling technique.
From Hvar we planned to keep on the southwards journey to Korcula (the birthplace of Marco Polo) and then overnight at Polace on Otok Mjet. Both places we visited last year - about a 50 mile day. The whole purpose of the exercise being that we have to exit Croatia by 27 May. Wind again in the 10-12 knot range and again on the nose. Nice sailing for a few hours and then the wind died on us so a motor sail for a while until a nice 15/16 knot headwind kicked in a while later to get us into the bay alongside Korcula.
Korcula perched on the headland
Found another New Zealand boat there by the name of Antares II and had a chat to the guy on board before heading into Korcula for a few provisions. Being a Sunday that was a fruitless exercise so back to the boat and up anchor for the 15 mile passage across to Polace.
The name Antares II was ringing a vague bell in my head but unfortunately didn't ring out loud until we were about 45 minutes out of Korcula at which point I remembered that the boat was owned by Tony Farrington and his wife Esmae. Tony has written a couple of books and he sent us one, appropriately signed when we launched Savarna - a good read called - Sailing With Mohammed, that covered their sailing adventures around Asia. This all came about because Tony was in business with Richard's (number two son) father-in-law who is joining us in Corfu in early June for a couple of weeks. A small world! So we had to do the u-turn and went back to Korcula., anchored alongside Antares II and enjoyed a few beers and wines and also a very nice curry dinner! This morning Tony and Esmae came aboard Savarna for an early coffee and we exchanged notes on various locations and experiences.
Tony Farrington and me in cockpit of Antares II.
The 24v alternator has packed up yet again so will get that repaired in either Dubrovnik or Albania. Thank goodness for the genset!
Today though no wind, flat calm, warm, T-shirts off, water temperature climbing quickly to 24. Yet to have the first swim. So a contribution to the coffers of the oil companies was made today as we motored the 48 miles to Dubrovnik where we currently reside on the ACI marina which is where we arrived a year ago bar one day. So tomorrow we will have to visit the Customs office and clear out of Croatia.
Our current plan is to head further south into Albania where we will clear in at Durres which is the main port of Albania that serves the capital city of Tirana. Tony gave us the name of an "agent" a Mr Lambie who speaks english and will handle the arrival formalities for us for a fee but well worthwhile I imagine. For those interested his phone number is +355 692 063433 and we will call him up tomorrow if we have reception. Will report our experiebces in the next post. Our plan is to then visit Palermos and then clear out at Gjiri I Sarandes which is only about 5 miles from Corfu. It seems that Albania is relatively safe and Tony said the people were the friendliest they had met in Europe so it will be an interesting experience.
We need to be in Corfu on 1 June as John departs by ferry for Venice early on the 2nd. We think that mobile phones and internet are not going to happen for us so we will be off air until 2 June.
Cheers
Keith