Choppy Summer Cruise

My two consulting friends Eva and Evi boarded Sea of Joy after a long drive from Vienna on August 6th. After one harbor day with some sight seeing because of bad weather we sailed south to the east coast of Unije and anchored in Uvala Vognisca. We enjoyed two nice branzinos cooked in the oven with wine and vegetables.















Next morning we sailed further south with faint northerly winds via Susak along the west coast of Premuda to the small island Skarda, where we took a buoy in Uvala Griparica and had a good swim in crystal clear waters.













Next day a cloudy sky welcomed us with no wind. So we motored back north along Silba Island into Ilovik channel, where we took a buoy and had a nice walk around the island and a good dinner at Konoba Oliva. At night we had some rain and wind. In the morning of August 11th with some rain but with a nice easterly wind we sailed north along Losinj.







As we rounded Cap Kurila, waves and wind got rather strong. Suddenly a loud bang came from the rig and I saw the genua coming down. After momentarily heaving to we tried to furl in the genua and secured her with some ropes. Tacking slowly with main sail and motor we made it into Uvala Vognisca in Unije again and anchored there safely. Later I found the head of the genua intact but a broken shackle. This is the second time that an expensive strong looking Wichard shackle has broken after only one year of use. Sailors are advised avoid those shackles!







The strong wind lasted through the night and next morning we continued tacking along the west coast of Cres and finally moored happily back in marina Cres. We celebrated our short cruise with a nice dinner at Konoba Roza and next morning Eva and Evi drove home back to Vienna.

We sailed 24h and logged 126sm in 6 days.

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Birthday in the Kornati Islands

After my grandson Laurenz and his parents left us for Vienna my wife and I started our next cruise on July 28th with dark clouds and some southerly wind to the north of Cres. After rounding Cap Jablanac we sailed southeast to Krk and finally anchored in the busy bay of Fuska and cooked spagetthi tonno. Next day we continued south with favorable northerly wind along Pag island to Uvala Sapavac on Vir island, where we anchored again and enjoyed a vegetable risotto.
Next morning we sailed west to the northern top of Dugi Otok and took a buoy in the large and beautiful bay near Veli Rat. In the evening we took the dinghy to Laterna restaurant. Shrimp risotto was very good, but the rest was awful and rather expensive.

On July 31st, my 65th birthday we decided to have a very special treat and sailed along the west coast of Dugi Otok directly to Levrnaka island in the center of the Kornati Islands. Crystal clear waters and a friendly staff welcomed us at Konoba Levrnaka and we had a wonderful birthday dinner with raw fish carpaccio, heavenly fish brodetto and chocolate mousse with truffles.
After a stroll around the island and a hearty breakfast we sailed through Vela Proversa with dark clouds, thunder and lightning. Suddenly a strong thunderstorm with squalls up to 40 knots and flying water forced us to take shelter by anchoring in Uvala Cuscica.




After one hour it was over and we proceeded to Knez Bay west of Iz island, where we took a buoy from Baroni restaurant and had a nice Croatian dinner there. Next day we sailed with fair easterly wind to Olib, where we moored at the busy harbor quai and took a walk around this quiet and down-to-earth island. In the evening a strong swell started and got stronger in the night. Some boats went away causing some chaos but we stayed trusting our strong aluminium boat.






On August 3rd we sailed with nice easterly winds through Ilovik channel and directly to beautiful Uvala Krivica at the west coast of Losinj, where with some luck we took the last free bouy and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings and took a nice walk to Konoba Bevandia where we had a rustic dinner. On the last day of our cruise nice northeasterly winds brought us back to Cres marina, where we had a sumptuous lamb dinner at Konoba Bukaletta.

On this leasurly cruise we sailed 48h and logged 234sm in 8 days.

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Family sailing round Cres and Losinj

My 18 month old grandson Laurenz together with his parents Sophie and Chris joined my wife and me on board in Cres on July 12th. To test his seaworthiness we sailed next day to near Uvala Nedomisje. Laurenz enjoyed swimming and sailing. Afternoon we sailed back into Cres Marina. The next 4 days we stayed in the marina because of strong easterly winds, walking and swimming in the sheltered bay around Cres.





As the wind decreased on July 18th to a nice northeasterly 4 Bft we set sail south and anchored in Luka Ustrine. Next morning at 9am we passed the turning bridge at Osor, sailed to the southern end of Cres and anchored in Meli Bay for two days enjoying swimming and playing in shallow waters and sandy beaches.












On July 21st we sailed east to Rab city, where we moored in the marina, visited the 4 wonderful old churches, refilled our supplies, and had a fine Croatian dinner at Konoba Rab with seafood buzzara and the famous zabaglione palatschinkas. The next 2 days we spent again in Uvala Meli with Laurenz enjoying the peaceful surroundings.






At noon of July 24th we sailed north with fresh easterly winds to Uvala Martinscica, where we spent the night at anchor. At 9am next day we passed again Osor channel northwards and sailed with nice easterly winds back to Cres. Laurenz and the whole family fully enjoyed his first sailing experience.













We sailed 30h and logged 105sm in 13 days.

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Cooking and Swimming in Cres and Losinj

A friendly family came on board on July 2nd: Elisabeth, Flora, Andreas, and Linus. Because of bad weather we started only 2 days later to Uvala Slatina, where we achored and cooked two nice scorpionfish in the oven. Not knowing that they were venomous when raw, they tasted very nice well cooked with wine and potatoes.







Next day we sailed to Unije and anchored in Uvala Vognisca enjoying a nice swim.


On July 6th with northerly winds we sailed to Mali Losinj, moored at the city harbor, and had a nice Croatian dinner at Hajduk restaurant.






Next moring we sailed back north to Luka Ustrine, where we roasted a saddle of lamb to the point and Elisabeth prepared a nice Linzertorte in our large frying pan. Next day we sailed further north, swam into the Blue Cave at Uvala Zanja and finally anchored in front of the beach at Valun, where we had a nice dinner at San Marco.








We ended our short cruise on July 9th in Cres and enjoyed a nice dinner at Riva restaurant in Cres.

We sailed 25h and logged 103sm in 6 days.

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