Exploring the Highlights of Croatian Waters

Thursday, June 8th 2017 afternoon my wife Ilse and I set sail with light northwesterly winds from Cres Marina to the west coast of Otok Losinj. In the evening we anchored in the beautiful Uvala Tomozina and cooked delicate spaghetti aglio e olio.












Next morning we motored further south and found a mooring place in the small harbor of Otok Susak. We walked around the long sandy beach, took a refreshing swim and explored the extraordinary sandy landscape and visited the village and cemetery on the sandy hill.  At last we enjoyed a nice dinner at Hotel Sansegus.







At dawn early next morning we continued south first with no wind along the west coast of Otok Premuda and Otok Molat. Afternoon we sailed with weak westerly winds along the east coast of Dugi Otok to Sali, where we moored in the nice harbor. We took a long walk around the village, visiting old churches and looking for a good restaurant. We found Konoba Marin well hidden in a picturesque backyard and had a good dinner with local specialities: grilled rolls of zucchini stuffed with goat cheese, truffled home made pasta and a good red house wine.

We were happy awoken by a a nice westerly wind with 5 bft next morning. So we sailed  with first reef south through Kornati islands, along Otok Zirje, passing Hrid Mulo with a nice speed above 7 kn. For a quiet night we found good shelter in Uvala Vinisce anchoring in front of Restaurant Kupinica where we had good antipasti mare and pizza.

Next morning we sailed between Veli Drvenik and Otok Solta into Pakleni Kanal and took a buoy in Vela Garska near Konoba Mareta, where we enjoyed swimming and savoured fish from the grill. Tuesday 13th we visited  crowded Hvar harbor, took a relaxing swim in the bays of the Pakleni islands and in the afternoon continued to Otok Scedro, where we moored at the small jetty in front of Restaurant Kod Ive in the southern end of Uvala Lovisce. We walked across Otok Scedro to have a first orienting look at Otok Korcula. The nice couple of Kod Ive served us exceptional fish and good local wine for dinner.

After a refreshing swim we started on our last leg to Korcula, where we moored at the ACI Marina. In the afternoon we visited the beautiful old town. We savoured remarkable local dishes at Restaurant Aterina for dinner. Next morning we went uphill for some provisions and left with light rain to the gasoline station in the next bay. In the afternoon we rounded Rt.Raznjic and spent the night at anchor in Uvala Przina after cooking some pasta con verdura.

Against nice northwesterly winds we tacked along the south coast of Otok Korcula next day and then to the south coast of Otok Vis, where we took a buoy in Uvala Rukavac in front of Konoba Dalmatino, where we had very good grilled branzino and salad. The next day was a wonderful sailing day with ideal easterly winds pushing us northwest to Otok Zirje, where we took a buoy in Uvala Tatinska. Dinner at Konoba Stubica was very bad, fat from the freezer, and we had to pay extra for the buoy!

During the night the wind grew stronger, so we started next morning with a small bora up to 7 bft and third reef. When we approached the eastern Kornati Islands, the wind was down to 4 bft, so we had a nice sail to our favorite island Otok Levrnaka, where we moored at Konoba Levrnaka. After a refreshing swim and a good hike around the island we enjoyed our favorite dinner: raw fish antipasto and dragonhead brodetto.

Next day we motored through Mala Provesa and then tacked all along the east coast of Dugi Otok and finally anchored in Uvala Podgarbe south of Otok Molat.












The following day we motored nearly no wind south of Rt.Zaplo and then along east side of Otok Molat and Otok Ist. At noon we took a refreshing swim in Luka Sv. Ante south of Otok Silba and then continued to Ilovik, where we took a buoy in the canal. We visited the cemetery on Sv.Petar, took a hike to a peak of Otok Ilovik and had a good dinner at Konoba Oliva.





Wednesday 21st we continued north to the west side of Otok Rab, visited Supetarska Draga and anchored in the sandy bay east of Lopar. We enjoyed the sandy beach and a croatian dinner at Konoba Ankora. Next morning we explored the sandy beaches in the north of Otok Rab and continued north to Otok Krk, where we visited Baska and Silo, and finally spent the night at anchor in sheltered Klimno bay.


Next day we sailed under the famous bridge north of Otok Krk, visited Bakarska Vrata, motored with no wind alongside ugly Rijeka, and finally moored south of Opatija in ACI Marina Ici. We enjoyed a long walk on the "Kaiser Franz Josef Promenade" and had a very good pizza at Bistro Venezia offside the touristic tracks.



The last day of our cruise we sailed alongside Lovran and Moscenicka to Brestova, where we crossed the Kvarner to Otok Cres and finally moored back in Cres Marina.


We sailed 104h and logged 532sm in 16 days.
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Short Cruise to Classical Italy

For some serious sailing I started with my old sailing companion Kurt from Cres Marina to Pula on Monday May 15th 2017. We visited some sites in Pula and ate Pljeskavica and pizza at Konoba Jupiter. Next day we went to the market for some fresh fish and vegetables, and did some sightseeing visiting the famous arena and the impressive fort.




In the afternoon we declared exit at Pula customs and sailed through the night with nice northeasterly winds to Rimini, where we moored in the marina early morning.







After a refreshing stroll at the beach we went to the city center across Ponte d’Tiberio and visited many historical buildings. A very good fish dinner we had at Osteria delle Storie di Mare.












Next morning we sailed to Ravenna, where we moored in the marina and took a bus to the center. We visited all the famous sites like Appolinaire in Classe, Douomo e Battisterio Neoniano, Basilica di San Vitale, etc. Dinner we enjoyed at Riesling Griglia e Cucina in Marina di Ravenna.

Early morning at 5:30 am we left Ravenna for the long sail north along the Po delta to Chioggia, where we moored in Darsena di Saline and had an inspiring dinner at La Taverna. With heavy rain we sailed inside the laguna thru shallow but navigable Canale di Pellestrina and Canale di Malamocco right to Piazza di San Marco where we moored at Compagnia di Vela south of San Giorgio Maggiore around noon on May 20th.





The next two days we spent with intense sightseeing and heavy walking using a very convenient ACTV two days ticket on the vaporetto. Fabulous food we found at Al Storico da Crea, Al Timon, and Osteria Al Squero.




After the obligatory visit to Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale we left Venice through Porto di Lido heading for Novigrad, where we declared entry to Croatia. We spent the night at anchor in Uvala Mirna. Next day we sailed south along the coast of Istria, looked at Rovinj which looked like a forbidding construction area at that time.

In the afternoon we passed Hrid Porer, crossed the Kvarner with nice northeasterly winds and finally spent a quiet night at anchor in the west bay of Otok Zeca. On Wednesday 24th we returned to Cres Marina, where our nice trip ended after we enjoyed a traditional lamb dinner at Konoba Bukaleta.

We sailed 66h and logged 340sm in 9 days.

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Autumn Sailing Cres - Split - Pula

September 18th we started from Cres northwards under dark clouds with my old sailing friends Gusti and Richard. As we rounded Cape Jablanac in the north of Cres the rain started and the wind vanished. Motoring under the famous bridge of Krk we finally reached sandy Klimno Bay in Zaton Soline where we anchored and met my friends Sissy and Michael for a nice dinner at Zal restaurant. With pouring rain we left next morning sailing south along the islands of Krk and Rab. When we anchored after some 56 sm at Uvala Slatinica on the east side of Olib island the rain finally stopped and we ate a warming soup and some cheese.



Next day we left early and sailed with nice easterly winds along the east side of Dugi Otok, took a round trip in Telascica national park and finally moored at my favorite spot in Kornati national park at Konoba Lervrnaka with a nice dinner. Early next morning we took a walk around the island and then enjoyed Kornati national park sailing leisurely around the beautiful islands. In the evening we sailed with strong NE wind to the southeastcorner of Murter and moored in ACI Marina Jezera. We replenished our provisions and had a good Croatian dinner at Konoba Boris.



September 22nd we sailed southeast between islands Zmljan and Kaprije, passed Hrid Mulo and moored at a buoy of Konoba Lanterna in Uvala Scicenica, where we enjoyed the sunset and had an excellent but expensive dinner with fish and steak.  Next morning we decided to visit Split and sailed east along Ciovo and moored at noon in ACI Marina Split.

We visited Diocletian's Palace and had a extraordinary good Pizza at Konoba Gust. Early next morning we headed back west along the south coast of Drvenik islands, turned north along Primosten, sailed through Sibenski Kanal, passed Tribunj, tacked alongside Murter and finally anchored in Kosirina bay after 57sm.












Next day we sailed along Hramina and Betina to the north of Murter, sailed into Pasmanski Kanal. After passing Biograd the wind turned and we tacked sportingly against a firm northwesterly wind to Zadar and finally anchored in Sutomiscica bay on the east coast of Otok Ugljan.






On September 26th with no wind we motored northwest alongside the east coat of islands Molat, Ist, and Premuda and finally moored happy alongside in Susak harbor. We took a hike to the old village on top of a sand dune, visited the fortress, church, cemetery and tasted the local wine. After sunset we savoured a nice dinner at Konoba Sansegus.






Next morning we left Susak and crossed the famous Kvarner Gulf with good northeasterly winds, passed Hrid Porer, entered the bay of Pula and moored at noon at the ACI Marina. In the afternoon we visited the famous Roman Arena and the fortress. We celebrated Richard's birthday with a splendid dinner at Bistrot Alighieri. Next day we visited the food market and bought some shrimps and eels and some high quality vegetables. Then we sailed back south east, rounded Hrid Porer again and sailed with weak winds into the vast Bay of Medulin, where we anchored in Pomerski bay and enjoyed our fish dinner.


In the morning of September 29th we finished our Medulin cruise, then headed north exploring the bays on Istria's east coast and anchored in Uvala Prklog, where we cooked some spicy shrimps. On the last day we visited crowded Rabac bay and crossed Kvarner again to Cres where we moored in Cres marina at last. We celebrated our wonderful autumn cruise with fair winds and good weather at Riva restaurant with a fine fish dinner. Next day it started raining again, Gusti and Richard left for Vienna. I used the day doing some maintenance works and made Sea of Joy ready for the winter in Cres Marina. With heavy rain I left Cres going back home by car next day.

We sailed 89h and logged 500sm in 13 days.

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Smooth Sea, Slight Wind, Beach Weather

With my 3 year old grandson Jonas and his parents Matthias and Isabella we started our next cruise south with no wind on August 28th. We stopped in Martinscica Bay for a short swim and continued south to beautiful Uvala Tomozina in the north west coast of Losinj, where we spent the night at anchor and cooked two nice branzinos in the oven. Early next day we explored the surroundings swimming and hiking. Jonas marveled at the small pirate-like bay. At noon we continued south to Veli Zal, where we met again Laurenz, Sophie and Chris at the crowded beach of Hotel Aurora.




The next two nights we spent moored at a buoy in quiet Uvala Krivica and swam a lot in smooth and clear waters.


August 31st afternoon we motored to Mali Losinj harbor, visited the beautiful city, bought some more provisions, and had dinner at Konoba Hajduk. Next morning just on time at 09:00 local time we passed the turning bridge west through Privlaka channel to our favourite bay at Uvala Meli, where we spent the next two days swimming, playing, and relaxing.









As my son Matthias complained about an earache we returned to Mali Losinj, headed to the local hospital and got some medication, which eased his pain. Then we set sail north to Uvala Slatina, where we met some friends and spent the night at anchor. On August 4th we returned with slight winds to Cres Marina and enjoyed dinner at Konoba Roza.
Next morning we left together with heavy rain to Austria by car.










We sailed 25h and logged 97sm in 9 days.

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