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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Sandy beaches and some Bora

On August 13th Sophie and Chris arrived again on board with their son Laurenz for another cruise. They both climbed the mast and helped me replace the broken shackle of the genua head. August 15th we sailed south into the small and quiet bay Radiboj in the north of Losinj Island, where we anchored for the night in turquoise waters. 18 month old Laurenz enjoyed swimming with his parents. Next morning just on time at 09:00 local time we reached Osor and passed the turning bridge through Osor channel southwards. We reached the island Orulje Male and spent the afternoon and the night again at anchor in beautiful surroundings with a specific Caribbean feeling.

Next moring we sailed east with Slight westerly winds brought us further east to Island of Pag, where we anchored in front of the crowded beach of Camping Simunj. We enjoyed the beach, beautiful weather, and late at night fireworks just in front of our boat. The following day we left at noon south for Zadar harbor, where we moored at Tankerkomerc Marina and visited the old city and had dinner at Konoba Donat. After an early morning thunder storm with a lot of rain, thunder and lightning we continued sightseeing and replenished our provisions.
Early afternoon we set sail again north and anchored at sandy Zaton Beach for the night.




On August 20th we strolled along Zatons's Sepurine beach and then continued north to Sapavac bay in the south of island Vir, where we anchored again near the sandy beach, which Laurenz enjoyed. Next day at noon we received a gale warning up to 9 Bft. So we sailed further north to ACI Marina Simunj where we weathered this rather strong Bora for the next three days hiking, playing, and having nice dinners at Konoba Didova Kuca.

With weakening winds we sailed north to Uvala Meli in the SE end of Cres, where we anchored again and Laurenz and his parents enjoyed their favourite sandy beach. On August 25th we sailed north with rather strong westerly winds, slipped through Osor channel at 17:00 and anchored in Uvala Ustrine for the night. The last day of our joint cruise we were happy to sail north with firm westerly winds right into Cres Marina, where we met my other grandson Jonas and his parents Matthias and Isabella. So we spent a rather crowded night on board with two young sailors and their parents.

We sailed 33h and logged 172sm in 13 days.

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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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