Weather change

Posted on July 27, 2012 by 1st Mate Lyndi
It was now time to head back to base  as the weather forecast was a force 4, this time we decided to be fully prepared – the storm jib was set , main sail reefed and off we went,  well!!! there was very little wind , so Frank had to then de rig so we could set full sails. He spends a lot of time rearranging sails for the appropriate weather. !!
by late in the afternoon through splitska vrata  it started to gust up to 22 knots, our new crew still smiling and no plastic bag required. this was also when Franks Favourite hat decided to fly the coup , and there was not a chance we/I was  going about  to retrieve it! Jez also saw something leather like fly past and go “geplunk” we are still not sure what the mystery object was!!
We did a day trip to Split as the Diocletian’s palace is defiantly worth seeing , this time we did a tour under the palace, The history here is extremely interesting , it was built by the romans, as the Diocletian’s retirement palace  these were the cellar/storage areas, it was later taken over by the venetians and it was used as sewerage / rubbish pits .(a google search would be a great way to find out more about the palace,or a trip to split ) It is now all gradually being restored and a must see when in Split.
BTW shoes with exceptional grip are required when wondering around Split otherwise you will find your self skating on the stone walkways ,Thongs /Flip-flop’s are NOT recommended – this comes from experience. (Rain Hail or Shine).
We decided to have a farewell dinner at “the old Ballet school” in Kastel Kambelavac as it has been recommended by many people. It is well worth the 35 min walk from Gomelicia . There is actually swimming beaches and cafes/hotels along the Riva .
With our new crew now heading back home Frank and I must now stay put in the Marina as the BORA  has now been forcast this can bring gust up to 70 knots! so a secure berth is required for the next couple of nights.
Categories: Posts | Comments Off on Weather change

New Crew

Posted on July 24, 2012 by 1st Mate Lyndi
We are now back a t Kastela waiting our new crew, can you believe i have met someone who has also crewed on Double vision,
with the previous owner – its such a small world !!
Washing has proved to be an interesting experience as we usually take the bus to split and walk to the Laundromat , but it is way to hot , so we were given a contact at here , it was collected a couple of hours after the agreed time by a very nice taxi driver, !! and delivered the next day pristine, even ironed , just like mum would have done. Frank was very impressed “i could get used to this”and i said “well we have all the facility’s at home you may have to learn to use them, because i am defiantly not pressing sheets!”
With our new crew on board  , we decided to take them to our favourite location’s  as they only have a few days  so we could’ nt venture to far .We set sail for Bobivice – as it is now high tourist season buoys have been put in place and it was requested that if we wish to anchor we must stay clear of the buoys. It was quite late when we arrived here , so we were keen to have a secure anchor and settle for the night.
For some reason with crew on board who have never been on yacht the weather performs a treat!!
so the next night with the  S.E. force 3-4 predicted the harbour entrance outside of milna was a good location for the night.
We unfortuately had several attemps in the two prior coves but was unable to get a good hold , the third one near the entrance was a success , (mind you in one of them we were dodging kids on li lo’s swimming backwards and forwards to boats anchored near the shore, to impatient to wait for us to anchor! a tad stressful for me!)
This is a great location for us to take Wabo jnr into town, this weekend there was a festival , they had a band playing in the main square , and lots of people having fun enjoying the ambiance .
The next stop was Soline just out side of Vbroska.
It was quite a sight leaving Milna anchorage –so many ;yachts and large motor cruisers heading through the passage.
We had a force 6-8 warning forcast for the evening so everyone was eager to get to there destination.
Many were heading to Hvar. The wind was picking up a little and we were sailing nicely, but to be honest i couldnt help admiring the way the  fancy ships (some 5 storys high) cruised through the waves with there even keel !!!
passangers milling around the deck cocktail in hand . ahhhhhh i can dream!! but this dream will never be reallity – unless i win lotto , 0r  find a sponsor. in fact Lotto may buy the yacht but the FUEL BILL would be another win!!
Jez and Alex were quite at home on WABO and had no hesitations with sailing  although Jez did make the comment “its fun for the first hour but staying comfortable healed over for the more than that is tiresome!!
Vbroska is also an easy day trip to Hvar , There is now a “Hop on Hop off” bus , it goes via Jelsa ,Star Grad and Hvar –
We left Frank with WABO to do maintenance and Jez alex and I took the bus to Hvar, and what a thrilling ride it was – this trip would make me a little anxious in a car BUT in a double decker open top bus, it was white knuckle stuff / I just couldn’t let go of the seat . It winds its way up and down the very high hills, with a sheer drop off to the sea – the view is absolutely breathtaking.
this journey also took us through a tunnel 4.5m high and the bus is 4m , the noise and wind was deafening – when we finally arrived at Hvar the gentleman at the back of the bus made the sign of the cross on his chest and breathed a great sigh of relief.
The bus trip was well worth the 75kn .
We wondered around Hvar just absorbing the sights , we did the walk to the castle ,even though it was extremely hot , it is well worth the effort the view is spectacular.
I also checked out Carpe Diem for prince Harry , but couldn’t see him anywhere! i guess he doesn’t arrive till early hours of the morning. i cant imagine he would be chillin on the giant lounge beds people watching!
The weather warning has been updated to force 6-8 and gusting 50knots this anchorage was suitable for this forecast.So we were staying put.
Frank and Jez  decided to take Wabo jnr into the village for fresh bread and milk, They seem to have been gone a long time!
We looked out at the harbour entrance and there they were ROWING they had run out of fuel!!
Now i know i am the skipper of Wabo Jnr but i haven’t quite got the knack of refuelling – it has an internal fuel tank and i hate the smell of Petrol !!
Now running out the first time and seeing Frank rowing with Jez laying back relaxing was  quite funny  BUT the second time is another story , with all the crew on board , by now the wind was picking up and we again run out in almost the same spot !
Alex and Jez rowed until Alex had blisters and then Frank took over – his favourite hat was blown overboard, so a quick back paddle was required to pick it up – now with this, the pressure on the wooden ore was just to much it snapped OMG.
We had to be rescued by an Italian skipper (maybe Fabio) from a luxury launch. He just jumped on his jet ski (what a hero) threw us the  line and towed us back to WABO — Phew!!!!
Wabo Jnr had a very fine hairline crack in the fuel tank which has now been repaired!!
Categories: Posts | Comments Off on New Crew

Hot Hot Hot

Posted on July 14, 2012 by 1st Mate Lyndi
We then set of heading for Primosten – not really enough wind to sail, force 0-1. The small amount that we had was coming from the forward quarter , so definitely time to fine tune the spinnaker – it was a long hot sail and at some points we even achieved 2 knots. The funny thing is the motor was running the whole time  to recharge the batteries!!!    Anyho it was time to finally give in to mother nature and motor towards Primosten. ,
Here there were many many yachts  and although it is a large bay and possible to accommodate them all the water was uninviting . So we continued on our way to Stari Trogir – this was a fabulous choice – beautiful bay and nice clear water. The boat actually looked like it was sitting in a pool, so still and clear. Also anchored here was the most luxurious Motor Yacht called “Diamonds are Forever” at night it looked absolutely stunning the  lights contoured perfectly to the ship, at the water line of the bow there was a light > this gave a reflection on the bow that looked like a giant Martini Glass!!!
We took Wabo Jnr into the town . Frank really felt like a coffee other than the instant he has been having (it just easier and i have hunted for a plunger but as yet have unable to locate one ) Finding the cafe was an adventure in itself , as there a few branded umbrellas along the foreshore , we just went up to each one ,only to find people having a picnic. Finally we asked someone
and they set us on our way, so by the time we got there coffee was forgotten and a large beer was ordered !!
We spent 2 days here as it was just to hot to travel and we were waiting for the elusive wind , but we must continue on as our new crew will be arriving .Our journey back to Kastela was very pleasant as we were able to use the spinnaker  and keep the cockpit covered.
Categories: Posts | 2 Comments

Team effort

Posted on July 11, 2012 by 1st Mate Lyndi
We then made our way along the main Kornati island dodging many little smaller ones and made and exit thought the very narrow Mala provesa channel  and were able to sail to Bizikovica. Here we were well entertained from the holiday makers on shore. We also met a family including their dog ( we have found quite a few family’s travel with their  dogs and even a cat! )
This little dog had its own  life jacket and was taken very willingly to shore on an inflatable li – lo for a run around and toilet break.This family were on holiday from Frankfurt although they had a  very nice motor cruiser , the dad was envious of our H.R.
and referred to a WABO as the” Mercedes of the Yachts”.
It was here we decided  to swap the Jib over as the large one received a minor tear in the force 8 winds that we had encountered earlier in the season, and its better to have it repaired while the tear is small.
Now of course when you don’t want wind there is PLENTY and you  want wind there is NONE, –so  changing over the Jib  was no easy feat while on anchor. It was here we solved the problem when dropping the main – Just don’t speak – nothing – zippo- it  now seems to be working very well!
We are now heading back to base as we have  new crew arriving Jez and Alex , this is going to be a very big adventure for Alex as she prefers terra firma, lets hope there will be no surprise force 8 !!
From here we set off to  Murter Island this it seems is the gateway to the Kornati island.
We anchored just outside of Murter town near a very busy channel so we could watch the comings and goings of tourist boats and rental yachts . There is a restaurant on a little island opposite Murter town that has buoy’s , if you eat at the restaurant  you can use them for free. We took Wabo jnr into the town to have a look around , it is an extremely busy port . It is possible to rent yachts from the Marina here, as well as any other sea going vessel, it is also possible to rent scooters to tour the island as well.  The tourist bureau has plenty of info for the Kornati and surrounding islands.
I have read in lonely planet the the people of Murter own the Kornatis , and the rock walls i spoke of earlier are the livestock dividing fences
We then set the spinnaker  to sail down the S.W. side of the island – Murter is actually joined to  the mainland at Tisno by a  lift bridge-but we were unable to go on the inside of the island as there is not enough clearance.
The S.W. side of the island is very very busy as there are lots of coves with campsites and caravan parks.
In one there was an inflatable water slide and trampoline , large water balls, and many people , I don’t think there was room for another person on the beach.
I am at the helm most days and becoming more at ease with this arrangement , although i still get a bit daunted by the other yachts on the water coming at me from all directions , and of course we seem to be always racing! Frank is very supportive and gives clear instructions ARGH!  “wait till you see the whites of there eyes”
We Made our way to Privic and anchored on the west side at Sepurine – There a restaurant buoys here as well. In this section between the ferry jetty and near the restaurant there is a very nice swimming beach , the pebbles are tiny and in the travel book it would be called a “sandy beach”  . People travel here by ferry or taxi boat.
It is possible to walk from Sepurine to Privic town it only takes about 10 minutes . There are no cars on this island anything that
required to be transported is done by small tractors . Even the kids!
There was one tractor literally the motor, gearbox and wheels with a trailer that had the seat on it, gave our little Howard a run for its money .Oh! and they must be registered and display a numberplate. !
This island is only very busy during the summer month’s and most hospitality worker’s head back to the mainland to find work for the winter months.
We did have a chat to a couple of local old-timers, they were doing work on a traditional sailing boat , getting it ready for the annual regatta between islands at the end of August (shame we will miss it).
Categories: Posts | 1 Comment

Take 2

Posted on July 7, 2012 by 1st Mate Lyndi
We spent another night at the Kornati National Park at the S.E. curve of a horse shoe shaped cove on the island of Mana.
The only way for us to secure and anchor here is to also tie a stern line. For a novice sailor this can be daunting.Frank is totally at ease with this and gives clear instructions . With me at the helm Frank drops the anchor and then I must go astern towards the rocky cliffs until the bow anchor holds (very scary). Reversing a full keel Halberg Rassy is an art in itself, as it has a mind of its own . It also has prop walk to the port side complication the situation –THEN  Frank jumps overboard and ties a stern line to the rocks. This line also is anchored down in the middle to keep it under water , so no unwanted creatures come on board!
We were the only boat here until a family of 4 arrived in there 6 metre rubber ducky , with only a canopy at the stern.
They actually set up 2 small tents as well and camped there overnight – in the middle of the night i heard that all to familiar noise only heard when camping – the sound of the air mattress being inflated again!!! agh gotta love camping
The next day we motored around to have a look at the sheer cliffs, they are 70 m high and well worth a visit although is best not to linger to long as the swell rebounds off the cliffs causing a backwash making the yacht rock and roll , this could have your last meal feeding the fish!!!!
We then anchored at the N.W. side of the island. Here there are mock ruins that were built for  a film set. (which is quite ironic as there are roman ruins already available!)Apparently they were built for a movie made in 1961 (information from another traveller, so i am not sure if it is true ,) She also said it was used in the Pirates Of the Caribbean movie – Can you believe I HAVE Walked where Johnny Depp has walked !!! i may never wash my shoes  again!
We had a lot of fun wandering around and taking Movie Star photos and enjoying the most amazing view , including the cliffs we had seen from the ocean;
Categories: Posts | 1 Comment