| Our next main stop down the Croatian sailing waters was to be another favourite of ours, Bribinj, the Southern Bay, which we think is about the prettiest by in Croatia. We had a night in Illovik on the way down, a passage between two small islands which is full of buoys, and a handy stop off point. Then a motor sail about 30 miles down to Bribinj. We were fortunate to get one of the last buoys, they have a marvellous system here where we tie on the bow, to the buoy, and a line goes from under the buoy back to shore, which ties the stern secure. It was just so perfect that we decided to make this a two nighter When we arrived a very naked German man from a little boat next door was swimming around and came to offer assistance. We were actually managing very well, but it was a kind offer, I said to Joe that some of the most helpful people seem to parade with no clothes, and I can tell you he was doing a lot of parading Joe was nervous to look, and I won’t make any attempt to describe his wife in this state. The second day was pretty lazy, but at mid day we did rally ourselves to go over to the other bay of Bribinj, where there are so many buoys, but it is not nearly as pretty, the ferry comes in there also. A small refreshment of course, and back to Wrighteau to do more of very little.
It came time to leave, we were up and away early, but our nude German and the roudy Italians both on either side of us, beat us, they got away at 6.30. We were mortified to be beaten. It was a big day to get under our belts, all the way to Unije, about 39 miles, the sea was dead flat, and with 2 knots of breeze it was a brisk motor all the way. Boats going hither and tither, we had not travelled down the other side of the Kornatis before, so it was a first. We put out our 40 metres of chain, our usual, it was only about 5 metres, then noticed all the a sunsail flotilla yacht come in. This made us a little nervous, a whole lot of these anchoring in a bay can get one a bit edgy. This was the leader, and when the rest arrived they all rafted up, and very interestingly they went stern to bow, and in the dinghy they took out the chain and anchor and dropped it well out. So with all the anchors out alternately they were rock solid, and a jovial lot at that. Quite skilfully done we thought.
We had a date at the restaurant Mackova, it is the best food we have had in Croatia. We were just setting off when a small boat gained on us, he nabbed us well and truly. We were horrified that he was upon us to get money out of us. Afterall, we had done the work of anchoring, and this fee doesn’t stop some lunatic sailor to anchor on top of us at any time. We are noticing the charging thing is gaining momentum, I suspect that in the future there will be not one place to stop which will be free of charge, anchor or not. So where possible we have made a plan to go on buoys, at least it is secure from other anchored boats. The charge was 100 kuna, or about $25NZ, which doesn’t break the bank I guess, and it is the main industry of Croatia, the sailing ground. We are noticing a lot more boats around than this time last year, but as yet this is not problem.
So in for our delicious meal, we took photos from last year, and the owners mother and father got quite excited about this. I had the pepper steak which melted in my mouth, and Joe went for the fish, which he was also most enthusiastic about.
I do love to cook on board, and often it will be a curry, usually the meat has not been hung for long enough Joe thinks, but it casseroles well, and for breakfast we enjoy their fruit, it is to absolutely die for. I wonder why all the peaches and nectarines I choose at home are flourey or tasteless. Rock melon, Strawberries, the lot.
This morning we woke to another superb day, but made the decision to come into Tribunj, a little hamlet type village, the heat has been almost unbearable. We had just secured our lines to the shore when a Jane and Bruce arrived on the scene, he was most enthusiastic to see first of all the big black fern flag, but also the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron flag, he is a member of the Squadron still, and he has been living in USA for 40 years I think he said. We ended up spending quite a time with them, and got a few hints for travelling further south over an Hungarian goulash, this is afterall an Hungarian owned marina. A bit alarming, they didn’t like Greece one little bit, though they did like the Ionian side. When the heat became more manageable we got a few groceries and showered etc, the wash facilities here are superb, then at 8pm in the balmy night we set off for our walk over the tiny bridge to the village, which didn’t actually amount to much, but the buzz of people who come out at night, down to little tiny ones, waddling along in their big puffy nappy padded pants with an ice cream about the same size, and on to the waddling elder generation.
So now we are heading off down to Primosten, it will be motoring I expect, but at least hot and sunny. Until next time, tootle pip from Wrighteau
Remember photos are on www.webshots.com/user/Wrighteau
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