Croatian Update

Posted at 8:48 PM, May. 21, 2008

We are finally back on board after a long absence of some 7 months having arrived back in Suksosan on Monday 19 May. Ryanair were late and after getting into Zadar it was pick up the rental car and straight to the local pizzeria in the square at Sukosan for a pizza and a carafe of red before heading to the marina. The main problem we had on arrival at the marina (about 11.00pm) was that we couldn't find the boat - after finding security we fortunately did find it - and in good condition. Velimir as in common with all the Hanse agents we have dealt with to date has done a good job with the boat and most of the jobs we left on the "to do" list had been completed. They had even put the main back on which saved me a few hours of hard work.

Provisioned the boat up today completed a few final chores and we are hoping to depart southwards tomorrow. The weather has been pretty average, strong southerlies and rain but temps in the low 20's so at least it is shirts and T-shirts.

John Mellars arrives tonight from Auckland for a few days and we will head south through the Croatian islands clearing out from either Otok Lastovo or Dubrovnik before our permit expires on 27 May. We will then head across to the east coast of Italy or maybe straight through to the Ionian and Corfu - depends on which way the wind is blowing.

While in London we trained down to near Lymington on the south coast and caught up with fellow  yotbloggers John and Sue of Swagman fame. John and I have emailed and communicated a number of times over the last three years or so as he bought Swagman a Hanse 461 just a few months before we bought Savarna. Had a great few hours with them over lunch and we hope that our paths will cross again at some stage. Also of course spent several days with Jason and Emma, as well as Hugo and Sabine, the latest granddaughter, and caught up with Hilary in Cambridge.

Thats it for now. Some pics and more news on the next post.

Cheers

Keith