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It is 10.29pm, and I am sitting in the yacht writing this blog. There is beautiful music & singing drifting across the marina. Thankfully a cool wind is gently blowing.
We left Murter around 10.30am. It was a late start as I needed to stay in the marina to do some bookwork. Unfortunately the battery has died on my laptop, so I now rely on a umbilical cord.
Our stay in Murter has been like all the other places we have visited in Croatia, simply fantastic. Croatia has really moved ahead. We intend to be back in Zadar on Friday, so we are making the most of visiting the islands. The distance is not an issue.
Brian and Cheryl planned the trip last night to Pirovac, making sure we would not retrace any steps we had done so far. It was a simple 7nm sail.
We left Murter, after showering etc, and also after seeing a refurbished Grand Soleil boat launched. Brian had caught up with the owners yesteday after one of his walks around the marina. The boat was about 15 years old, but the refurbishment was very well done. A nice dark blue and white colour scheme. The launch went well, and it was good to see it in the water. Our neighbours from Austria had left earlier in the morning. They will be visitng Australia in 2 years time for the world angling championships.
Before we left, we needed to phone the Pirovac marina to make a booking. We miss our lovely Libby, as she used to do it for us on previous trips, using her multi-lingual skills and a fair bit of BS,
Dianne and I have been saddled with this difficult task, sharing of the duties means Dianne hands me the phone, and I have to speak! Such as it is, I have now developed a set pattern.
This morning the phone call went like this. The lady at the marina answered in about 5 languages, and the last one was "Hello". I then said, this is the yacht Arietta, and we would like a berth for tonight" She replied, "Can you give me your length and draft?" I said, can you speak English? Duh, she was speaking English! There was a pause in the conversation for a few seconds, with the reply being YES! I continued on like I knew what I was doing, but it was a little embarrassing. I should have told her we were Kiwi's. Anyway, she told us to call her on Channel 16 when we reach the marina, and we will be directed to a pen. Brian commented that channel 16 was unusual as it was normally the emergency channel.
The girls did a good job of getting us away from the pier. They are getting very professional. The skipper had all his navigation equipment in front of him. It was going to be a very straightfoward trip. We eventually got out of the bay and turned left, we were on our way. Brian needed to put some sunscreen on, so I had the privilage of being the skipper, and he even let me go more than a 1/2 a knot. :) I was going great, following the black line on the navitronics, passing boats correctly and weaving in an out, 360's and all that sort of stuff. I was actually starting to imagine me sailing "Flight II" like Danial Ricciardo around Koombana in twilights. Brian eventually came up from the cabin, decked out in his sunscreen just in time to give me some directions around some tricky pylons. All was going well, and I even managed to close down the driver alert and the secondary back up system when the land seemed to be a bit close. We made it through without any problem, and then just as I started to hit my straps, the navigator/former skipper said, we are going the wrong way, we are supposed to be going that way. Yep, with all this fancy equipment, years of sailing the oceans of the world, the navigator / former skipper turned left at the intersection instead of right. Of course we know what that meant, back through the tricky pylons, sorting out the driver alert and secondary back up system, and adding an hour to our journey. I know who was buying the beers tonight!
The trip was very pleasant, and we arrived not long after midday. As we approached the Marina the Skipper (me) directed Brian to radio in. He did so, on channel 16. he came up, commenting that they were not interested in us. As Skipper, I said to him, that strange? You WERE on channel 17? Whoops, wrong channel. I am sure I told you 17, he said no you said 16, then the secondary back up system chirped up and agreed with him. I could see my days as skipper slipping away very quickly.
Brian did make contact, and I was relieved of my duties. The crew did a good job tieing up, as we had a fairly strong side wind.
Once we tied up, the girls made us a very nice lunch. It was very hot, about 34c but about 100% humidity. We were all trying to have a rest, but eventually we decided to go for a walk, and try to cool off in some shade. The boat was simply too hot, and there are no fans. (I had less fans after giving the wrong channel number!)
The marina facilities are very new, and first class, Like the other Croatian towns we have been to, the marina, boardwalks, and facilities have been renewed, and they look fantastic. In the town all the old building being lovingly restored, and modernised on the inside. There are many apartments that are rented out.
After walking around the town, and having an ice cream, we finally ended up in a bar opposite the marina. There was a cool breeze wafting across the water. We had to move eventully. It was time to go next door to the supermarket and top up on the shopping.
The shop was air conditioned, so we took our time. One of the things we needed, was some spray to kill the mosquitoes. I found some raid, and gave it to Brian. I met up some time later, in the shop and I asked him what he did with the spray, as it wasn't in the girls trolley. Mmm, he had put it in someone elses trolley, thinking that was the girls. He figured that as he saw lots of water in the trolley, it must be theirs. (and he is sailing this ship).
We lumped all this stuff back to the boat, and decided to have a rest. It was about 4.30pm and the town was dead. By about 6, everything sprung into life, a real carnival atmosphere. People everywhere. Stalls, rides, fairy floss etc. Great to see, and it shows how the locals make the most of their twighlight.
We eventually settled into a very modern restaurant for a meal. They were very busy, the meal took quite some time. They did apologise. Quite frankly I didn't mind as the atmoshere was very vibrant.
It is now 11.30, and the music and singing is still floating across the marina. Cheryl and Brian are up reading, as it is still quite warm. I will go to bed and enjoy listening to the music.
- comments
Marty Glen. You can add journalist to your CV. You are doing an amazing job. Miss you guys.
Jan You write so well Glen it’s a pleasure to read.