Croatia is the destination and it is two hours behind schedule that our British Airways Boeing 737 arrives at Split airport on a Saturday afternoon in June.
A 30 minute taxi ride later and we arrive at the Kremik Marina which is situated 25 miles to the north-west of Split and about 2 miles south of the stunning Croatian port of Primosten.
A 30 minute taxi ride later and we arrive at the Kremik Marina which is situated 25 miles to the north-west of Split and about 2 miles south of the stunning Croatian port of Primosten.
Kremik is a large marina at the head of a bay. One of the pontoons is home to about 40 Sunsail charter yachts. Area briefing is on the Sunday morning and the advice is to sail south rather than north. South it is then!
Our charter yacht is 'Carevic' a Beneteau Oceanis 323, a 33 footer - just the right size for two people.
Sunday afternoon has found us anchored in Sesula Bay which lies just to the south of Maslinica on the island of Solta.
We decide it is chill-out time so we decide to stay here for a couple of nights.
We decide it is chill-out time so we decide to stay here for a couple of nights.
An hour or so after we anchor a Sunsail flotilla starts to arrive. This could make the area a bit crowded but, fortunately, they park up further into the bay.
The sun starts to go below the horizon and the place is the definition of the word 'peace'.
Tuesday morning and it is time to leave. We are anchored fairly close to the edge of the small bay in 4 metres of water. The engine is warmed up and I put it into gear to move gently forward as we draw the anchor in. A larger yacht has anchored between us and the exit to the bay so a little bit of manoeuvring is required. The anchor is clear so I select reverse and slowly move rearwards to give myself a bit of room between the rocks and the other yacht. Time to move forward again - no forward gear! I can't select it whatever I try and I steer the stern away from the immediate rocks but the light current coming into the bay is doing me no favours. It shallows quickly and the yacht grounds, at very low speed, on the seabed.
It has all happened in the space of about 30 seconds and my rudder is jammed in the rocks. If I had been a bit sharper I may have got the anchor lowered again to stop it drifting but that may not have had any guarantee of working.
I put on my mask and snorkel and have a look below the surface but, fortunately, there is no damage. A mobile phone call to Sunsail Kremik leads to a couple of engineers turning up on a RIB a couple of hours later (very impressed) and they discover that a pin has sheared and the forward drive throttle cable has come off its spool and needs setting and securing. One hour later we are fully serviceable and we wave them goodbye.
Tuesday morning and it is time to leave. We are anchored fairly close to the edge of the small bay in 4 metres of water. The engine is warmed up and I put it into gear to move gently forward as we draw the anchor in. A larger yacht has anchored between us and the exit to the bay so a little bit of manoeuvring is required. The anchor is clear so I select reverse and slowly move rearwards to give myself a bit of room between the rocks and the other yacht. Time to move forward again - no forward gear! I can't select it whatever I try and I steer the stern away from the immediate rocks but the light current coming into the bay is doing me no favours. It shallows quickly and the yacht grounds, at very low speed, on the seabed.
It has all happened in the space of about 30 seconds and my rudder is jammed in the rocks. If I had been a bit sharper I may have got the anchor lowered again to stop it drifting but that may not have had any guarantee of working.
I put on my mask and snorkel and have a look below the surface but, fortunately, there is no damage. A mobile phone call to Sunsail Kremik leads to a couple of engineers turning up on a RIB a couple of hours later (very impressed) and they discover that a pin has sheared and the forward drive throttle cable has come off its spool and needs setting and securing. One hour later we are fully serviceable and we wave them goodbye.
We sail around the north coast of Sesula and arrive in Necujam Bay.
We anchor in the small bay away from the other boats but have the advantage of being a short paddle from a restaurant about 100 yard away on the edge of the bay.
We anchor in the small bay away from the other boats but have the advantage of being a short paddle from a restaurant about 100 yard away on the edge of the bay.
An hour later we are paddling ashore and walking past a 'local' (so we think) having a quiet beer.
Within seconds a couple of large beers are in front of us and said local, in broad Yorkshire accent, asks us where we are from. Turns out his name is Paul and he live less than 10 miles from us! He joins us for a beer, and subsequently a meal, and very good company he is too.
He, and his friend Pete, are over at his villa for a couple of weeks doing some work on it. He is married to a Croatian lady and they come over to stay here several times a year. He is one of only 5 Brits resident on the island.
Within seconds a couple of large beers are in front of us and said local, in broad Yorkshire accent, asks us where we are from. Turns out his name is Paul and he live less than 10 miles from us! He joins us for a beer, and subsequently a meal, and very good company he is too.
He, and his friend Pete, are over at his villa for a couple of weeks doing some work on it. He is married to a Croatian lady and they come over to stay here several times a year. He is one of only 5 Brits resident on the island.
He invites us for breakfast at his house the next morning and we enjoy the stunning views over Necujam Bay from his verandah.
Next day it is time to set sail again and we sail around the local area
Threatening clouds build up over the mainland mid-afternoon
Steering 153 degrees, wind southerly at 15 knots, in 54 metres of water
Rocky south-side of Solta
Back in Sesula Bay, near Maslinica, Solta
Maslinica, Solta
Sunsail yacht leaving the harbour at Primosten
Sunsail yacht leaving the harbour at Primosten
