On the 2nd of June we left Otranto for Brindisi, where we changed crew. We stay overnight and leave at noon on the 3rd to cross the Adriatic to Molunat, the first shelter in the south of Croatia. We took advantage of the broad reach south-easterly wind to sail the 110 nautical miles under spinnaker.
The image below shows the moon rising on the night of 3 June. The "impression rising moon" was moving, although this iPhone image shows the limits of night photography with such equipment.
The night ride is very relaxing under a very bright full moon. Under spinnaker, we maintain a speed of between 4 and 6 knots in these light winds. We only meet a large cruise ship in the middle of the night.
In the early hours of the morning, we can see the foothills of the Albanian and Montenegrin mountains.
We make it
We make it at Molunat in 23 hours, as planned. We moore sideways to the public pier of the village as indicated "possible" in the nautical instructions. Very convenient to go shopping and explore the place.
Obviously the sailing season has not yet started as we are the only boat around. In the morning we had a visit from the coastguard, who wanted to know where we were coming from. Mol!nat is not an authorised port of entry in Croatia, but since Croatia joined Shengen in January, boats from other Shengen zone countries are not required to go through authorised ports of entry. The next morning we left the public pier just as a large public workboat approached to moor alongside...
All in all, a fantastic stopover and first taste of sailing in Croatia.
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