Chioggia, the Venice of the poor, 14 & 15 June

 Chioggia is located 25 km south of Venice, at the southern entrance of the Venice Lagoon. It was famous in the Middle Ages for the high quality of the salt it produced in large quantities. At that time, salt was the basis for preserving food and was so precious that it was considered currency. At the end of the 14th century, this led to the Chioggia War, in which Venice and Genoa fought for control of the town. Chioggia became a city controlled by Venice. 

It is really worth a stopover for visiting, and we happened to be there for the annual middle-age festival in the third weekend of June!

Anchoring at Poveglia, 13 June 2024

As we departed from San Giorgio marina after three days, we engaged in a few mile ride to Poveglia lazaretto, on our way to Ravenna. It took us 3 hours to sail against some current to reach the place. 

Belisama anchored by Poveglia Lazaretto

But we realised how much Poveglia Lazaretto is a significant place for epidemiologists!

Visiting Burano - Murano, 11 June

Safely moored at the San Giorgio Yatch Club marina, we decided to spend the day exploring the islands of Burano and Murano in the Venice Lagoon. By the way, Venice lagoon or laguna? In French, we make a difference. A "lagon" refers to tropical islands surrounded by coral reefs while a "lagune" refers to any kind of shallow water body separated from the sea by a sandy bar. So, in French Venice would have a "lagune" and not a "lagon". But English does not make a difference, so Venice is surrounded by a lagoon, and laguna in fact is a Spanish term.  

Belisama is the third mast from the right, with the windmill visible on her aft

Our day there confirmed that these two islands are a must visit for anyone visiting Venice...

To Venezia, 8-10 June

Here we are, finally, as we dreamed we would be one day, when we first visited the place in 2014! Well, It took 10 years, but at the time we were owning La Malouine, a brise de mer 31 based in Stockholm. So it could take that long!

Belisama in San Giorgio Maggiore Yatch Club Marina.

Finally, we made it with Belisama, an OVNI 445, but it still took 10 years from Stockholm :-). Now based in Pula, it took only 12 hours...

Departing tomorrow!

After a completely crazy year working as mad for the Middle=East WHO Office, we are finally departing tomorrow for Venice and an exploration of the northern Adriatic coast. It took a full week to replace the windows on the canopy after the Bora exploded them earlier in the year, Besides, the final days got devoted to slow cooking food and making sure we have enough provision of fermented goodies.

Fermented goodies

Ready to depart now!

Getting ready for the season, May 2024

After a year in the Mediterranean, Belisama experienced the high UV levels that led to the destruction of our tender by explosion! and the blowing of the main sail cover and the canopy during a severe episode of Bora winds (see specific post...).

Start of the 2024 season!

22nd February, water-borne again, en route from Marina Polesana, Pula, the new homeport of Belisama, to Marina Veruda, the largest marina in the area, and where the annual service of the hull can be done. First winter sailing, under still quiet Yugo (south) wind with temperatures around 10°C. Luckily, the sea is quiet. We struggle to reach 4 knots with engine running at 2200 rpm and heavy turbulences in our wake, indicating that something is holding us back in the water...

Let's see...