Start of the 2025 season: Pula to Pula through Cres, Krk and Losinj (172 nm)

May 6 - 10, a practice with a crew of newly licensed sailors

This year the season started on the 6th of May with a request from motivated nephews to "experience" sailing after having obtained their sailing licence the year before, the idea being to go through all waters and weather conditions. And the crew got it, because May is the right time to experience unstable weather conditions, associating warm spring days driven by breezes and cold days driven by Bora (catabatic winds) and Yugo! We got it all!

The crew, May 6, departing from Pula

Marina Polesana - Medullin, 6 May, 16.4 nm

When we left on the 6th of May, we thought about going to Unije. Initially everything was fine and we passed the southern tip of Istria in good conditions.

However, when we tried to cross the Rijeka Straight, we got caught in a very impressive thunderstorm with heavy rain, which forced us to take shelter in Medullin after a few hours of fighting. 

Heading to thunderstorm, time to get waterproof jackets!

Medullin - Cres, 7 May, 26.8 nm

After a quiet night at anchor in Medullin, we set off for the island of Cres the next morning. Beautiful weather, beautiful sailing and a very nice evening anchored in Cres Bay.

Riding to Cres

Anchored in Cres, as nice as usual!

The next morning the crew went ashore to buy fresh food.

Lilla Belisama back on duty!

Cres - Krk, 8 May, 33.1 nm

On the 8th of May we headed for the Krk (yes, not a typo, this is a place) bridge and anchorage, through the bay of Rijeka.

Container ships on hold in Rijeka bay

Belisama on her way to Krk bridge through the Rijeka bay

No white smoke yet for the new pope in the gaz terminal...

Approaching the Krk bridge

Moored in the Krk bridge anchorage, fantastiskt as would say the Swedes!

And incredible view in the evening as we have lamb legs sous vide!

Krk - Losinj, 9 May, 49.8 nm

This is a long leg, taking us almost 10 hours. After a very slow start, the Bora picks up and we end up flying to Losinj at 7+ knots. With the wind backing, no need to reef and good average speed. Nice supporting winds, no adventures, so not a lot of pictures! Arrived just as the sun was setting on the north side of Losinj to anchor on the other side of the island.

Losinj - Pula, 10 May, 45.9 nm

For the last leg, after looking at the weather forecast, with over 40 miles to go to Pula, we decided to leave at 3am to take advantage of the bora and avoid the expected afternoon headwinds. So we left at 3am, heading north-west towards Istria.

Departure 3AM from Losing

Moonset, by 5:30 AM

Ride through the Rijeka channel at 8.5 knots under 2 reefs and trinquette.

The last leg was one of the longest and the forecast was for Bora, coming from the NE at 30 knots (15 m/s as we are used to from our Swedish experience). Pictures always miss the waves over the deck and the dance of the boat in such water. It always looks easy, while it remains tense, even though an OVNI can handle such weather without hesitation. Still, it is fun to be the only one on the water all day.

Sailing at 8.5 knots, we made it nicely before the wind turned and took a few hours rest in a cove near the Polesana marina before heading back to the marina.

What a week! Thanks to the crew for getting me off land at such an interesting time at sea. Next up is our trip south in June/July...