Korcula to Dubrovnik -- 45 Miles

Many years ago before the 1993 Martin 242 North Americans, our friend Colin Morse recorded a song – he re-wrote the lyrics of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” for our race boat Scarlet. The second verse was “Upwind, Downwind, Light air, Heavy air, any kind of wind conditions we don’t care” – and that pretty well described our day today.

As we had breakfast in Korčula there was a nice breeze in the strait between Korčula and Peljesac islands. We powered out between these narrow islands and Marina was proud to have gotten 9.3 knots on the GPS speedometer (motorsailing…with current). We powered for about 15 minutes and then we put the genoa up too. After another 15 minutes we reefed the mainsail to the second reef point, and then we rolled up the genoa to the 2nd reef point as the wind topped 25 knots. Charging along at 8+ knots and the puffs hit – pushing the wind indicator to over 30 knots apparent we hit more than 9 knots boats speed. Pushing 25,000 pounds at 10 miles an hour doesn’t sound like much but it is amazing to be sailing along at 9+ knots.

The puffs were all port-tack lifts so the technique was to luff the boat (ease it slightly into the wind) before they hit to lessen their effect on heeling (making the boat lean over) … then to drive down as the boatspeed increases – though apparently not quickly enough because every book on the bookshelf found its way onto the floor – along with charts, an inverter, a couple of iPods, and all of Jessie’s clothes – though come to think of it they were on the floor before we started sailing. Every once in a while we need to remind ourselves we’re on a sailboat not an RV.

Ross finds driving so easy he can do it with his eyes closed

Over 3 hours of 8+ knots boatspeed and 25 knots of wind  woo hoo. Then the wind died; we fired up the engine. Then we sailed again, then we powered again, then it rained, then it stopped, etc., etc. The net was that around 5pm we arrived in Dubrovnik – actually the ACI Marina at Dubrovik – and it looks great – Tennis courts, soccer pitch, pool, marine chandleries, restaurants, grocery store and more.

Bridge at Dubrovnik

The fee: only 107 Euros a night. Marina and Ross decided that we’d be better anchored directly outside the marina – Friday nights and Saturdays are the busiest nights at charter-boat marinas because they go out on Saturday, and come back on Friday. So tonight we let out 60 meters of chain in 6 meters of water – and already we have heard 23 knot puffs come down off the mountains. I surely hope we hold!