Sailing 2021

As we have been doing for now 15 years, we also went sailing this year at the end of May (May 22-May 25). It all started at the company where we were co-workers. Now none of us work there anymore. The core of the team has moved to another firm and most of the current members are from this story. There are 5 of us left from the original team (conditionally 6 members). Now they are all skippers except me.

There were 14 of us on three boats this time and we had 3 sponsors (cancellations after payment). One car went down already on Friday, to have an additional day to party. Most of us went on Saturday morning. One car started at 5 am and it was already a problem to leave Ljubljana due to drowsiness. I was picked up at home by some mini car from avant2go around 7am. Luckily, we drove only a good kilometer before switching to the Mazda 6 station wagon. Of course, the first stop is already in Grosuplje at the gas station. We continue through Dolenjska and Bela krajina.

Crossing border to Croatia

To cross into Croatia, you need a quick or PCR test or two doses of vaccination. In addition, it is necessary to fill in the online form https://entercroatia.mup.hr/. I had a quick test and form of negative results from the zVem portal. However, I only got a list of all the tests on the portal. When we arrived at the border, there were still enough cars to lose half an hour. We are surrounded by German cars, and passengers urinate across the bridge and don’t care. On the Slovenian side without major complications, but on the Croatian side, we were a bit confused. First, we gave border control 4 ID cards and confirmation of online form submitting. Of course, we did not fill in the form well, the leading zeros were missing. After a short negotiation, he does not look at the tests and the vaccination certificate (in Cyrillic).

Day 1

We continue our way and we are soon on the highway. There is no excessive traffic and also tunnel St. Rok is open despite the wind. Another stop at the gas station follows. Soon we descend to Biograd na moru. There we still needed to find a boat. Of course, we first went west and south before finding the rest of the team at the north end of the Kornati marina. We had the boats Aga, Mici and Zarja. Others were a little nervous because they were already in the store, loaded everything, arranged all the paperwork, and were just waiting for us. We sailed out last around 1pm because of a few more settings for instruments. Our boat is Zarja – Hanse 385, in the end, it turns out to be the best out of three. On the boat, we had the skipper, assistant, cook, lady, and ballast aka consultant (me).

We sailed after midday towards the island of Žut. In the meantime, we got to know the boat, sailed, had a snack and a drink. On the island, we docked at the BAIN tavern. We ordered dinner there so we were able to use mooring for free. Dinner had an appetizer and main course and plenty of drinks (approx. € 600 for 17 people). Half of the staff were Filipinos, one Slovenian and of course, Stipe is here. A fourth boat soon joined us. There, the skipper is a former member of our group who has now been hired by an Australian and a Frenchwoman. They join us and renamed me, John Deere. The party drags on into the night on one of the boats. One is good and the other is not. I slept on Mica.

Day 2

We meet for a drink the next morning. The fourth boat had a waking up during the night. We sit down for a drink and didn’t get out to sea early. After a couple of hours of sailing, I got tired and went to rest a little below deck. However, they enthusiastically sail above and did many turns so there wasn’t much rest for me. In between, we circled around Mica. For lunch, we had tuna pasta, a good one. In the afternoon we arrived in the town of Sali on Dugi otok. On the other side of the bay, we moved for the bathroom and for a drink in Maritimo. Back at the boats, we hung out on the promenade. Some even went to visit the Hungarians, Czechs, and Carinthians. The main activities are inspecting toiletry bags, looking for blue mold (fish), and finding out if anyone has gained weight. Someone slips on the walkway with no major consequences and a laugh is found that beats mine.

Day 3

The next morning again to the bathroom and Maritimo bar, where we ate burek or croissant for breakfast. Although there was a desire to sail early we didn’t leave before 10am. The plan is to get to Molat, which is quite a few miles away and we sailed straight, without major bends. In fact, we also cook pasta with pesto while the boat is tilted 30 degrees. We can’t find a spot on Molat where we would like to anchor overnight, followed by a night sailing to Ugljan. One boat has problems with fuses and lights. We moor in Olive Island Marin, Sutomišćica (75 € per night per boat). The marina is one of the tidier in Croatia, but there is no one up here beside us and the Germans. Hot dogs are for dinner and plankton is being sought.

Day 4

The last morning we gather again for morning coffee and after visiting the bathroom, we moved on. We stop between Ugljan and Pašman. The courageous ones took went for a swim, the water is only 20 degrees. The sun is quite strong. In between, we ate an omelet. On the way back we went to the pump. Our boat is the last to arrive and again there is some nervousness because we were late half an hour. This is followed by emptying the boat (again, a huge amount of food and drink left), the handover process, and a shower. After a farewell drink, we set off. A colleague from Germany stays in Croatia for a few more days. The weather is fine until arriving to Slovenia, where it rained heavily.

Crossing boarder to Slovenija

On the way back we went over Zagreb / Bregana. A few cars are in front of us, in between, we rush into a new que. On the Croatian side without complications. On the Slovenian side, after viewing personal documents, he asks us for tests. I had a certificate of the 1st vaccination with Astra, 2 passengers had a certificate of vaccination from Serbia and the last colleague has a property in Croatia and a test less than 5 days old. Other cars also crossed the border without any problems. At a given time, it was possible to return without quarantine with a certificate of vaccination, proof of being sick by COVID, or a rapid test that is not too old. A travel order is also an exception.

Cost

Renting a sailboat for 4 days is around 1000 €, insurance is 200 €, dinner at Bain 35 € per person, mooring 100 € per boat, shop for our boat, car costs (petrol, toll, parking fee) 80 €, everything else (beer, burek, …). All in all, it cost about € 500 per person. This amount was previously transferred to the common fund in 2 installments. Of course, there is a settlement between team members afterward. The amount is high because we didn’t skimp on anything; food, drinks, moorings, insurance, boats, …. 15 years ago the amount was a around half of this year because we saved more and the prices were a bit lower. When I first sailed in 1997, however, the amount was even lower because as students we kept expenses to minimum. It is a basic data for you to know how much such an adventure will cost you.

Weather

We were quite lucky with the weather. Mostly it was blowing from the south so we went north. This also brings volatile conditions, but it rained one night and a few drops during the day. We had enough wind most of the time that enabled us to sail and there was no need to listen to the engine. On the last day, the sun was already strong. The water was between 18 and 20 degrees, enough for few people to swim.