Kurukulla

Kurukulla
Kurukulla, anchored at James Bond Island, Thailand

Friday 13 August 2010

Back to the islands.

At 0700 on Saturday Simon transferred to Kurukulla permanently and we waved goodbye to David and Filip in Camilla as they set off from the Limski canal to head for Brindisi and onwards to the UK. Simon and I then set about doing some shopping in the local camp-site supermarket, victualling ourselves for the next few days. This completed we set off southwards for Uvala Soline, stopping for a pair of hours to anchor and swim off one of the local beaches. We finally reached the overnight anchorage at 1900 and following a final swim, settled down to a pork steak supper.

Next day, after a lazy morning, we moved the four miles into Pula harbour proper and Simon went ashore for a few hours sightseeing, I stayed onboard having seen enough of Pula in the last two years; there is a limit to the number of times you can do the amphitheatre, castle, Roman theatre and old city without having a sense of “deja vu”! At 1930 I set off ashore to collect GianLuca (an Italian friend who was joining for the week) from the bus station where he was due to arrive on the last leg of his journey from Rome. By 2100 we were all back onboard and, rather than stay in the polluted waters of Pula harbour, we set off at dusk for the anchorage at Soline. A night entry with no moon successfully executed we settled down to a spaghetti bolognese supper and then all retired. Next morning we made a trip to the head of Veruda Marina, situated in the next creek, to recharge the gas bottles and a refuelling stop in the marina which resulted in us spending almost an hour holding position and fighting off queue bargers before it was our turn to be called in to refuel. The time some people can take to refuel their boat is incredible! Thereafter we set off for a very pleasant sail round the southern tip of Istria to return to Medulin where we were to anchor overnight. There followed a supper ashore to mark Simon's departure and we landed him, next day for his return flight to the UK. That achieved GianLuca and I then set off for another passage south through the Osor canal, this was even more chaotic than the last transit as there was a five knot current running against the boats transiting southwards! It was achieved without incident for us but there were some very near misses for others! We anchored overnight in the same anchorage as before, Uvala Martinscica, and then set off the following morning to Rab. The anchorage at Sahara on the north eastern coast of Rab is one of the finest beaches that I know in Croatia and acts as a magnet each time I am in the area! Especially when the weather is flat calm as it is at the moment.

Next day we motored across, in the continuing flat calm, to Krk where we anchored in the bay at Konobe for lunch, an afternoon swim and a stroll ashore. Later we moved on to Krk harbour where we anchored, with a line ashore. That achieved it was a quick victualling run to the supermarket, a walking tour of the historic town, a plateful of Calamari Fritte, plus a beer, in a local restaurant, thus finished a very tranquil day. Next morning, however, was not quite the same! I woke to the sound of thunder at 0800, by 0830 the wind was getting up and the rain had started. Time to recover the shore line and move out of the restricted area in which we were moored. A quick 150 yard dash saw us anchored just outside the port but in open water with no hazards. It is from there that I am writing with, at this moment, torrential rain, thunder and lightning all around!

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