Going South

Korcula was beautiful but it was time to keep moving and we headed down to the Island of Mjet where we tied up to a Dock outside a family Restaurant called Marans. The water was crystal clear and even though it was still a bit on the cold side for us old softies we both had to venture in. I donned my mask and ventured under the boat to make sure the Keel, Rudder and sail Drive were still there, all accounted for and looking good. Then it was up and a quick fresh water solar shower before a drink on the boat and then off to have a great dinner at Marans where Shelly said the Shrimp cocktail was up there with the best.

The next morning we cast off and motored out and set sail for Dubrovnik. The wind was on the nose so we were hard on with around 12 knots and steaming along at a steady 6 knots.
The wind increased to 20 knots and we reduced sail but still kept a steady 7-8 knots. I am pleased with the performance, the boat likes to be hard pressed and never feels uneasy on the Helm.

                                         Little Falshator all sign written up :)

After staying the night in a bay just NW of Dubrovnik we headed up to the ACI marina which is towards the end of the estuary that has a constant flow of Fresh water coming down it.
The Marinas are getting dearer the further we seem to go with Dubrovnik charging 87 euro (NZ $140) for a night and then they charge you extra to wash the boat down! Still the facilities there were good, with Fuel, Showers, Laundry, Supermarket and the bus right outside.
We were in good company with a father and son in their boat from Austria on one side of us and a German couple and some English on the other side. We had  the Austrians for dinner one night and had drinks with the others. I take my hat off to Allan the Englishman who was 70 and sailing his boat back towards England, he had been sailing for over 50 years and looked a picture of health, especially compared to this broken down 50 something year old.

After getting the Ray Marine specialist for the area to check out more 'teething problems' which also took forever to get done-3 days, we were off to the Harbour master and Immigration to clear out of Croatia and making for the Kings Wharf at Dubrovnik, which is right in the hub of Dubrovnik and we tied Falshator up to the Pier there along side the other Cruise ships that were there.
Once there we were told that they were too busy with the Cruise ships and to proceed down to Cavtat to clear out there. Now Cavtat is about 1 hr down the coast from Dubrovnik and Id heard that its not the easiest to get processed there. The wharf staff at Dubrovnik told us we had plenty of time as they worked till 3 pm on a Saturday at Cavtat and assured us that all would be good, so we motored the Hour down the coast. We got there around 1.45 pm and I radioed in, but got no reply. so we anchored in the bay and I rowed the boat in along with our Papers, only to find that the Harbour master only works till 1 pm and had gone home and they didn't work Sunday at all. So here we are in Cavat (which is a beautiful spot to be stuck for a couple of days!) and still waiting- I don't think Croatia wants us to go!