South to Corfu

A couple of sessions in the internet cafe studying weather forecasts and grib files convinced us that we had  a good weather window to make a break for Corfu, a journey of just over 170 miles from the south of Montenegro, which we reckoned would take 30-35 hours.

It occurred to Mo that this journey time was much the same as travelling to New Zealand, a distance of over 13,000 miles!

Having restocked at Herceg Novi we set sail for Bar, the southernmost port of Montenegro where we could officially check out of the country. We had a fair wind and a broad reach and did most of the sail using the cruising chute. For those of you who have sailed with Mo and Nigel, you will be familiar with the angst this furling sail has caused over the seasons.  This final attempt to use it effectively actually worked well so it looks like the chute is officially back on the sail list! Bar had a large and safe marina and the pontoons within it were owned or managed by different agencies. It was just pot luck that we fetched up on one largely occupied by Russians. Nigel befriended a local skipper who soon had our gas bottle filled thanks to his network of local friends. Bar itself had little to commend it, save the mountain backdrop, but it was functional for stocking up and setting of again.

Early on Sunday June 17^th, we checked out of Montenegro and motored off to find some wind.

We did not have to wait long for enough wind just aft of the beam  to fly the cruising chute again. We set the compass course to South and made great distance averaging a very good 7 knots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wind freshened up to 20-25 knots so we reverted to white sails, and continued to make excellent speed until the going down of the sun killed the wind. Unfortunately the quartering sea did not calm and the night trip, under motor was exceeding ly uncomfortable. It was an exciting night of dodging ferries and cruise liners going through the narrow passage between Albania and Italy. Like bats they all travel at night so we were kept busy and were grateful for our radar and AIS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hugged the South Albanian coast as dawn broke. Mo was delighted to be on watch when the dolphins came to play around the boat’ s bow wave as as the wind came back we sailed the next 60 miles down to Corfu arriving around 2pm on Monday 18^th June.

Corfu lies at 39 degrees latitude and it is significantly hotter than Croatia and Montenegro lying at 42 degrees.

In true Greek style there was quite a relaxed approach to getting the registration formalities organised. The Port Authorities were only working a half day, so back to them tomorrow.

Quick essential cooling down swim in the marina pool before heading off to the bar to plan what we are going to do on Corfu!