The season started early for Nigel when he flew to Sukosan on the 3rd May. This was to meet up with the sail maker and receive and test our modified sails. In the event he couldn’t come and Gunter from Sunbeam was summoned instead, arriving only on the 10th. Deja Vu was launched on the morning of the 4th with assistance from our American friends Geoffrey and Giannina in berthing after the launch.
Nigel then spent the following four days until Mo arrived cleaning and polishing such that Deja Vu looked better than ever. Then it rained leaving a fine deposit of red dust all over the boat. C’est la vie! When Mo arrived we had a beautiful calm morning so we decided to rig the new sails in advance of Gunter arriving. All went well and the changes looked to be a great improvement. We rented a car and did the admin in Zadar and another couple of rounds of shopping to stock up and get the perishables.
During this time we met up with our many sailing friends in Sukosan, including Paul, Jane, Jeremy, Pat and Pete, Mark and Gudrun and Peter and Jess. We will be sad to leave then behind and have enjoyed good times with them.
On the 10th Gunter arrived and we went out for a test sail to check how the new sails set. It was a perfect day for it with winds of 12-15kt. Deja Vu was put through her paces and the sails pronounced good. Gunter passed on many useful tips on getting the best out of the boat and we enjoyed his company over lunch. Sunbeam have done well by us and their support has been appreciated.
That evening Chris and Liz arrived and our adventures began.
Our friends of over 40 years, Chris and Liz Jones joined us on Tuesday 10th May for a week to travel south to Split. Their Ryan Air flight was early and they were on board by 10pm. Keen and raring to go sailing, we had to disappoint them on day one and settle for a day sightseeing in the lovely town of Zadar, due to the miserable wet and windy weather, which was forecast to upset the week ahead.
The day was well rewarded with a good lunch at Bruchetta in Zadar, an interesting tour around the Ancient Glass Museum and a final excellent fish supper in Kod Guste back at Sukosan where we had the chance to say goodbye to the lovely family running the restaurant who had always made us so very welcome. Hugs and kisses from Antonia who promised to welcome us again when we returned! Thursday May 12th we set sail, leaving Sukosan behind for the last time as we head off for new sailing adventures in Greece.
The photos above show the best of our happy week. Unsettled the week turned out to be, but it did not prevent us having some good sailing in between the stormy bits, and we port hopped down through Murter, Kakan, Rozognica, Vinisce and finally to Trogir. It was a changeable week of contrasts. We saw sunshine and showers, the strong southerly Jugo winds, but not the northerly Bura; rough waters to sail in and sometimes smooth; we enjoyed a peaceful night on a buoy in Kakan and a noisy afternoon in Rozognica as workmen were redeveloping the quayside; it was sometimes hot for an hour of sunbathing but often cold for snuggling down below decks for a warm toddy and a game of Bananagrams, but Chris and Liz did get a very quick swim in the frigid sea during one sunny period! On our last night we walked the ancient streets of Trogir and enjoyed a good meal in Konoba Teuta, one of our favourites. We said goodbye to Chris and Liz and immediately set sail south to spend some time on Hvar before returning to Split to meet Tom on May 28th.
Deja Vu 
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