Croatia holidays from 2022
The Season 2024
The plan for our 2024 cruising season had been to continue the exploration of the Kvarner islands we started in 2023.
Unexpected major delays with a supplier of shafts for the planned works in Izola got in the way, the boat is stuck in the yard. More about this on the Tarilian page.
The works get finally finished at the begin of July, I attend to be present at the re-launch which takes place on 9th July, at the time our first stay would normally have ended. We decide to try again after the hot and busy high season, at the start of September.
Here are images from Izola and the short transfer trip to Novigrad, in lieu of cruising photos.
One month later, at begin of August, I visit the boat on my own to check it, and encounter a most unpleasant nature phenomenon, algae slime or so called “sea snot” in the marina. Brown unsightly floating patches forming and spreading wide. You won’t want to get near to them if you were in the water. I hear this is a known temporary occurrence in the North Adriatic, reaching down from Trieste, and it's due to increasing water temperatures in the Mediterraean.
OUR SEPTEMBER STAY
Monday, 2nd Sept we drive to Novigrad from Vienna, taking about 6 1/2 hours this time, main hold-ups around Ljubljana. Weather summerly and hot, 30+ deg C.
A few days of settling in follow, busy with checking, cleaning and preparing the boat and dinghy. Very hot weather continues.
On Saturday 7th we are ready for a first day trip to nearby Dalja cove.
Enjoy anchoring in the bay over the afternoon in fine weather.
Underway, in sufficient distance from the coast, I want to empty the holding tank but find the pump does not work. Luckily I have got a spare unit on board so I can call Marko out to swap the pumps. He also explains that I had misread the marking on the new diverter valves, which, I think, is counter-intuitive.
A couple of rainy days with S/SW wind follow, causing swell and rolling of boats in the marina.
But Tuesday 10th , in good weather, we go out for a further day trip to the bays S of Novigrad.
From Wednesday 11th the weather deteriorates.
Thunderstorm, rain again, heavy gusts, S/SW wind, more rolling of the boats.
Eventually the wind abates and changes to N/NE and temperature is dropping.
Lead coloured skies. heavy rain on the 13th, we make it to the local beach restaurant; watch massive downpours, it’s got cool.
The unstable weather continues, the forecasts of the Croatian Met office and other site are different, it’s confusing and generally more wet and cold than expected. It's frustrating to be here, our moods are lowered.
On Sept 14th evening I just get pizza from the beach restaurant to have on board, and we watch the Last Night of the Proms on BBC iplayer.
Sunday 15th initial forecasts were for dry conditions and low wind, I had hoped to go out but warnings of Bora gusts continue. Dark grey skies all around are threatening; no pleasure can be expected from cruising anywhere in such weather. Against forecast, rain starts 8am and continues till after midday.
Max temp reaches only 18.7C (rain). Dark clouds remain after the rain stops, it feels cool and damp.
We walk into the village for dinner at Adria Grill.
The foul weather continuous on 16th , temperature going down to 12C in the night.
The weather gradually gets dried and warmer over the following days, but storm warnings continue. Novigrad seems to sit in a 'calm zone' as per Meteo wind charts, whilst there are higher winds elsewhere.
We pass the time walking and exploring locally when there is a short period of good weather.
Cloud and sun with light N/NE at Novigrad, but still warnings of dangerous gusts so I do not want to risk going away, temperature has recovered to 25 C day/15 C night.
For 21st the forecast is good, we start on a trip to Rovinj with a stop at Funtana bay. I have booked a place in their new ACI marina. Clear weather, NW 3.
Rovinj has got one of the most beautiful locations and town scapes, with the imposing dome and campanile on top. The harbour is arranged like a shell around its bay, a large but picturesque sight.
Unfortunately it seems to have become a victim of its own beauty and attractive features, it is overcrowded with tourists, restaurants often do not provide the service you'd expect at the asking price, and they get away with it because they are overbooked at all times anyway.
The new ACI marina is an elegant development, adapted to the upmarket style that all at Rovinj seem to be aiming at, with prices to match. I have no quibbles with that but we would only return if we really wanted to visit the town again, certainly not in peak season. The old town harbour appears to be unavailable to transiting yachts.
We return to Novigrad the following day, again making a lunch stop at Funtana. Sun and clouds later, calm.
The next day, Sept 23rd, we do another day trip to Dalja cove; SW 3 but calm water in the bay. It’s getting cloudy in the afternoon, and there have been warnings of thunderstorms.
From the 24th we start getting the boat ready to leave, in pleasant weather this time.
Taking down the bimini I find further issues with the frames, and also in the canopy design. Will think of ways to sort them.
A swarm of flying ants appear around the flybridge. It seems that these ants die as fast as they turn up, they literally fall on the helm canopy and deck, crawling until they lie dead.
For 26th the forecast says strong SSW/Jugo. On 27th we leave Novigrad and drive to Vienna.
In summary, the only days of stable weather were the first after we came, Sept 3 to 7; uncomfortably hot weather up to 34-35 C and nights 24-25. We used the aircon for many hours, and were not ready to go out.
By Sept 8 and 9th the weather breaks, getting rainy first, with Jugo and Bora in turns, and lots of clouds. For the rest of Sept the unstable weather continues with storm and/or thunderstorm warnings every day apart from 21/22 Sept when we set off to Rovinj. The short fine weather period is followed by heavy clouds, rain, again.
This time, conditions did not invite a longer cruise, such as to Mali Losinj and Rab, as we had intended.
The many days of having to stay in the marina exacerbated the problem with rolling of the boat at Novigrad pier A. It seems due to the construction of marina letting in S/SW swell.
Furthermore, the bridges from the quay to the floating pontoons do not deal well with higher tides, there are noises and dangerous movements of ramps at times of high tide and swell.
I think I will try to get a berth in Veruda for the following year, to, hopefully, address the rolling issue and also to be closer to the Kvarner which can make journeys the the islands easier.
Total mileage done in 2024 was only 86 nm, and 13 engine hours.
