Thursday June 19, 2014

We dropped out mooring lines at Uvala Griparcia on the island of Škarda at 0800. We sailed for 4.5 hours before having to turn the engine on. Powered for a couple of hours & then got the wind back. We passed to the east of Permuda, where a World War I battle to place sinking the Austro-Hungarian dreadnought class battleship S.M.S. Szent Istvá. She was launched in January 1914 and commissioned in December 1915. On her first mission in June 1918 (she stayed in port in Pula most of the time) her rapid sailing overheated her engines producing thick black smoke that revealed her position to the enemy. She was torpedoed and sank in 66 meters. The wreck was found in 1974 & confirmed in 1990, the site is now a protected underwater site & diving can only be done with special permission.

We took a long tack—4 miles—out, north of Susak, the only sandy beach island in Croatia. Then came in NW of Hrid Porer lighthouse off the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula which looks like an arrowhead with the point facing south. Istria is noted for its fine wind & gourmet foods.

We came into Uvala Soline, a bay just south of the port of Pula, and anchored for the night. This is a big bay that is popular but wasn’t really crowded. It is deep and we anchored in 15 meters. Nice quiet night.

Photo: Optis racing near Ulva Soline.