SV ICE BEAR

We were excited to go check out a city but the standard boat jobs had to be completed before heading out to explore. The spring lines were attached to prevent us from moving side to side the sun shades were put up and a quick lunch was prepared and then the obligatory nap. The mid day heat wasn't as strong anymore so the mid day nap has turned into more a mid day slow down and putter. Which isn't a bad thing lots of those little jobs that only take a moment but never make it on a to do list get done. While we were in mid day putter mode the boat beside us pulled away from the dock. A Crew member was being instructed in how to drive away from the dock the only words we heard were go fast. Which in the conditions was not wrong however the guy releasing the lines didn't release then he just threw a tangled mess overboard
that mess met the ring sunk into the stone quay. The boat already going forward with some momentum didn't stop much. Something had to give and it was the ring unfortunately we were also tied to the ring. The ring launched into the air then Ice Bear lurched to starboard oddly enough the boat stopped just long enough to retrieve their line. We on the other hand were left holding a big stainless steal ring with a one inch diameter foot long stainless steal bar attached to it. You know it hurt something when it hit us and once we untangled out lines and retied to quay we looked for our new mark. I guess fortunately it was just above a spot on the stern that already needed repair. The look on the Warfengers face when he saw the ring sitting on the dock was one of mild curiosity. Seems its not the first time someone tried to leave while still attached to the dock. With that moment of excitement over it was time to explore we decided to head to a newer section of town to find groceries and that thing that plugs into a cigarette lighter to power electronics seems one of ours got wet. Not long into the walk we came to a fountain the water sprayed up on to a thick carpet of moss we guess the moss was covering a stone but couldn't tell for certain. When we got closer we noticed the small pond around the fountain was full of turtles. You could see where they had made paths into the moss so they could climb onto the top.
I mean the top of the fountain was at least six foot above the water and it seemed they all wanted to be up there hehe and they didn't appear to have any issues pushing each other off the top to get the best spot. We continued walking and found an outdoor market and then a shopping area and mall. We checked the stores out found the power plug and wandered back towards the boat
past the turtles and into the old part of the city for dinner. The table we chose was not level but neither was the street it was on. It was funny to see our glasses with the contents leaning to one side
lucky we didn't order soup. I know this will sound funny but we decided to take the next day off. Except for a quick run to a marine store for some parts for a future passerelle project.
We just puttered around did some cleaning. The wind picked up but whatever we just tweeked the lines it was all good. Until the boat tied to our port decided to leave. The wind blew him into us and then everything went sideways.
Suddenly his anchor was poking between our lifelines our fenders were no match for the weird angle then there was gelcoat contact crap more repairs. A little after mid day boats started to arrive for the night. For the most part they docked well but the inexperience of the young Warfenger was showing in the more complicated dockings. A boat to our starboard had a rough landing the skipper wasn't happy and was very vocal expressing his displeasure
at both his crew and the Warfenger. Then a boat came along our port side it was obvious the crew were going to have problems so we had them lay against us to help. It was going well until the lazy line tangled around something. Maybe their rudder or a different lazy line I don't know but it wouldn't come to the bow after a bit of a struggle they decided to try a line further up the quay. That's when it happened the Warfenger let the windward line go. The look on the skippers face was almost of pure panic they were still tied to the quay with the other line and they were coming towards us and there was little he could do. We tried but.. smack add a blue line to the hull twice in one day uuggg. To the skippers credit he did come over about a half hour later with beer to apologize. That evening and the next day we enjoyed the old town. wandered around the small streets and checked out the stores went to watch the turtles some more and then bought groceries for the next few days. There was a wind predicted over the weekend and normally we would stay put and ride it out but this time it was decided we couldn't stay at the quay and risk a repeat of the bump and grind from a few days ago. We filled the water tanks and ran away back into the islands. We passed through the Kanal Sv.Ante with its sub pens carved into the cliff then by the Sv. Nikola fort protecting the canals entrance. It was interesting to see all the things that were shrouded in fog and rain on the way in. The predicted wind was already in the islands making for a rough ride i'm not sure why but this place seems to grow big waves. The first night we grabbed a mooring ball in Kaprije bay. This would be the first and only time we would see a Dalmatian dog in the Dalmatian islands (yes I know they wernt named after the dog)this was also the place we watched as a stern tie went very wrong by the time it was sorted out they had two guys in the water and at least ten guys standing on the deck pushing the two boats apart. the next day we hopped to Kakan. This is where we started to realize maybe the summer season was coming to an end. The restaurant in preparation for closing up and had shortened their menu. Tied to a mooring ball in Dragisina bay on the island of Zut. The first time on the whole trip one of us needed pants sad thing was it was still 25c
while here a fleet of 16 near identical charter boats tied on one of the stops of their rally. The next town was Sali. We tied and explored the town a handful of restaurants and a grocery store perfect place to stay for a few days.
We were asked to move seems a fleet of 16 boats was coming this way and they had reserved half the town. So we shuffled to the other side of the small harbour and were soon joined by several other boats that were not part of the rally.
The boat that tied next to us was from Slovenia and it seems they fancied themselves traveling minstrels. They even had several different types of instruments. Not knowing any Slovenian songs they sounded great to us but the proof was in the pudding when a pocket cruise ship tied and the passengers all stood at the quay and urged them on even singing along. Then a crew member from a different sailboat abandoned her ship to join the singing.
Of course it could have been the slivovitz they were sharing. I must admit whatever was in the straw coloured drink wasn't to bad