Wow – today was one for the books. Our second-to-last day of the season on the water, and what a glorious one it was! We set sail between the islands of Krk and Cres, tacking upwind through the blue expanse of the Kvarner Gulf.
There was that perfect moment when you could turn your head and see it all at once – the Croatian mainland on one side, Krk, Cres, and Rab all stretched across the horizon. Sailing among the islands of Istria and Kvarner felt like a final gift, a reminder of just how lucky we’ve been these past weeks to call these waters home.
We found what must be one of the most spectacular anchorages of the trip, tucked beneath the great bridge near Voz.
There’s always that funny little knot in your stomach when you pass under a bridge –will the mast clear it? Even though you know the math works, it doesn’t stop you from ducking your head instinctively as you go under. Tonight, that thrill added to the magic of the place.
Dad couldn’t resist one last swim, capping it off with a dive, while Doug dutifully swam the anchor. Mum and I, on the other hand, declared the water perhaps not quite “clean” enough for us – our final swims would stay in memory, not reality.
As the sun dipped low, casting a golden glow over the bridge, we lingered in the cockpit, soaking it all in. Our last night on the water. The hum of the rigging, the gentle sway of Kora, and the sweep of land and sea that have carried us through so many adventures. A season of laughter, storms, swims, and sails – now closing beneath a Croatian sunset. Tomorrow we return to shore. Tonight, though, we belong still to the sea.
