The distance to our next destination was not far, but the obligatory swim stop and three-course lunch needing to be completed. This made for a slow, unhurried journey. Also Split Harbour is incredibly busy and we had to wait for our berth to become available. The swim-spot water was, of course, crystal clear and the little beach was a novel addition (though there was quite a lot of rubbish, for the first time). We floated above schools of colourful fish, dived down to sea cucumbers and starfish and swam ‘laps’ of the boat to burn calories.

We left Hvar in the morning to head to our next destination. We went to bed the night before as the fourth boat in a boat sandwich and were surprised to wake up with an harbour view. It has been eye-opening how slick the Croatian cruise captains and sailors are. The whole docking or departure operation is choreographed and seamless. Anchoring off beaches and lowering access ladders are a doddle for them. We realise that it is not their first rodeo!  And the boats can be so quiet. We may be having breakfast (eating way too much) and suddenly realise that we are under way, usually to our next swim stop.

Pinch and a punch!

Each island we have visited has had a unique character. Vis is a small island with a complex history and the main town was different to others we have visited so far. We had an obligatory swim, moored off Korčula, while waiting for docking permission later in the afternoon. The town has been the first with no protective fort or walls; it stretches along the waterfront providing a lot of berthing space for the yachts and cruisers. We joined a fascinating tour of the island that had a military focus – WWII and the Homeland War.

Our next island stop was in the historic port of Korčula, on the island of the same name. Tourism is its main industry followed closely by wine (seeing a theme here? We are on a wine cruise after all). The town sits on a tiny outcrop and seems to float on the surrounding clear, blue water. We had to wait for port clearance, so dropped anchor in a secluded bay to the south. This gave us time to swim in the ocean … the water was a little bracing but also invigorating. Around lunchtime the port authorities gave us permission to dock, so we made our way towards town. We had the prime spot, against the harbour wall, beneath a massive fort tower. Alistair was very excited to see there were walls to explore but had to deal with some disappointment after he found out that Napoleon had redesigned them to be ineffective (halved their height and removed whole sections).

Our cruise has begun. Our boat is beautifully designed and appointed, and we have a very comfortable cabin. We are looking forward to no bag dragging every day or so.

Our flight to Croatia was easy and the view out the plane window spectacular. The colourful patchwork fields of France and the snow-covered Alps were stunning. We breezed through the airport and were collected by the sail representative for our drive into town. We were given lots of useful tips for our short time in the city, all of which proved useful. A bag drop-off, a bus ride back into town … and our adventurse began.