Paradise Regained. Return to Hvar.

I was up early, but First-Mate was longing for a lay-in, so I went for a walk, guided by a local dog who took on himself the mission of guiding me. After breakfast we motored out of the bay, under the somewhat amazed looks of the crews of the big yachts who were not daring to go out.
We motored straight into the wind until we were sheltered by the hills of Hvar, and then hoisted main only with one reef. Close to shore there were no waves to seek of, but the NE wind was terrible gusty.   One minute we were becalmed, the next the wind was howling in the rig with Mekićevica heeling like mad while I hurried to ease the main-sheet. In one particularly vicious gust we had the boom in the water and we were as close as we have ever been to broaching. When the gust passed and Mekićevica was on her legs again, a very shaken skipper put the second reef on the main. And then the wind died. So, we motored into Dubovica bay for a swim and wait for some wind. After a while we were surprised to see cousin Mare arriving with her friend in their boat.

View from the cockpit in Dubovica bay.

Eventually we saw some movement in the pine trees and decided to proceed. Not enough wind, so we had another stop in Zoraće.

It didn't take long for the afternoon maestrale to kick-up and we set-off again. I had hardly finished setting the sails when another vicious gust had me putting second reef in a hurry and reduce the jib to the balance point. From there it was challenging sailing, but with everything under control, beating into a gusty northwesterly, with reefed sails. At the lighthouse we decided we had put-up a decent fight and it was time to start the motor for the last few hundred meters.