Rome stole my heart, and my wallet

Because Joanne was flying back to New Zealand, Marie and I decided to go to Rome to see her off... and make sure she didn't get lost!

So we caught a bus from Rimini which took 5.5 hours to cross from the east coast to the west coast of Italy.

After we checked into our hotel we decided to catch a few of the local attractions. Rome is breathtaking, the scale of the buildings and monuments is incredible.

Unfortunately on the second day my wallet was stolen on the subway, including my passport and credit card. So we now have to wait in Rimini until a new passport and card arrive. I found out that getting a replacement passport while overseas is not an easy matter. Luckily the NZ Embassy in Rome helped out. Apparently I was the 13th NZer who had their passport stolen in Rome in the last 2 weeks! Amazing!

It was sad to see Jo get on the plane. The boat will not be the same without you. You will be missed!

Perfect Storm

18th July

It just gets more challenging...

Gale warning, extreme attention, sea state ' 7' (6-9m waves)

I was woken up and ordered to put on my PFD. It had been another rocky night, getting progressively worse. Brett had woken early and prepared Dune for a bit of rough weather. I was feeling a little under the weather myself. Made my way up on deck and lay down for a while and tried to go back to sleep

0820 (1st pic) Brett lengthened the rope on the tender, as the waves were taking it under the boat and spitting it out again. At this stage, even though the photo taken doesn't justify it, it would of been too risky to attempt to bring it back up on board
(2nd pic) Not long after, we lost our tender and outboard when a large wave hit us. Tender out of sight behind a wave
Conditions prevented us to make an attempt to retrieve it, we were in shallow waters with waves pounding on us

The waves were coming in hard and growing on us. There was huge noise from the bow, I thought the genoa had collapsed. Brett caught sight of the anchor chain been lifted off the windlass and the chain was being freely reeled out

From that moment on it was all go. Brett flew below deck flicked on all necessary switches and yelled, "we've got to get the anchor up"
I turned around to find Marie making her way up to the bow to weigh anchor, the waves were breaking over her. At this stage we had become a submarine. I harnessed up and made my way to Marie with one for her. Marie was having difficulty bringing up the anchor. Before I could get harnessed up, I witnessed her go under a big wave. Hanging on for her life with one hand and anchor remote in the other. She later shared with us that she had near choked on sea water. Her black and blue knees were a tell tale sign of what she took on

To make the situation a little more challenging the anchor came up the wrong way round, and to avoid being dragged into shore we had the motor forward. Being lifted and dumped by the waves the bow received a few scratches from the anchor

Underway was breath taking, the waves just kept getting bigger and bigger. Dune was riding the huge crests and then was being dumped into the troughs, with a mighty big crash. I was given the job of looking out for cray pots and fish farms. 

Both Marie and I had our stomachs in our throats. I found standing on the seat looking over the spray hood with the wind in my face some relief. It actually felt like I was surfing, I got a good work out on my legs too

We watched multiple thunder storms work their way around us. Luckily they were traveling South East and away from us

1230 Next 2 photos. Out of the worst of it. The sea had tried to dictate our path, but we made it to a port in Rimini.  Where we literally surfed in down a narrow channel with concrete blocks on either side to take shelter.  The water was still choppy, we moored along side the fuel station.  I couldn't get off the boat quick enough and kissed the ground we stood on!  Brett and Marie took off together to sort a mooring for Dune in the marina.  I couldn't bring myself to step back on the boat for now.  Below deck was a disaster, it looked like it had been hit by a tornado

Along the way I caught a glimpse of Brett scanning his rough weather manual, boat on auto pilot
There was a silence that day.  I don't think a word was uttered during the whole experince, we were just all focused on survival and making it to calmer seas

1700 Safe and sound, moored in Marina Rimini

Would just like to use this opportunity to say, "I owe you my life bro"

Brett handled the whole experience extremely well, all that text book theory put into practice ;-)

Brett took the crew out for a combined breakfast, lunch & dinner!  Where we reflected over our ordeal

Later we got to hear that this sheltered marina was hit by 40+ knot winds earlier that day

Long hot running showers all round!!  Woohoo

Tequila Sunrise

14th July

Just like to say thanks to our followers for being so patient and waiting for me to put posts in. Grabbed this opportunity to put some updates in. I'll be working backwards so scroll back for delayed posts. Cheers Jo

We made it to Italy. We are now anchored outside the harbour of Venice
The coastline is very shallow here. The storm that past through last night, which I'll get into detail later, left us with a mine field. The sea was just a slush of seaweed, logs and toys! We managed to pick up a couple of really nice lilos along the way, we left the soccer balls and other blow ups behind

Venice harbour was an interesting experience, it was very choppy and narrow with lots of dredging going on. Ferries galore coming in and out, sailing boats, small fishing boats with lines out, kids riding the bow, the list goes on. And by the way...what road code!!

It was such a hair raising experience. The sides where very shallow, it was hard case seeing small boats moored with people wading in and out to them. After making our way in, which was like playing dodgems we made a decision to make a quick turn around and get the beeb out of there

Now out of the habour and chaos, we took a 15 minute anchor. Brett remembering to breathe, pulled out the charts and reassessed the situation
So here we are, a little further up the coastline. Anchored 1 km from shore in a depth of 10 meters
Brett and I took the dingy into shore. We walked around to the other side to check out the harbour here, as the charts aren't that great

Tomorrow we attempt to make our way round the tee-pee markers and hopefully anchor next to a small islet
Brett made comment that it reminds him of the Kaipara Harbour. Its shallow and full of mud, not to mention seaweed and kelp. All that's missing are the sharks!!

Thunder & Lightening @ 40 knots

13th August

1745 Departed Trieste, Italy
Whole day had been overcast and hazy

2040 Arrived in the middle of nowhere
The coastline was very shallow, we made a decision to anchor not far from a run way of beacons, 1 nautical mile from shore. It actually felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, but there was no way we could get in any closer. Our depth was 9 meters

As Marie cooked as up a storm, we had no idea their was one actually brewing behind us
We sat on deck eating our dinner, reflecting over our day
On the horizon(stern-to) was a display of lightening sheets and clapping thunder

Brett had no longer made comment on how the waters had calmed, as we had swells along the way...the calm before the storm!
Then there was a long whistle in the air and from the bow we were hit by gale @40 knots
It was so sudden, every thing went flying. It was grab and stow

The dingy which we had been towing with outboard, was almost lifted up out of the water
Brett managed to retie it closer to the stern, but in these conditions it was to risky to attempt to get it back up on deck
The boat was being hit hard by big waves, lightening overhead and thunder clapping in our ears Somehow we managed to get the bimini down without falling overboard
It was the most terrifying experience. We were ordered to put on our PDF's and harnesses if on deck

The worst of the storm was over within two hours. But we had to deal with the after shocks all night
Don't think Brett got much sleep. I managed to crawl under my blanket and ride it out. I woke the next morning in a fetal position, with my life jacket and my grab bag in hand

When morning arrived it was just another day in paradise. Sea calm with a hazy atmosphere

Italy

12th August

1200 Arrived Italy

Destination Italy

Destination Italy

Relying on Hotspots and generator to enter posts
I'm a little behind, so please bear with me

we are on the move...

Marina Kastela

17th June

1200 Departed Marina Kastela
Goodbye to our home of 2 months
Motoring
Destination: Dubronik
1300 Arrived at Split
Diesel fill
Anchored in harbour
Waited on delivery for new batteries, generator & petrol container
Pizza delivered via dingy
1645 Departed split
Motoring
Had sightings of dolphins along the way
2010 Arrived at Bol
Anchored
Swim, dinner and watched our 1st movie using generator