Leaving Montenegro - Well Almost

Today the weather report looked more promising so we all got up early and got the boat ready to depart.

After the engine was warmed up we eased out of our mooring, and everything looked fine. Then Marie pointed to a bow line trailing from under the boat.

At first I thought it was caught around the prop, but I soon realized that it was actually stuck in the bow thruster!

So there we were sitting out in the channel tethered to the dock by an underwater rope. After numerous attempts diving under the boat, I managed to release the rope from the bow thruster.

So we continued. Now it was time to clear customs... this turned out to be the fiasco of the century!

The wind was pushing us away from the dock, so I approached as I normally would and went to use the bow thruster to push the bow into place... and wouldn't you know it... it's dead! A helpful guy who knew all the tricks help us bring Dune alongside. Later I jumped in the water again to inspect what was going on with the bow thruster... one of the propellers has fallen off...eeek! Yet another expensive exercise.

After clearing customs and then getting repremanded that Darren was still on the crew list, we were ready to go. Just as we were leaving another yacht arrived with Australian's on it. They were saying that the sea state was pretty bad on the coast. Another couple who we knew from the Marina (funnily enough, the guy who gasped at our bow thruster use) had also cleared customs and had traveled out into the weather and returned.

I think Marie's niece Kary has had enough of sailing at this point :) The idea was to go back to Croatia and drop her off in Split, but because of the weather that won't be possible. So tomorrow she will be leaving Dune and traveling to Dubrovnik by bus.

I have only just cleared customs again... inwards this time. These customs guys have got sighing and shrugging down to a fine art.

So we have been given an extension of a day... hopefully the weather is better by then.

Until then we are sitting on the dock being pounded by 40 knot winds pinning us against the pier. Every fender known to man is out to help protect Dune from being damaged... but it is hitting us beam on and quite violent. There are 3 yachts sitting here waiting for things to ease up a little. We will then be taking off "back" to Kotor...sigh!

I have a feeling we will be in Montenegro longer than anticipated. I would really like to get our bow thruster fixed before leaving again.