By Andy Lund

Ed. note - This is the eighteenth installment of a multi-part series by Andy Lund on his ocean-crossing journey aboard Resolution, the Nordhavn 46 he took delivery of in February 2004.

Part 18

July 16, 2006

We arrived Dubrovnik, Croatia this morning after a bumpy 24-hour crossing of the Adriatic Sea from Otranto, Italy.  We'd stopped in Otranto after a 36-hour run from Siracusa, Sicily, to better time our arrival in Dubrovnik.  We pushed into a steady 20 knot north wind with rough seas all the way from Otranto - for you northwest boaters, think the Straits of Georgia acting up, but doing it seven times in a row instead of once.

We haven't been into town yet, as we're moored in a marina about four miles away, but the countryside is mountainous and spectacular.  The entry bureaucracy was quite something, but we finally sorted it out once we got to the right police dock in the harbor of Gruz, where the ships and ferries arrive for Dubrovnik. 

July 24, 2006

We arrived Trogir, a medieval town about 20 miles west of Split, this afternoon, and are moored in a marina just across the channel from the old town.  An old stone castle, and the Venetian style cathedral spire are on view out our cabin windows.  Trogir is about 5 miles from Split airport, so is convenient for meeting Scott Blake and Alison Horne, who are joining us from Bellingham for a week tomorrow. 

Our first ten days in Croatia have been superb.  The cruising is sheltered, the scenery is spectacular, the history is fascinating, the weather is warm (indeed hot) and I've been swimming regularly when we've anchored.