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TRIP WITH A TAILWIND – OR: WHEN THE FORECAST LIES AND THE PIZZA HAS TO BE XL
Harbour Manoeuvres Intensive Training
It was supposed to be 3 training days in pouring rain. At least that's what the forecast promised – with horizontal rain, 10 degrees, 25 knots of wind. Sounds like the perfect recipe for soggy underwear and foul moods, right? But far from it! Instead: spring vibes...
Country: Croatia
Departure: Veruda
Destination: Veruda
Route: Veruda - Veruda
Nautical miles: 17
Travel dates: 03.04.2025 – 05.04.2025
Sailing yacht: Monohull, Sun Odyssey, 45 feet
It was supposed to be 3 training days in pouring rain. At least that's what the forecast promised – with horizontal rain, 10 degrees, 25 knots of wind. Sounds like the perfect recipe for soggy underwear and foul moods, right? But far from it! Instead: spring vibes at the end of March! Dry during the day, 17 degrees, the occasional bit of sunshine – sailor's heart, what more could you want?
So: set sail (at least mentally), crew motivated, off we go! The trainees were no greenhorns, but old sea dogs with slightly rusty routines. Training objective: to feel the boat, understand the wind and earn the peace of mind not to wander through the marina like a headless skipper on the next trip with friends.
Day 1 started with a special kind of introduction: What does it feel like when the boat goes astern? Who's in control – the helmsman or the wind god himself? We did the whole thing so many times that even the rudder quadrant must have feared burnout. Then came the nitty-gritty: reversing into the box, mooring alongside – everything the harbour heart desires. The lines were laid as if we'd done nothing else our entire lives.
In the evening: restaurant visit. It was only 8 pm when some eyelids were already dropping like anchors. Classic case of brain in standby mode.
Day 2 was all about: if you watched yesterday, today it's your turn! All positions were rotated: skipper, helmsman, crew – everyone got a chance to call the shots or catch the fenders. We spent our lunch break in style at anchor, including deluxe anchor-setting practice. By 5 p.m. we were back in our home harbour, and our hunger was... let's just say... epic. The crew demolished XL-sized pizzas as if they hadn't eaten since breakfast in 1998. This time it wasn't the full head, but the full stomach that led to tiredness.
Day 3 – the final one. Now it was time to consolidate: practise again what still needed work, ask again what was still unclear. And then, even though it had been planned as pure harbour training, the wish came up: 'Can't we set the sails just once?' All right then. Did I say no? Of course not. So: out to sea, sails up, let the soul unwind. And in that moment I remembered again why I do this. Because there's simply nothing better than that moment between wind, water and a grin on your face.
Conclusion: perfect weather despite a poor forecast, motivated crew, brilliant progress – and a trip that leaves you wanting more of the sea.
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