Preparations
A very busy winter commenced buying charts, heavy antifouling, pilot books etc. One thing we spent most time on preparing was, however, shadow making. A small X-Yachts-style bimini was constructed and built (by ourselves). A bigger sun protection canvas was sewn as well in order to protect the entire cockpit area. A transportation company promised to help us to get there. Not so cheap, but this was our “once-in-a-lifetime” trip to the “never-ending-sun”.

Arrival in Slovenia
Without any trouble we were all very relieved when the crane lowered “Azzurra” into the Adriatic Sea in Portoroz, Slovenia, on Thursday 16 May 2002. Slovenian Milan helped us with the rigging while Teodor and Viktor walked around and looked at all the Ferraris and super yachts. This was not really what we had expected!

When the rigging was done, I moved the boat to the berth, which the marina reception had pointed out. After a while a First 45 arrived and claimed that the berth was his. I said: “Give me a minute and I will move the boat.” The other captain said: “Take five and enjoy your beautiful yacht!” What a gentleman!

Pro and Con a Gangway
Talking about quays, we must admit that it took us some time to get used to mooring the yacht stern to. At home we always moor bow to. Here some skippers even turned their boats around half a mile outside the harbour and sailed backwards, like a car, into their mooring. We have also had a very tuff pressure to get ourselves a gangway. Everybody had one - except us. We got blue knees, but still no gangway. Some people in the crew, rubbing their hurt knees, however, claimed that it was not racy enough to have one!

The more racing minded part of the crew claimed that “Azzurra” was still unbeaten at sea, whilst the more real-minded crew argued that the X-562 we saw at Mali Losinj didn’t have its sails unfolded!

On the way from the Hvar archipelago to the cave on the island outside Vis, we saw this big sea-turtle. The sea was all calm and we took a big turn around him although we knew, we shouldn't disturb him. He waved us goodbye without diving, and we took this as a sign that we had not been too impolite.

From Slovenia to Venice
Our first shakedown trip was crossing the Adriatic Sea for Venice. It was really a great experience for a Nordic yachtsman to enter the Venice lagoon via the Lido entrance with the conspicuous lighthouse to starboard. After 30 minutes of looking around, we approached the yacht club at San Giorgio di Maggiore, a small island right across the Piazza San Marco.

The harbour master told us that there was no berth for us. But after a while he turned his head back again and said: “Give me five minutes”. I gave him the ones which I received from the gentleman in Portoroz, and Viva Italia, we had a berth in Venice. In fact now there were two X-412s in the harbour - our blue one and another white one. Viktor took a photo of the other X-412, and since that moment he has documented every X-Yachts we have seen on our trip. It's quite a lot!

Sailing on to Croatia
After a few days of strolling about in Venice, we crossed the Adriatic Sea again for Umag, our port of entry in Croatia. On our way there, I saw my first dolphin! A mother with a calf swimming just a few meters in front of the bow. Entering Croatia meant hours of paperwork, moving between harbourmaster, customs and police and back again with all documents signed and stamped. A reasonable fee for a one-year sailing permit was paid.

Now, with three months of holiday ahead of us, in an area approximately as large as the Baltic, where we normally spend our one month of holiday, this extra time would allow us to examine almost every cove and harbour - we thought. That wasn't true - we still have many places to explore!

Starting with the Istrian coast we were all impressed by the old Roman remains that were all around in every town. The streets were so soft and lean from 2000 years of use that you hardly needed to wear shoes. And along the coast many people did not seem to use any bathing clothes. A 5 m rib with a man just wearing his captain’s cap was not an unusual sight! On the long island of Cres with the town of the same name, we understood that Venetian trading had made quite an impression. We were also very impressed by most harbour quays we saw - excellent craftsmanship and very well looked after!

Diving in the Caves
The cave, which we found in a tourist brochure, was really fantastic. It was as big as “Azzurra” and when we snorkelled into it, there was a strange light in the middle of it. In the ceiling there was a small hole letting in a sunbeam which played in the azure-blue water and created an almost magic feeling.

Now, in our last week of our holidays, we all agree that this has been the best summer on “Azzurra” ever and maybe even in our whole lifetime. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped us making this event come true!

Peter, Lena, Viktor & Teo Crew of Azzurra, August 2002