crossing the Adriatic

[BartW]

for this years summer holliday in Kroatia, we are considering crossing the Adriatic from Dubrovnic to Bari.
the trip is just over100nm one way,
so around 4hrs cruising at normal cruising speed.

is this doable in a 27ft twin diesel engined boat ?
what safety precautions would you take appart from a close look at the weather predictions ?

never read something about Epirb on this forum,
would you advice to have one for this trip

 

[MapisM]

is this doable in a 27ft twin diesel engined boat?
what safety precautions would you take appart from a close look at the weather predictions?

"Yes, absolutely" and "nothing else, but do check them carefully" are my personaly replies.
Of course the normal safety checks before a long(ish) cruise apply. And since EPIRBs are relatively inexpensive these days, and you will be out of both VHF and mobile coverage during the crossing, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get one. Just for your reference, it's mandatory for Italian registered boats when cruising farther than 50nm from the coast.

Otoh, what I would strongly recommend is to take the Lastovo-Vieste route instead, which is much nicer (and also shorter, 60nm or so) for the following reasons:

1) Lastovo is a beautiful island, worth the trip in itself. Used to be an unaccessible military base in the past, so it still has a wilderness touch, with various very well sheltered bays to choose from.

2) In the S/W bay, there's a small village called Ubli, with a fuel dock.

3) For overnighting, I would suggest Zaklopatica bay (northern part of the island). There is also the well known (among boaters) Triton restaurant, whose dock is right in front of the restaurant, and free for the customers. Below are a few pics, just as an appetizers. Usual disclaimer, no connection etc.

4) Weather permitting, you could take the opportunity to snorkel around Palagruza island and its surrounding rocks, roughly half way between Lastovo and Vieste. It's just a short deviation to stbd, in the route from Lastovo to Vieste. Unfortunately, there are no sheltered bays, so unless you find a really flat sea, someone will have to stay onboard while the rest of the crew is swimming. But being in the very middle of the Adriatic, and untouched by the crowd of coastal boaters, it's one of the best swimming spots you can find.

5) also upon arrival, Vieste is nicer (albeit smaller) than Bari. Definitely worth a look around the town. And from there, it's just a coastal cruise to Bari - which is not so interesting from a touristic viewpoint anyway, imho.

 

[AndieMac]

Interesting post MM, I'm here with the atlas open looking at the alternative route you are suggesting to Bart.
Seems like a good option, considering Barts' interest in diving, and quite possibly, consumption of fresh seafood

Again the pics. tell a great story, very nice.

Bart....our maritime law insists the carrying of a fully registered 406 epirb anywhere outside the sheltered water limit, which is an imaginary line running 2 Nmiles around the coastline.
I realise you are in a heavy populated waterway, and the furthest you will be from land could be 50 miles (by the original course), but still the consideration from sinking caused by impact damage or a random fire, would for me, require the inclusion of an epirb.

Is this going to be a one-way trip, and drive the trailer to Italy for retrieval?

BTW are you still considering an English south-coast cruise?

 

[MapisM]

Bart....our maritime law insists the carrying of a fully registered 406 epirb anywhere outside the sheltered water limit, which is an imaginary line running 2 Nmiles around the coastline.
I realise you are in a heavy populated waterway, and the furthest you will be from land could be 50 miles (by the original course), but still the consideration from sinking caused by impact damage or a random fire, would for me, require the inclusion of an epirb.

Good point AM.
As per my previous post, I don't disagree at all, but just to put things in perspective, the whole Adriatic could actually be considered "sheltered water", by your standards...
That's the reason why I did suggest the EPIRB, but wouldn't consider it a must.
Personally, I cruised the whole Adriatic for many years with no EPIRB.

 

[BartW]

considering the affordable price of a Epirb, I will get one,
last weekend we were diving in the northsea, 30nm from shore,
so also for this it is extra savety

for crossing the adriatic, the idea of having no connection with mobile, nor VHF for some time, I believe having the Epirb will give some peace of mind,

what if,
lets say I'm in the middle of the adriatic and I have a major engine problem on both engines, and no way I can fix it,
no live threatening situation as long as the weather is calm,
is it ok to send a alarm message for help with the Epirb ?

 

[BartW]

"
Otoh, what I would strongly recommend is to take the Lastovo-Vieste route instead, which is much nicer (and also shorter, 60nm or so) for the following reasons:

yes thanks, good advice,
Have visited Lastove last year, but that was just a day trip,
so will definitly do one part of this trip via Lastovo -Palagruza -Vieste,
and perhaps the return trip in a straight line from Italy to Dubrovnic.

In fact our Italian friends are in Aliste (south of Gallipoli)
but I am not sure if we are going to cruise all along the south of the heel.
We can just meet with them in Bari or Brindisi
Mario, Do you know which places in that area, besides Vieste, are nice for a visit or a short stay ? (I'm sorry, Sardinie is a little too far from there )

 

[BartW]

Is this going to be a one-way trip, and drive the trailer to Italy for retrieval?

This year we are 2 weeks (from 4) without kids and guests in Dubrovnic
so swmbo fancied visiting some friends in the south of Italy, just the two of us,
and why not then ?
so we still have to go back to the trailer, (that stay's usually in Krvavica, small village near Makarska)

BTW are you still considering an English south-coast cruise?

the penzance / scillies trip is sceduled from 11 till 18 september,
but that's still a long time and a lot of boating (hopefully) to be done before that

and about MapisM's post / pics, yes he knows how to seduce me

 

[MapisM]

In fact our Italian friends are in Aliste (south of Gallipoli) but I am not sure if we are going to cruise all along the south of the heel.
We can just meet with them in Bari or Brindisi
Mario, Do you know which places in that area, besides Vieste, are nice for a visit or a short stay ?

Wow, Gallipoli? That's a long way.
As I recall, it takes the best part of 200nm just to reach Santa Maria di Leuca (at the very bottom of the heel) from Vieste...
And I'm afraid that the nicest cruising ground in that area - possibly one of the best of the whole Adriatic - is in the opposite direction, N/W of Vieste (30nm or so).
It's the Tremiti archipelago, where you can find also some gorgeous diving spots, btw. I would definitely recommend it, with just one warning: it's awfully crowded in July (particularly the second half) and August (particularly the first half).

 

[AndieMac]

what if,
lets say I'm in the middle of the adriatic and I have a major engine problem on both engines, and no way I can fix it,
no live threatening situation as long as the weather is calm,
is it ok to send a alarm message for help with the Epirb ?

AFAIK, well here anyway, transmitting or activating an epirb is a Mayday situation.

It appears you have quite a cruising schedule ahead Bart, all the best.