North to Sibenik

Persevere
Pat and Bruce
Tue 3 Aug 2010 18:15

43:43.06N 15:54.07E

 

North to Sibernik (Skibernik is the pronunciation).  The trip was good in that we were able to set sails again and make decent progress.  We chose a route further offshore to avoid the small islands and the powerboats taking the shortest route at full wake making speed.  We got 2.5 hours of decent sailing then the winds just stopped.  Straight from 5 knots of speed to zero.  So motor on but it was time anyway since the next few miles were tight and constricted.  The entrance to Skibernik is through a narrow, and I mean narrows, cut through the mainland into the bay by the town.  It is only a mile and half but there is little room for error.  Not something to do at night.

 

We chose to take a berth at the marina southeast of town.  It is possible to use the town quay for berthing but that was not we wanted since it is choppy from all the boats passing.

 

Marina Madalina is a shipyard that decided to expand into a marina.  They added several new floating docks, large enough in some areas for mega yachts which did use them.  The shipyard is very well equipped and obviously has some government al business looking at the military vessels.

 

This was the first marina we have encountered that has finger piers like a USA marina.  No mooring lines.  I guess the reason is the deep depth which would make mooring lines tough to establish.  Located at the end of a cove the marina is very quiet and calm.  This place also has charter boats based here but nothing like Marina Kastela.  In fact watching them they are not are efficient as Kastela.  We watched on boat being towed back with a dead motor and others taking too long to get prepared for the next rental group.

 

However, this is a good place to visit Sibernik and the Krka National Park and Waterfalls.  It requires a taxi ride but not expensive.

 

I lost the picture to Sibernik but it is not that different than other old towns.  It is built on the water and had several forts built to protect the locals.  When you look at its location it stands over the entrance to the bay from the sea.  It also is a location that has a large freshwater river feeding into the bay.  The town was significant at one time but lost its luster.

 

Built on a hillside there are several old churches to see and one military fort that was demolished when the arsenal blew in the 1600’s.

 

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Marina in Sibenik main office

 

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View out the stern leaving Sibenik.  This is a small gorge cut through the coastal hills by the river.  Crowded everytime we went through.

 

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Some of the former military installations along the Gorge.