43:32.68N 16:32.06E

Leaving U. Luka we continued around the island to the town of Milna.  On the way we passed a couple of quarries on the northern coast.  Brac was know for centuries as a good place to quarry karst limestone for building construction.  The Romans used the stone to build many of the local palaces and structures such as Diocletians’ Palace in Split.  Later on the stone was used in many buildings in the area.  After the 1990’s war the quarries were again used in the reconstruction of damaged buildings.

One incorrect item that persists in the tourist guides and the local people is that stone from Brac was used to build the White House.  Interesting thought but the White House was constructed from local stone in a quarry near current day town of Foggy Bottom, about forty miles away along the Potomac River.  There may have been some Brac stone used in the Jefferson columns in the front of the White House.

Entering the town of Milna on the west coast of Brac we set about berthing at the town quay.  Not the best place to berth as we had to drop anchor in a bottom of questionable holding.  However the anchor grabbed hard, so hard that it popped the circuit breaker for the winch.  We got berthed and I had to dig into the bottom of the sail locker and find the anchor circuit breaker to reset it.

Milna harbor is a natural harbor that is protected from all directions of wind and waves except to the WNW.  As luck would have it the winds built during the afternoon and the waves entered the harbor.  Similar to Cavtat when we first arrived the waves began splashing over the quay wall and onto the street.  Then we heard a “thunk” and went up front to see what it could have been.  Turns out the anchor must have grabbed a rock or other hard object and was not really set.  These old harbor have all sorts of stuff on the bottom and I never really like using an anchor for fear of getting it tangled.

So now with the anchor loose, on with the engine to push us away from the quay wall.  Quick call to the berthing agent to tell them we had enough of Milna and were leaving.  Not that bad of a departure since the winds were on the nose and Pat could get off, retrieve the electrical line and mooring lines while I kept the boat in place with the engine and bow thruster.  So no details on Milna as we left in a few hours and never really got to see anything.

Leaving the harbor we hit 2-2.5 meter seas, not an issue since Persevere has handled those and larger before.  Our destination was now Marina Kastela to the north in a protected bay.  Our berthing agent confirmed a space would be available so off we went.  As we crossed the open water and approached the mainland the waves dropped considerably, less fetch.  However the winds kept up with 20 – 25 knot gusts.

Marina Kastela is a newly expanded marina that caters to the bareboat charter industry.  This being a Saturday afternoon the outflow of weekly rental sailboats was amazing.  Just getting into the marina was like driving up a one way street the wrong way.  No problem and the wind dropped to 15 knots while we berthed with the aid of two marina staff people.  Good berth, two strong mooring lines at the bow and two on the stern made us very secure.

We wondered where the rental boats were heading as the weather worsened.  While in Milna we watched 20-30 rentals arrive and berth in the ACI marina next to the town quay.  Pretty hetic in the winds for crews who are not used to sailing.  When we left the marina was essentially full so those boats leaving Marina Kastela who need to seek refuge somewhere else and there are not any other marinas close.  So I bet many sat out the night at anchor in some cove getting pounded by high winds.  We recorded 28-33 knot winds in the marina during the night (Force 6-7).

Otok Brac stone quarry along the north coast