S/YJane & Darcy

Night shifts, heavy seas and changing winds

A 120 M leg heading S from Tivat to Brindisi

We looked at windy and listened to the forecasts. We planned the coastal passage from Tivat to Greece via Montenegro and Albania. However, we realized we did not have the time for all the check-in/check out procedures of Albania. A strong Bura was also forecast. We were short on time to reach Lefkada and catch our flights back.

We decided to head south for the Italian coast and Brindisi. This involved doing a long night leg and saving check/in check out. Once in Italy we would be OK for Greece as well.

We organized shifts. Four people could conduct the boat. Three members would have been passengers only. We opted for two-hour shifts, beginning at sunset.

Once out of the gulf of Tivat, we are about 10 M from Marina Montenegro. It is a single leg of 105 M from that point. This leg takes us to the entrance of the port of Brindisi. At least in the initial part of the journey, no one else is visible. No one is seen on eyesight, AIS, or RADAR. This continues until the Italian coast is 25-30 miles away. There begins an intense traffic of fishing vessels, cargo ships and passenger ships. At that time of the year, end of March, we were the only pleasure vessel around.

Two hours shifts are quite fast to go, either in bed, or at the wheel. The night is pitch black, the wind that initially was allowing us to sail went away, at first. We switch on engine, and, soon the wind was against us. The sea went quickly from moderate to 3 m waves. Sea sickness was an issue for some of us.

It is

Download here the waypoints for this trip – Warning, never use waypoints for navigation without previously validating them on your plotter.

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Passage Notes

To exit the gulf of Tivat, retrace back the passage described in the Dubrovnik to Tivat passage. you can check out in Porto Montenegro or in Luka Zelenika.

Once you are out of the gulf of Tivat, there is not much left to do. You should head S for 194˚ for approximately 105 M. This will place you just outside the TSS of the harbor of Brindisi. Once you have reached the approach waypoint, head for 154˚ for another 2.4 M, then 123 for another 0.5 M to reach the harbor’s entrance without entering the TSS. Once inside the huge external basin, take care to avoid the islands to the S. Then, reach the entrance of the mid harbor. From there, there are several possible destinations. You can choose Marina di Brindisi. Contact the coast guard. Use CH 16 for the harbormaster. Ask if you can dock at the public dock they manage in the Seno di Levante. Or proceed further W to the internal harbor.

Brindisi, nestled on Italy’s southeastern Adriatic coast, is a city where maritime heritage meets Mediterranean charm. For sailors exploring the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Brindisi offers a strategic and welcoming port of call.

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Haiku of the day

Night sails from Tivat,
Winds shift, waves rise, Brindisi—
Safe harbor at dawn.