Our First Cruise in the Mediterranean with The Lodge - Trip through Kotor Bay

Well, we finally were ready to leave Porto Montenegro on Wednesday, June 26, 2012 and stay overnight somewhere on The Lodge.

We only had one evening as we wanted to return to Tivat to do some one design racing on Thursday. There is a fleet of Blue 26's and we were invited to do Thursday night racing.  Of course, we have not raced since the BVI's so we could not pass this opportunity up!

We left Porto and motored up the bay towards Kotor.  It is possibly one of the most beautiful places in the world to cruise.

There was about 4-5 knots of wind but it soon dissipated so we motored slowly to enjoy the majestic mountains and the coast dotted with old villages and terra cotta roof tops.

We anchored near the shore and stayed there until around 10 pm when the wind did a 180 degree turn and we were too close to shore and some small boats moored near the sea wall.

We moved out toward the centre of the bay to a safer spot.  The wind rose to around 15 knots and continued all night.  Unfortunately, it dissipated again in the morning so we motored back up the bay.  We were not too disappointed we were not sailing as the views were so spectacular.

On the way out of the bay, we spotted a cruise ship and the wind began to fill in.  We decided to sail and the wind rose to 18 knots very quickly and we had a great sail upwind towards the opening of the bay to the Mediterranean.

We turned around and headed downwind back to Porto Montenegro and enjoyed lunch on the way. 

As this was the first time we sailed since leaving the BVI's it was great to do a shakedown and ensure everything was working well before we headed off on a longer distance.

Cruising is definitely a wonderful experience!!!

Cruising                 down the Bay of Kotor

Looking towards Kotor with Perast in the distance on the left

Great Perspective of the very steep mountains leading down to the shore  - Not much land to develop except right at sea level

Perast in the back ground

                The two islands off Perast.  One is man made, the other natural.

Looking back at Perast - The small boat is very typical of the "trippers" that take tourists over to see the church islands just off Perast in the bay

                Cruise ships sail into the bay just about every day with visitors to Old Kotor  

View from the logde with our dinghy towing behind us

                These are the two famous islands off Perast  -  the one in the foreground is man made  and is called "Our Lady of the Rocks"  -  The other is "St. George"  -  History states that local sailors in Perast saw the Virgin Mary's image in some rocks on the reef here in 1452 and felt it was a sign  - For years they threw rocks onto the reef until the island was formed and the church you see was built  -  They still have a day every July where boaters come and throw rocks onto the reef at this island

  Very typical tourist boat in Kotor Bay

                 

We arrive back at our berth at Porto Montenegro and are greeted by our new friend and amazing tour guide, Savo!