Blowing Bora

The weather in Croatia has been very consistent and predictable all summer. It is one of the things that we have enjoyed most about this country. Mornings are calm and so is the sea. Towards noon, the winds pick up to a strong breeze and the sea remains flat. At 5 in the afternoon, usually within minutes, the winds die down to nothing. Water becomes as smooth as glass. You can often see 30-40 feet down to the sandy sea floor. We sleep uninterrupted on the hook as they say (at anchor) for the night. This has given us some of the best sailing in all of the Mediterranean and has allowed us to be under sail almost every day this summer. We managed to squeeze almost a whole month of sailing on one tank of petrol. You gotta love that. But this week, for three days that all changed. Croatia is also known for the famous Bora winds. Its name is uttered with respect and awe and always in hushed tones. The Bora are winds that mostly occur in the winter, but can occur in the summer as well. A high pressure in the Northeast and a low pressure in Italy cause these mighty winds. Cold air gets trapped in the mountains that build up pressure until they are released thundering down the slopes at velocities of up to 110 knots. This week we were treated to one of these occurrences. We monitor the weather closely each morning. The prediction was for a Bora in two days. That gave us plenty of time to head to a safe harbor and button down the hatches. We lashed extra lines to shore and waited. The winds came, not continuously, but with strong gusts that shook the boat and everything around it. Flags stiffened out like they have been starched. I had to tie Steve to the mast so I wouldn’t loose him. (well almost) We didn’t monitor the wind speed but some friends we met from Canada clocked the winds at their peak at 55 knots. We too now speak of the Bora with reverence and in hushed tones.