3 & 4 October 2025 - Bari

If the weather had been bad on Thursday then Friday was probably worse. The wind was howling and the guys in the boatyard said that it was 40+ knots. They had told us when we arrived that strong winds were coming, but they were expecting (only) 30 knots. The boat bucked and yawed beneath us, albeit we knew that everything was secure. 

As we had removed the passerelle yesterday, initially we had no way of getting ashore, as we knew that it would be both difficult and potentially dangerous to try to put it out. However, the need was there and we spotted a couple of the yard guys on the pontoon and asked them to take the end of the passerelle when we swung it across, which they duly did.  This was not the end of the problem, as we now had to get across it.  The boat was moving and heeling, the passerelle (which is only attached to the boat at a single point) was moving, and the pontoon that it was resting on was also moving (quite a lot).  There was a span of about 3 metres to cross. it took patience and bravery to make it across, in what slight lulls there were (i.e. wind at only 25knots). It was then necessary to negotiate the pontoon with waves within the harbour spraying over it at times. 

The first trip was so that I could get to the café for some takeaway food, we would not starve if we could not get ashore again.  Later, in the afternoon when things had quietened down a little, we both made it across, and went to find a quiet café for hot drinks and cakes. It was great to be on solid land after having been bounced around for 36+ hours. The café that we chose was right on the seafront and has a terrace almost over the water. Unsurprisingly the terrace was closed, but we were able to sit next to the window and watch the grey waves pounding in and regularly splashing up onto the terrace and spraying onto the window.


By Saturday morning the wind had subsided and all was peace and calm in the harbour. Outside the harbour there were still good sized waves, but these will subside now that the wind has dropped.

The whole of the Adriatic seems to be experiencing these uncharacteristic winds, there is a repeat performance of the storm forecast for Monday. In the meantime we monitor the weather forecasts and look for gaps in the weather that will allow us to make progress northwards, and for places where we can be secure while the next lot comes in.

It's not all relaxing in the sun with a cold drink!

Distance today -            0 miles

Distance this year - 1561 miles 

Steve (and Tricia) 

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