Logbook
Summer Cruise 2026 aboard SY HERA
Summer Cruise 2026 as one connected series: sailing, harbours, life aboard, decisions and small Adriatic adventures.
Explorer context Personal recommendation based on travel situation.
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Stories. Routes. Experience.
Not every voyage ends in a harbour. Some become stories that create trust, practice and experience.
Stories Routes Training Service
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The courtesy flag when entering Croatia
A small piece of cloth makes the change of host country visible. The flag belongs to the preparation for an international passage.
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Water in the bilge: the right first steps
Water in the bilge calls for a calm sequence: assess the situation, pump it out under control and check the development at short intervals.
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Why fuel stops belong to route planning
A sailing yacht travels under sail whenever practical. A realistic fuel reserve still belongs to every longer journey.
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Piran and Koper on the final northern stage
HERA experiences Piran from the water. Koper is planned for fuel before the final stage continues to Monfalcone.
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Preparing to berth in Rovinj town harbour
The manoeuvre begins outside harbour. Rovinj remains in view while the practical preparation takes place aboard.
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Medulin after a light-wind stage
The crew uses the wind that is available. Afterwards, reaching Medulin in a way that fits the wider cruise matters more.
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Mali Lošinj after a short swimming stage
A reachable destination makes a relaxed swimming day possible. Mali Lošinj is decided early enough to leave time in the water.
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Entering the buoy field at Unije
Before Unije, the passage becomes a manoeuvre again. A free buoy must be reachable, suitable and checked after HERA is secured.
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The first islands before Unije
Land in sight is emotional and navigational at once. Coastlines must be identified reliably before they can provide orientation.
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Porer lighthouse as a waypoint
A lighthouse is both a photographic subject and a navigational reference. Seeing it does not replace a planned passage.
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Why the bilge is checked regularly
The bilge usually remains out of sight. That is exactly why a quick look belongs to routines that reveal technical changes early.
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Allowing for drift on a longer crossing
The steered heading is not automatically the track over the ground. Drift is therefore considered throughout the passage to Croatia.
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Encounters with commercial shipping
Large ships appear calm but can change an encounter quickly. Observation therefore begins long before a possible conflict.
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What a traffic separation scheme means for sailors
Traffic separation schemes organise major shipping flows. A sailing yacht needs a clear crossing planned early.
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Preparing an Adriatic crossing carefully
A crossing begins before departure. Course and destination matter, but so do reserves for changes along the way.
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The berth at the end of the floating pontoon
A place at the end of a pontoon sounds simple. For a large yacht, wind, line angles, fenders and safe access remain practical tasks.
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Finding a berth in Venice without a reservation
Spontaneity works better in harbour when yacht dimensions and alternatives have still been prepared.
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San Giorgio Maggiore with a 50-foot yacht
Without a reservation, HERA found a suitable berth at San Giorgio Maggiore. Space, preparation and assistance from the marineros made the difference.
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Approaching Venice with a 50-foot yacht
Reaching Venice from the water is special. On a Bavaria 50, the experience begins with channels, traffic and realistic berth options.
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Fishing flags and lines along the Italian coast
A calm coastal passage can contain many small navigational tasks. Fishing gear is one of the things that should be recognised early.
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Navigation without available radar
The loss of one aid changes the navigational picture. It does not remove the responsibility for lookout and safe navigation.
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A buoy manoeuvre is never only routine
Routine helps preparation, but attention remains essential because no buoy and no approach are completely identical.
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Picking up a buoy with a 15-metre yacht
A buoy is small and HERA is around 15 metres long. Helm and foredeck need to work together calmly to make the connection.
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The Bavaria 50’s manual bathing platform
When HERA lies at a buoy, the stern becomes a comfortable route to the water. The platform is directly part of the experience.
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Drinking water and departure routine aboard
Preparing to leave means more than planning the route. Drinks, food and loose items also need to be ready for the day.
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Taking on water before a longer stage
Fresh water is one of the quiet foundations of a comfortable cruise. The supply is replenished before the longer westbound stage.
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Why more engine speed is not always better
HERA is not operated according to somebody else’s rpm figure. Stefan watches how the actual engine works in this yacht.
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A sensible engine-speed range for SY HERA
The right engine operation does not come from choosing the highest number. On HERA, experience has established a practical range.
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Technical redundancy on a cruising yacht
Redundancy is more than a second device. The information must arise independently and be understood by those responsible.
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Slovenia as a gateway to the Adriatic
For HERA, Slovenia is neither merely a border nor a transit coast. It connects supplies, coastal towns and the route towards Istria.
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The radar suddenly stops working
The radar was unavailable when it was needed. The cause was later found at one of two aft connections, where a plug had been changed, and the system was restored.
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Before crossing the Adriatic: complete the systems check
After a repair, the complete function test matters. Before crossing the Adriatic, HERA had to be not merely operational again, but reliably prepared.
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Thunderstorm in harbour: when sail work must wait
A harbour removes sea-state pressure, but not gusts, wet surfaces or thunderstorms. Continuing work on the rig remains a separate safety decision.
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When the mainsail jams: unload before acting
When a sail jams, extra force is rarely the first answer. Organise the loads, keep movements small and read the feedback from the system.
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How an in-mast furling mainsail works
An in-mast mainsail does not simply disappear. Tension, the sail’s path and system-specific operation determine whether the roll remains compact and free to move.
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The in-mast mainsail was furled the wrong way
In Venice, HERA’s mainsail jammed because it had been furled in the wrong direction. One specific incident, with a clear cause and a controlled solution.
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Pump out the water and continue observing the cause
Pumping removes the amount present. Only continued checks show whether the problem is actually over.
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A dry bilge as a technical reference
Technical troubleshooting often begins with a simple question: what did the system look like when nothing appeared unusual?
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Water aboard again after maintenance
The dry bilge after maintenance gives HERA a clear reference. When water returns, the crew pumps it out, checks the level and watches the development.
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Koper from the water: commercial port and sailing destination
For HERA, Koper is a fuel stop and a possible town visit. Commercial shipping makes the approach an experience in its own right.
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The evening before departure: summer heat in Monfalcone
A hot first night aboard SY HERA, a sleeping place on deck and anticipation of Koper and the first day under sail.
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Almost a full moon: talking until two in the morning
The crew talks in the cockpit until two in the morning. The almost full moon belongs to this first shared night.
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Koper for fuel: the first plan of the day
Koper has a practical purpose this morning: refuel, spend a little time ashore and prepare the next part of the cruise.
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Tankers at anchor off Koper
Large ships off Koper look calm from a distance. From the water, their scale, movement and the available space become very real.
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Sails up at last: nine knots of wind for HERA
Nine knots of wind are not much for a heavy Bavaria 50. We hoist the sails anyway, and that is exactly what this stage is about.
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Returning to Monfalcone before the night passage
Returning to the starting port can be the right step when yacht and full crew need to be ready for a longer passage through the night.
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Feeling like 50 degrees on the way west
‘Feeling like 50 degrees’ is not a measured value but an honest description of the day. Work, breaks and departure are shaped by the heat.
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Scrambled eggs ready, crew not quite
The day is only a few minutes old and the plan has already changed: breakfast is ready, but the crew is not yet ready to cast off.
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Along the Italian coast towards Caorle
The Italian coast appears straightforward. That makes it even more important not to overlook small flags, fishing gear and possible lines in the water.
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Caorle as a stop on the way to Venice
‘Caorle today, Venice tomorrow.’ One short sentence places the stop and the next stage of the summer cruise in order.
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San Giorgio opposite St Mark's Square
The berth at San Giorgio Maggiore combines arriving in Venice from the water with a safe place for HERA and a direct view across St Mark’s Basin.
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Entering the Venetian Lagoon
Venice begins from the water long before St Mark’s Square. Channels, traffic and many new impressions arrive at the same time.
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Returning home to Monfalcone
The final line closes the summer cruise. Supplies, equipment and personal gear are then sorted, leaving HERA ready for her next voyage.
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Umag, Piran and the final fuel stop in Koper
‘After Umag, tomorrow brings Piran and Koper for fuel, then Monfalcone.’ The remaining stages become clear and manageable.
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Approaching Rovinj town harbour
Shortly before Rovinj, the crew checks what the berthing manoeuvre will require, including the necessary length of a line.
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Light wind between Mali Lošinj and Medulin
Light wind, a little sailing and an evening in the cockpit: this stage is shaped by the shared day rather than speed.
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From the buoy at Unije to Mali Lošinj
‘Today is simply a swimming day and a short stage from the buoy at Unije to Mali Lošinj.’ The day needs no larger programme.
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Pula astern, Unije ahead
Pula, Porer lighthouse, a dolphin, the first islands and Unije give the 3 July passage its clear sequence.
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Commercial shipping and traffic separation schemes en route to Croatia
Traffic separation schemes and large ships do not turn the crossing into a drama, but they create clear navigational tasks.
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From Venice across the Adriatic
Open water, longer watches and a destination on the Croatian coast make this day a new chapter of the cruise.
Background
Why Monfalcone is an ideal starting port for sailing trips in the Adriatic
Monfalcone is an underrated starting point for sailing trips in the northern Adriatic: short distances, a sheltered harbour environment and quick access to Trieste, Grado, Slovenia and Istria.
Background
Sailing between Trieste and Grado – an underrated sailing area
Between Trieste and Grado, the northern Adriatic shows its variety: city coastline, lagoon atmosphere, coastal routes and ideal conditions for short sailing experiences.
Guide
Harbour manoeuvres in crosswind – why calm matters more than force
Crosswind in the harbour quickly exposes whether a manoeuvre is understood or only forced. Good skipper training begins with observation, timing and calm decisions.
Background
Sailing along in the Adriatic – why guests do not need to be professionals
Taking part, observing, helping and enjoying: a sailing trip works best when guests know what to expect on board.
Guide
Preparing for your first charter trip – what really helps
The first charter becomes easier when skipper, crew and route are prepared for reality, not only for the checklist.
Background
Sailing in Istria – coastline, harbours and clear decisions
Istria offers short distances, attractive harbours and enough variety for both guests and skipper training.
Guide
Skipper training instead of only a sailing licence – why practice matters
A licence may allow you to charter. Practice helps you stay calm when the harbour, crew and weather become real.
Background
Sailing weekend in the Adriatic – a short holiday that feels longer
A few days on board can create real distance from everyday life when the route, crew and rhythm are right.
Background
Sailing from Monfalcone – route, area and arrival
How arrival, harbour rhythm and the first miles shape a sailing trip in the northern Adriatic.
Background
Piran, Izola, Umag – three harbours, three worlds
Short distances on the northern Adriatic can still lead into very different harbour atmospheres.
Background
Sailing to Trieste and Miramare – why the view from the water changes everything
Miramare is more than a landmark when it appears from the sea: it becomes part of coast, history and sailing day.
Background
Grado, lagoon and northern Adriatic – sailing where water becomes landscape
Grado shows a different Adriatic: light, shallow water, lagoon feeling and a calm contrast to city and open sea.
Story
Ibiza in December
Ibiza without summer noise: what remains when the season is over and a harbour can breathe again.
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The boat wakes up by itself
Sounds, coffee, light and movement: why life aboard begins differently from a normal day ashore.
Guide
Why the direct route is not always the best one
The shortest line on the chart is rarely automatically the best decision.
Story
The net in the propeller
November, cold water, mask and snorkel — but no wetsuit. A real repair situation underway.
Story
Commercially inefficient. Humanly priceless.
A delivery from Sicily towards Monfalcone is not just distance. It is decisions, weather, detours, ports, repairs, patience and memory.
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Miramare from the water
Miramare Castle reveals its special presence from the water – as part of the coast, the Adriatic and a sailing day from Monfalcone.
Guide
Why slow wins
Good skipper training does not start with more speed, but with calmness, overview and the ability to slow down enough.
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