The most amazing "Jolie Fleur"
30 knots of wind whipped the reefed sails. Waves splashed over the foredeck as the Croatian coast of Istria faded behind us. We had just crossed the turbulent Kvarner Bay and were now 200 meters off the island of Unije, needing to round the northern end to find safe anchorage in the lee. The weather was fierce, the wind howling and the seas churning gray. But our stalwart ship "Jolie Fleur" took it all in stride, plowing ahead as gusts buffeted her sturdy wooden hull.
One last turn around Unije's northern point, and we furled the sails, motoring the last couple miles to shelter. It was the culmination of a journey that began on the Italian coast near Lignano, crossing the blustery Adriatic and down the eastern shores of Istria. Much of the voyage had already been powered by strong winds, and forecasts showed a deep red funnel blowing out of the Kvarner Bay - meaning 25-30 knot winds. More than double the 10 knots we prefer, and well above the 15 knots that make for active sailing. But a narrow weather window allowed us to shoot the gap, albeit in heavy seas that lived up to the forecast.
Our stout-hearted "Jolie Fleur" is a 30-foot wooden beauty, custom built in northern Germany. Her hull is durable cedar, the deck gorgeous teak, constructed by a master craftsman. He eschewed plastics, created a classic look with a tall cabin allowing full standing height below. Extra windows forward provide visibility from the cabin. Fulfilling his dream of building a series until costs forced him to settle for a unique one-off, at that time named "Bahia". She caught my eye back in 2012 when featured in the a german Yacht magazine, and we snapped her up secondhand in 2019 (just sold the "Fleur Rapide" that I sailed round Italy from Venice to Pisa), just before the pandemic restricted travel.
Now berthed near Lignano, she awaits her next Adriatic adventure. Her sturdy build inspires confidence when other boats head for shelter, and her sleek lines accelerate in the lightest breeze when we hoist the gennaker. Simply, an amazement.
If you're ever sailing near Lignano on the northern Adriatic, look for the elegant "Jolie Fleur" and come say hello!
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