Beginning Today with a Relaxing Morning on the Sea Cloud

Saying good morning to the sun - at 5:30 AM!

A pre-breakfast coffee, tea and pastry buffet for early risers

Tuesday, July 5 - Trip Day 6

I didn't want to miss the sunrise today, so was up at 5:30 AM.  Coffee, tea and pastries are set out on the promenade deck for the early risers, so I brought some back to the room as my "pre-breakfast".  Then Michael and I lingered over the lovely morning breakfast in the dining room.  I even had two iced lattes.

Breakfast breads and pastries and tea samovar

Lots of hot dishes to select for breakfast, including choose-your-own-adventure omelet station

Suddenly, it was 9 AM and time for sails up!  I was one of the few that watched the process this morning - I felt like a nerd with my sail diagram in hand, trying to understand all the intricacies of hoisting these beautiful wind catchers.  It was windier today, and the captain explained that they wouldn't raise the course (bottom square) sails, as too much sail will sometimes drive the boat in a downward vector and stall it, rather than enhance the sailing speed.

Mizzen mast sails up - only 4 instead of 5 due to wind conditions

Anastasia working the mizzen's lines

Hello Michael!

As we were enjoying the chance to be under sail again, we had another activity to choose.  Our Croatian guide, Petra, was giving a lecture on the history of Croatia, with some emphasis on the recent Balkans and Homeland Wars.  Didn't want to miss that, so off to the lido deck for some learning.

Watching the islands slip by as we are under sail

Our Nat Geo lecture from our Croatian guide, Petra

Petra suggested a number of books from the Sea Cloud library - Mike read the Holbrooke

As we headed to our next port, Korcula, we had the island of Korcula on the port side and the island of Stari Grad on starboard.  We could see the limestone and dolomite hills of the island, striped with green vegetation, and bits of activity on the shoreline.  Lots of pleasure boating - many came close to get a better look at the Sea Cloud.

The island of Korcula with a bevy of wind surfers

I enjoyed watching this windsurfer some closer for a better look at our vessel:

The medieval walled old town of Korcula on the horizon

How quickly time passes when you're relaxing and having fun.  It was time for lunch!  The lido deck was cleared of our lecture chairs and set up for our buffet lunch. The offerings always include many fresh salads and appetizers, soup, grilled meat for a main course, dessert with ice cream and fruit and cheese plates.  For me, it was too hot to eat in the open air deck, so I carried a plate to my air-conditioned room.  I had crab legs, tomato salad, chilled cucumber soup and apricot ice cream.  Very tasty!

The lido deck set up and ready for our buffet lunch

The ever affable Simon, chief of hotel services and longest serving crew member

Delectable fresh fruit - oh my,  the papaya (!)

And just like that, it was time to head out to visit the port of Korcula, but first........