When we came up with the idea in the fall to do the FB4 practical exam in December starting from Šibenik, we were all fired up. But the closer the date came, the more skeptical we became about how the weather would be. However, we were proven wrong; but back to the beginning.
In May, after some course and practice weekends, we successfully completed the FB4 theory exam. Viktoria put in great effort to teach us the subjects and so the way was clear for the practical exam. Since seven candidates (Barbara, Stefan, Jasper, Lukas, Valentin, Christian, and Gerhard) as well as Viktoria as the skipper and the examiner all had to find space, Viktoria chartered the Kety (Grand Soleil 50). So on Saturday, December 6, after sailing together to Šibenik in the afternoon, we set off.
The first days were spent practicing with the sextant, maneuver training, trying out the drogue anchor and sector search, and various sailing maneuvers. All with moderate winds and surprisingly temperatures up to 13 °C during the day.
On Tuesday we then returned to Šibenik to pick up the examiner, Erwin Angermayr. After a short briefing we set off and encountered a group of dolphins in front of Marina Mandalina — a good omen! As predicted, the wind died down and so we had to motor, which until then had been used rather sparingly since we had often departed under sail.
At first we headed toward Ancona, then toward Pula, to reach our northernmost point in Uvala Soline during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. The forecasted northwest wind kicked in, so we alternately sailed under gennaker or spinnaker through the Croatian island landscape until we reached a mooring field near Tijat, where we came alongside under sail.
In between, Erwin checked the observed and sailed course lines and examined us from the question catalog. In Tijat, after two straight nights at sea, we enjoyed a cozy evening, then on Friday morning set out to return to Šibenik. The last parts of the examination were carried out along the way.
After a brief refueling stop in the city harbor and the final docking maneuver, the exam came to a successful end on Friday noon with the handover of the practical certificates and a short review of the past days. All participants successfully passed the practical exam!
That marked the end of a truly wonderful sailing week. The great mood and the fun we had in this very diversely composed crew during this week showed that our passion for sailing connects us all. On Friday afternoon we set off back to Graz.
From the legally required 200 nm, in fact 350 nm were covered during the examination and a total of 411 nm on the entire voyage. December sailing in the Adriatic couldn’t be more beautiful!
Thanks go especially to Viktoria for your dedication and support — it was wonderful!
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