Chapter Four

Ship's Journal

Written from aboard

Field notes, photographs and observations kept in the ship's journal — a written companion to the Captain's Logs.

Day 1 · 3 July 2026

Preparing TC Grace in Zadar

Zadar, Croatia

Weather: Calm, first light on the Adriatic
Coordinates: 44° 07' N, 15° 13' E

TC Grace alongside, Zadar — dawn preparations.

Final systems checks aboard. Provisions loaded, charts reviewed, engines run through. The harbour is quiet — the voyage has not yet begun, but she is ready.

Zadar sits still in the morning light. A working port waking slowly around us. There is a particular hush that settles over a boat the day before departure, as though the vessel herself is listening for the first turn of the engine.

Weather: Calm, first light on the Adriatic
Coordinates: 44° 07' N, 15° 13' E

Related Captain's Log · 00

Final Engine & Systems Test

From the Bridge

Captain's Log

Captain's Log · Day 1

POS 44° 07' N, 15° 13' E

CRS Alongside — Zadar

WND Force 2, NW

DST 0 nm

The vessel is quiet this morning. A thin layer of mist over the marina, the water flat as glass. It is difficult to imagine that within a few weeks she will be a thousand miles from here.

Systems are green. The last of the provisions came aboard yesterday afternoon. Charts for the Adriatic and Ionian passages are marked up. Peter arrives shortly to complete the crew for the first leg.

The plan holds: south along the Croatian coast, then the crossing to Italy. For now — one final day of preparation, and then we begin.