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will often force the seafarer to rapid adjustment to
the sudden changes in the circumstances of the
voyage.
The main reason for these changes is the nearness
of the great mountain massif named Gorski Kotar
and lofty Mt U ka, the foothills of which plunge
right down to the sea. Opposite U ka, looking from
its almost 1,500 metre-high summit across the very
head of the Bay of Kvarner stretches the beginning
of a long mountain massif Velebit. And it is Velebit
that is the main cause of the wind known far and
wide called the bora.
The bora has been described inmany books, in both
specialist works, and those that just express their
wonder or fear at its strength. Irrespective of its
origins, of where it is born and where it dies, the
bora is, we might say, fast and superficial. It sweeps
down the steep foothills of the mountain and seems
to have no time to tarry on the sea. As if it were in a
hurry to fly past as quickly as possible and vanish
somewhere, as if it found the sea tedious. It is
capricious, blows in fits and starts, cares little for
sailors.
The sirocco, called jugo, unlike it, comes from the
depths of the sea. It is patient and rolls for days.
Though bringing rain, it is never in a hurry, and
pays sailors all due respect. It won't blow with gale
force on the first day, but warns all afloat to take
refuge from its mighty waves if they are
insufficiently experienced.
The sirocco, coming from the southeast, rolls into
the Kvarner with great waves that during storm
periods come almost from Otranto. It is most
dangerous in Kvarneri , little Kvarner, where
sailors, attempting to hide from its rage on the open
sea, hope to find more peaceful waters. But some
kind of viciousness seems to seize it here, very likely
aware that it will lose its strength just behind
Plavnik.
The maestral (from the north-west) is the favourite
wind of sailors, but seems to have too little impetus,
and seldomor never gets into the head of Kvarner.
Unlike the maestral, the tramontana does get into
the head of the bay, at Preluka, where it is the
favourite wind of the windsurfers. It is actually
quite hard to recall a day not stirred by the freshness
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