To Sines via a live gunnery range!

AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Sat 18 Oct 2008 15:37
Sines 37:57.05N 8:51.95W
 
Leaving Sesimbra at first light - well second light perhaps as we are not good at getting up early! we attempted to sail a few miles with the mainsail seeing daylight for the first time since the Solent. However, the breeze was fickle and after an hour of drifting to the point where our trailing lure on the fishing rod was probably bouncing along the sea bed we decided to push onwards under engine.
The warship that we seen anchored of Sesimbra the previous night - F475 a frigate of the Portuguese navy steamed past us after an hour or so and promptly put out a warning (fortunately also in English) that they would be conducting live round firing in a 10 mile radius area we happened to be motoring through! As we didn't want the new genoa peppered with holes we duly heeded the warning and steamed eastwards out of their live firing area. The remainder of the trip to Sines was uneventful, arriving mid afternoon to an interesting looking fishing port with a very well organised yacht harbour.
A walk around the old town built under the shadow of an impressive fort is charming if a little run down in parts which adds to its charm. The new part of Sines makes no apologies for intruding into the historic past and seems to architecturally barge its way into its own place in the backdrop to the port. Not everyone's cup of tea but we rather liked the place.