Fog!

Associate3
Chris & Katie Russell
Sun 16 Jul 2017 08:58
37:06.59N 08:40.48W
 
15 July 2017
 
Fog! What? This was not what we signed up for - and the first grotty day of weather since we started down the west Atlantic coast. Not a great way to start an 80 odd mile passage from Sines to Lagos around the corner into the Algarve. We delayed our start by an hour or so but decided that it would burn off and set sail with jackets and jumpers on to keep warm and dry at about 08:00
We had enjoyed a fabulous 'lay' day the day before in this little town with a sunny and hot day cooled by a nice breeze. We had supper in a little restaurant by the castle - fresh sardines and sea bass/bream washed down by chilled vinho verde so the change in weather was a bit of a shock
With radar and lobster pot watch on high alert we gingerly edged our way out of the harbour and made our way south dodging the big ships in the anchorage - we could pick them up on our radar but could not see them. Gradually the fog gave way to mist and by noon the grey had lifted to give us a murky cloudy day with little wind
At about 15:00 we could just pick out the high cliffs of Cabo St Vincente - the end of the world in year 1400 - and rounded just before 16:00 - the expected increase in wind to 25 knots heralded a bigger sea and a fantastic sail - with full main and our little stay sail we romped along past our chosen anchorage and onwards to Lagos in glorious sunshine
There was a noticeable change in the smell of the land after we had rounded the corner with the wind coming off the land - sweet smell - maybe the pine trees?
We eventually moored up in Lagos marina and enjoyed a fresh fish supper on the back of the boat - tired but very satisfied with our day
 
 
 
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