Saturday 26th September (Lini’s Journal)

Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Sun 27 Sep 2009 11:00

 

   Si was up all night and I’m wondering if it’s actually worth anchoring if he can’t rest. The wind picked up and changed direction in the night and the wind generator was going nuts at one point resonating through the cabin sides. Great news for me though – no more bites in the night – Yeehah!!!!

   The sun didn’t rise until 8.37am as we ate breakfast on deck. We prepared to set sail for Portugal. By 1pm the mist still hadn’t cleared and there was no wind to sail. We furled the genoa and motored down the remaining coast of Spain with little villages and exploding hillsides slipping by. What are all the blasts all about? We never did find out what they were doing up in the hills.

(Please picture if you will because I am forbidden to photograph – Simon has just stripped off and is impersonating a lady on a nearby boat last night who was either dancing enthusiastically or doing some sort of workout!)

Where was I? Ah, yes: Our quietest of days slipping down the coast and into Portuguese waters where all of a sudden the wind picked up as we neared the breakwater at Viana do Castelo. Entering the harbour was chaos as out of nowhere over 35 kitesurfers were darting in front of Brindabella performing stunts as they did so. A few wind surfers added to the drama and I was already having palpitations at the thought of my first stern-to mooring. The dock master opened the swinging bridge into the marina and we backed into our berth running the fish hook impregnated pick up line to the bow cleat. A piece of cake – I don’t know what all the panic was about!

   The old town looked a delight as we sailed past so after an early dinner and a reflexology treatment for Simon we went for an evening stroll to investigate. I can’t wait to go exploring tomorrow, it was wonderful with buildings so reminiscent of the Azores and those pretty little cobbled backstreets lined with cafes and bars. Tonight my skipper slept. Quite an achievement I thought as we are moored next to a bar that had some very rowdy customers well into the early hours.