Nazare
Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Thu 11 Oct 2007 23:56
After over a month in Figueira Graptolite today resumed her southbound
passage. Had a text from Bill Grooms as we set off who tells me he is now
anchored in the crystal clear waters of Porto Santo.
The crew (Lori) turned up over a week ago on the 3rd. It's all been a bit of
a blur but what I think we've done is had some meetings with Philipe, Lori's
architect, had some drinks and food with Kerry and Ben at the Paintshop
Hostel, tried various restaurants and bars and explored up the Rio Mondego
by dingy. Much of it was general loafing around. Loafing is not an easy
skill to acquire and Lori, only recently departed from the world of work,
has needed guidance from the Master.
Just before departure, the ship's bell was finally engraved with the word
GRAPTOLITE. The final inquisition in the engravers inner sanctum must have
gone well. The wind generator has also now been bolted to the back of the
boat but still needs the electrical work doing.
Today was mostly motoring in light winds but we made 43 miles to Navare and
parked up in the marina there. Just opposite a fish processing factory. As I
write, hundreds of associated seagulls are making a racket and trying to
turn the boat into a pile of guano. The usual non-joined-up bureaucracy had
us having to leave either ships papers or a passport as deposit for keys to
get into the marina. A passport was left which was fine with the marine
police, who only wanted ships papers, but naturally it was not fine with the
immigration police.