Nazre to Cascais N 38 41 W 9 24
Gryphon II
Chris and Lorraine Marchant
Tue 25 Aug 2009 17:59
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A more dramatic day!
  The forecast seemed good with some decent strength winds
from the North so we set off for the long haul down to Cascais. The wind
increased gradually all day long with us progressively reducing sail
to a double reefed main and a small poled out jib. We kept up a steady 6.5+
knots and soon sailed through the strait between the Ilha da Berlenger
and Peniche on the mainland; here 28 years ago we had had to beat
through...at night ..in fog...and were nearly run down by a fishing boat. These
photos do not really do justice to the swell which was up to 3 metres
today.
As we came round the last cape before the entry to Cascais
the wind increased to over 35 knots and the boat became difficult to control. We
managed a rather sedate broach under double reefed main alone when the rudder
"lost its grip." The anemometer recorded a maximum wind strength of 50 knots
which I guess was recorded when we did this inelegant
manouevre. However, we dropped the main and continued under reefed jib
instead with much better control.
On arrival we anchored in the bay. As the wind
continued to blow a gale in the anchorage, we were content to be safely
anchored, and sitting down to supper when a police launch came alongside and
told us we would have to move as a fireworks display, to be fired from some
nearby barges, was going to happen later. Consequently we had to up anchor in
the dark amidst the gale, find our way into the marina and moor up. With
the help of an excellent harbourmaster we managed, and spent a rather restless
night being buffeted by the wind. The fireworks were excellent but not really
worth the rip off 52 Euros we had to pay for the privilege of a night in the
marina. We even had to check out by 2 pm or incur another day's charge, despite
the marina being half empty! I pointed out that people might stay longer if the
rates were less. We only paid 16 E at the previous marina. No
comment.
Cascais had no marina when we came before and the town was
much less developed but the attractive cobbled streets are still the
same.
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