37:06.425N 08:40.441W LAGOS

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Sun 2 Aug 2009 12:10

37:06.425N     08:40.441W             LAGOS

 

 

25th July, 200

 

First thing organised with the port authorities at Sines, paid the berthing costs, filled out yet more paperwork for the GNR Marine Police, they copied the passports again and we departed around 9am on a lovely sunny day with light wind. Sailed along easily at about 6 kts, with the pole on the genoa and the main tied to prevent it gbying accidentally on the roll caused by the swell of the Atlantic, to get as much sail as possible. We were thrilled to be visited on several occasions by dolphins and at one time had more than ten common Atlantic dolphins playing and dancing in the waves alongside our yacht. It was lovely to watch their free movement and speed as they joined us for 45 minutes or so.  All day the weather was good and we took photos of the lighthouse as we sailed past Cape St. Vincente, Portugal’s most SW point, at about 6 pm.

Suddenly from a casual breeze came gusts of up to 40 knots causing us all to shift our positions and hang on.  Sun bathing before the Cape and after on went the Musto jackets. Luckily Jim had expected a change and we had taken the pole off the jib and we quickly put a reef in the main. We sailed along very fast at up to 11 knots and waves were coming over the bow and we were getting splashed down our necks. We cover the final 20 miles to Lagos in under 3 hours one sail reaching with a reefed mainsail.  We were not sorry to see the entrance and channel to Lagos and with the help of Raymarine made our way carefully into the visitors’ berth. By now it was 9.30 pm. 12 hrs sailing today and 74 miles.

 

A rest at Lagos and a holiday for the next 10 days with Melissa, Lizzie, Poppy and baby George arriving from England on Monday 27th July. 

 

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