Malua is at 36:59.99N 07:50.31W at Olhao on the Rio Formosa on 24/09/2012

We anchored in the fairway of Ayamonte so we could get a good start with the outgoing tide for the short hop of 25 nm west along the coast to the next river mouth and anchorage.  The sea was very confused as we left the shelter of the break-wall.  The wind was more south than west but the cloud cover was dark with a clear depression south west of us well out to sea.  As we sailed westward the horizon darkened and the rain came towards us.  As is the case the wind was on the nose and in the 12 to 18 kn range.  I had taken in one reef in the main and had the stay sail out but the chop slowed our progress to almost nil.  After unfurling the genoa Malua started to pull ahead and we tacked our way along the coast.  The rain came - the first I have seen since the UK in July and the boat got a good wash only to have the salt spray all over the decks as we crashed our way into the short chop.  As we moved westwards the swell increased as did the period.  We were in no rush because we had to wait for the tide to turn and come in between the break-walls on a half rising tide.  The wind picked up as we approached as did the well and we made a cautious entrance in 22 knots of cross wind but a deep entrance.

The Rio Formosa is a huge delta with sand dunes along the coast. A shallow channel leads towards the town almost 2 miles from the coast.  At low tide it dries so we along with a number of other yachts dropped our anchor next to a isolated fishing village perched on the sand strip between the ocean and the delta lagoon.  It has a small fishing harbour.

The wind was still blowing as the sun set and we turned in for an early night.

A magical moment on Malua