Leaving a snowbound England, Mum and Dad arrived in Villamoura shortly after we landed in Lagos. We set off to visit them at their apartment, negotiating the local transport system which was not a patch on the modern systems of Porto and Lisbon. It was great to see family again and it was like a second Christmas day when we arrived. A new phone/camera for me and a voltmeter and Yorkshire tea for adam! These photos are with the new camera.

Mum and Dad bravely agreed to sail with us from Lagos to Vilamoura, and after giving Adam and I a couple of days to ourselves and entertaining Hannah and Gabe back in Vilamoura, they arrived in Lagos ready to set sail. It was a bit gloomy when we set off but the forecast was good, unfortunately it wasn’t and there were biggish swells and gusty winds, not too comfortable. The skys cleared after a while and we had a good sail into Vilamoura – with salty old sea dogs and cabin boys exchanging tall tales of the sea and daring do, as the sun set.

Next day dawned bright and sunny and we all repaired to the beach for the first time in weeks. Vilamoura is not a resort i would recommend, but it does have fantasic beaches that go on forever.

As ever Hannah and Gabe spent most of the time in the sea even though it was pretty cold and the locals all had big coats and boots on. Still for us it was the height of summer and Adam insisted on showing off his fine figure and Dad his pearly white pins, as we finally managed to get the kite to work. A perfect day ended with a perfect sunset and we prepared to head for Faro and anchorage the next day.