Oriole in Portugal
Oriole
Sat 31 Aug 2002 15:10
We left Portosin on Monday the 26th August having had a couple of nights
there and had a cracking sail down to Ria Arosa. We had 20-25 knots astern
which made for some exciting sailing. We anchored for the night, pedallo
distance, off the beach at Playa Barrana. Tuesday we were underway late
morning and drifted down through the viveros (mussel rafts) with the yankee
then had a beam reach down to Bayona. We had two nights on the excellent
yacht club marina and a couple of meals ashore. There were a few boats
heading for the ARC which I guess we may bump into again. We finally feel
that we are getting south, no swimming yet but the swim suits have appeared!
Thursday we went on to Viano do Costelo, not a particularly nice harbour but
the old town is charming with 16th and 17th century arcitecture, narrow
streets and a lovely square with an old fountain and street cafes.
Yesterday we had a gentle sninnaker run to Povoa de Varzim, a fairly new
marina, good facilities but very few boats here. Today we woke up to thick
fog so decided to stay put. We have been using marinas rather more than
usual this trip as the dinghy and outboard were stolen from the stern of the
boat in Camaret. Troubadour have lent us their spare until we pick up
replacemants in Cascais. Will sign off now to go and explore.