PAVAN Momday 10 September

Pavan
Mon 10 Sep 2007 07:31
We left Olhao bright and early on Friday morning. It was overcast with little wind to help us on our way to Cape St Vincent sixty mile west.
 
However, we rounded the Cape mid-afternoon, and continued to motor-sail a through a foggy night, ariving in Cascais, 100 miles north, soon after first light on Saturday.
 
We took on fuel, and spent a busy morning washing the boat both below and on deck. Poor  PAVAN was looking very sad, all caked in salt and a generous layer of red Sahara dust !
 
The berthing master arrived at 08.00 on Sunday as arranged, returned our deposit for the security cards, and let us slip away into a calm, but murky morning.
 
An hour later, in a fit of optimism, we raised all the sails, but soon needed to use the engine again to make any progress. The forecast looks pretty benign, so we are grabbing the opportunity to make as much northing as possible, before the Bay turns nasty again.
 
We were visited by dolphins a couple of times during the forenoon, with our spirits further raised by a little sunshine, and Sunday lunch in thr cockpit.
 
We passed Cape Carveiro at 14.30, and saw a couple of rays swimming past in an oily calm sea.
 
Sunday dinner was a brilliant fish stew we bought in a restaurant the previous evening in Cascais.
 
It is now first light, and looking a bit grey. It has been a quiet watch, with a bit of southbound traffic, and the usual ducking and diving around trawlers with defective nav. lights.
 
Our plan is to reach Baiona mid-afternoon today ( Monday ), and enjoy a good sleep, a shower, and the hospitality of the excellent Yacht Club.
 
Subject to weather, we will provision in Baiona, and depart from there across the Bay, probably on Wednesday morning.
 
Let's see.............