Peniche and Cascais

Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Sun 17 Jul 2016 14:06
This time, we elected to have an overnight stop in Peniche, about half way between Figuera and Cascais. Last time, four years ago, we had a rolly overnight stop at the Islas Berlingo, a few miles offshore to the west of the fishing harbour at Peniche. So, in the spirit of mixing it up a bit, we took the alternative this time.

The sail from Figuera was another classic trade wind affair....strongish wind from the north west, which clocked right to due north as the day got older. We sailed fast, mostly with a boomed out no 2 Genoa...the same, now nearly 30 year old Dacron sail which valiantly hauled us across the Atlantic in 2012. Arriving at Peniche, we expected a little shelter from the 20 knot northerly, but our expectations were hardly delivered.

We came alongside another large blue British yacht, itself sheltering from strong northerlies, on her way back to Troon in Scotland. And almost turned on the cabin heater, such was the wind chill. Peniche is a working fishing harbour, and has the aroma to match. We ate a late but well received meal aboard and retired....ready for another early start.

The next day, Thursday, started very well....probably the 6th day of unbroken clear skies, we cast off and left the harbour in about 10 knots of north easterly breeze. I expected the wind to build, so we hoiked up the heavier of our two spinnakers and set off across the bay, sailing close to the shore. Then in came a shift, to the left, so we gybed and set off in a good wind, making a direct course to our waypoint just to the west of the corner of Portugals "nose" behind which nestles Cascais, Estoril and the entrance to the river at Lisbon. Persephone was revelling in the conditions...fast, flat water sailing....towing generator humming and solar panels all gathering watts....FRED, our ridiculous electronic device, was steering, and we concentrated on seeing the views, hydrating and resting.

As we approached the " nose" headland, the wind died, so the kite came down, but we pushed on through the fluky conditions to find a more stable breeze beyond and Karen steered the ship in to the anchorage at Cascais a little after 4 in the afternoon.

Friday was about re victualling, and on Saturday, the good ships Venture Lady and Silver Lining caught us up and sank hooks in the sandy bay close by.

It's Sunday now, and we have just enjoyed a lovely curry ashore, reflecting too on the splendid evening spent aboard SL, eating the freshly caught mackerel delivered by Andy on VL. We supplied hors d'euvres and salads plus the requisite alcoholic accompaniment, at least in part....

The joy of all this travel is mainly in the people you meet, and we seem to have hooked up with an eclectic and essentially good crowd....

Today, there is little wind. It's hot too....that little change was palpable within a few seconds of rounding the point?...so the chill of Peniche is well behind us now.

Cascais is a wealthy town. Beautifully manicured, smart and tidy....it has a holiday feel to it. We are here for the weekend, and the beaches are crowded.

Racing enthusiasts will be keen to hear that the Club Nautique Cascais is running a regatta for SB 20's and they seem to have found enough breeze to race each day...

Tomorrow, we might head of for Sines ( pronounced cinch ), to see what is happening there. But I think we might have to use the engine!

All well here....its siesta time now!

N

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