Day 18: Sliding along to Sines
Purple Mist
Skipper: Kate Cope
Mon 3 Oct 2022 21:13
Day 18: Sliding along to Sines
This morning was an early start to catch the first light for a long leg to Sines. The direct route is 51NM easily doable in a day but after 4 boats were attacked yesterday in the day and one overnight on the direct route we decided to head inshore making it 67NM.
There was nearly no wind today so the little 15HP had to do all the effort - it was chugging along slowly and so on top of Orca alert we had the concern of slow progress and were we going to make it in daylight.
We were not in an official flotilla but plenty of yachts were heading the same way. After the first headland the fleet split with many going the direct route and a few of us taking the long way round. All arrived safely in Sines but the sight of two boat minus their rudders sat on the hard here reminds you the threat is real.
Anyway the only mammals we saw were a couple of pods of friendly dolphins.
After all the busy marinas with no space I was a bit concerned we couldn’t book but our Norwegian friend aboard Olliver had reserved us the berth next door and was cooking us dinner as well. This took the pressure off us a bit . He even sent a video of the berth so I could set up the fenders perfectly.
As we arrived the fog started to descend and it’s now very very foggy .
Tomorrow was going to be an even longer day and we would have needed to set off in the dark …and the fog which is not a great combination. Instead the new plan is to go 60NM then anchor …well Olliver will anchor and we will raft alongside . Dinner is on me tomorrow night I think I can rustle up a curry with onboard provisions.
Tomorrow was going to be the last day of Orca concern but today there was an attack just west of Gibraltar. The little buggers are everywhere.
