Exciting Sailing
Christine's Atlantic Circuit
Peter Lansdale
Sat 23 Jul 2016 20:48
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38:41.6N 09:24.7W Saturday 23rd
July.
We left our berth in Peniche this morning to sunshine
and a gentle breeze which we thought would mean a full days sailing to Cascais.
The berth had seemed rather exposed in the strong wind last night which together
with the warnings in the pilot book about fishing boat wash meant we thought we
were in for an uncomfortable and disturbed sleep. AS usual the wind dropped and
the wash was not as bad as expected so all was well.
Once out of the marina we tried to sail in the 10knot
breeze but it was directly behind us so with a swell running we decided the
clattering about of the sails was too much and motored. By 10.30 with a little
more wind we decided to head up a little to carry the mainsail and gennaker. We
were now doing 8-9 knots which was marvelous sailing but not really in the right
direction so after a while we turned down wind and motored again.
After rounding Cabo da Roca the wind was on the quarter
so we tried the main and gennaker again, soon romping along. When the wind built
to 22 knots we got the gennaker down with some difficulty and continued under
mainsail. The wind built rapidly so with 30 knots blowing down came the
mainsail and we motored into Cascais marina.
The reception berth was difficult with the wind blowing
directly off the pontoon, no staff to assist despite a single hander being ahead
of us and taking 4 attempts to berth. But a very smart marina, very expensive,
English prices. We are now tucked up at our berth with the wind howling through
the rigging.
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