Cascais
Shelena
Phil Scourfield
Fri 28 Aug 2015 14:51
28 August, 2015 at Cascais marina
When we departed Penichethe weather was overcast with little to no wind and
it was dead astern. Non sailors that may be reading may not appreciate that
the wind is both a matter of great delight and utter frustration when
sailing. It can and is exhilarating when blowing broadly more than 40
degrees from either side of the yacht's course. Too far forward or less than
40 degrees and the wind is on the nose. Then it is a choice of no sails,
because no yacht can sail simply directly into the wind, so it's on with the
main engine drinking diesel. Alternatively, change course so that the wind
is no longer on the nose and sail as close to the wind as you can. The
problem now is that the course is no longer direct to the chosen destination
so the distance travelled will be longer. We have opted mostly to use the
main engine to date since we need to be close to Lisbon for Sarah's return
flight to the UK on Monday. Alas, so sad to see her go! I should add that it
is not strictly true that we can sail anywhere from 40 degrees from the
wind's direction. When the wind is so far aft it is directly at your back
that too is not just a slow point of sail but the boom is as far off centre
the yacht as is possible and it generally does not make for comfortable
sailing. Rolling is often induced by sea swell and the wind. It all adds up
to limited use of sails if under any time pressure. The wind seems either to
be too much on the nose or too much aft. Of course, the other big factor is
the strength of the wind. It is usually too much or not enough. The point
is that this goes to the heart of why sailing is so much fun. Never
predictable and always challenging. Enough of that. The fact is that the
passage to Cascais was motoring. Enough said!
On this occasion it was Cascais itself that was to become our favourite
place since St Peter Port. Doubtless 28 degrees Celsius helped too. The
marina is well situated close to many restaurants and coffee bars.
Especially nice last night to be treated to dinner by Sarah. After dinner it
was a stroll to an historic citadel that runs into the quaint old town with
beach too. A concert was being staged although the intermission seemed to
continue for a couple of hours so we never did see the live performance. We
did hear it after we had returned to Shelena. Sound carries miles at night.
