We pulled up our big
Anchor Saturday 13th September at 10:31AM and motored off headed for
Porto the town centre 41:08.40N 8:36.85W
If anyone was wondering
Porto is where Port comes from believe it or not, I guess it is similar to
Scotch being from Scotland…….
So Porto is where we went, after consulting all of our cruising guides and
Almanacs we could not work out if you could actually get up the river and moor
up, the only reference we had was a quote from a cruising guide that it was not
for the faint hearted so we took the punt and it paid off. We carefully cruised
through the tiny entrance being very cautious not to run aground over the bar.
We actually had no idea where it was but that is why we entered on a rising
tide and not a falling one. Imagining I was a little bit of water flowing
through the channel on its path of least resistance I navigated Fiona through.
Great we had made it and we were on our way exploring the river. The Photos
speak for them selves, how beautiful and old the place is. The river itself
reminded me as if I was motoring up to South Bank in Melbourne. As we found a wall suitable
between many commercial tourist boats we pulled in and were immediately confronted
by a policeman who wanted to see Fiona and I in his office right away with
passports and the ships papers. This was actually the first time any authority
had approached us after all we had just traveled through France and Spain
stopping at fishing ports and anchoring so I guess that is fair enough. After
sorting out the boat we locked up and went in for a chat (or lack of) with the
local copper. He filled in ‘the form’ and said thank-you very much and off we
went. That was it.
Back to the boat for a
spot of lunch before we ventured out however it only took a few minutes for the
charm of our wonderful Australian flag (Thank you Myles) to attract a couple of
Aussies, Al & Em, they were on their pre wedding honey moon for a year
traveling around Europe in a Ford Transit camper van in true style. We invited
them on board and talked about our travels. It was great to have some company
from back home. They both were from Tasmania
but lived in Melbourne.
We all went out for a Port Tasting tour and a look around town.
We woke up bright and
early, well sort of, about 9AM after Fi, Al, Em and I polished off a bottle of
port the night before and got ready for our trip back down the river, I ran off
to get some bread which just so happened to be the most fantastic bread ever
and a quick coffee, I could not believe it that a coffee (Café Late) was 55
Cents great value I say.
Special comments by
Fiona:. Entering the River Douro in Porto was a bit daunting at
first, only due to the pilot cruising books we’d read advising that most
cruising yachts moor up in Lexios and take the bus into Porto.
The entrance to the river is notorious for being shallow in many area’s and
careful navigation is required. But of course this didn’t deter us! And I’m
so glad we chose to sail up the river because it was truly amazing. I’m not
sure if the photo’s do it justice though and truly capture the beauty of the
city by the river.
It was great meeting
fellow Aussie’s, which we hadn’t met any since living in the UK.
Day 53
Destination – Porto
Traveling Direction
–East
Wind Direction – No wind
this fine morning
Swell – Very little!
Average Speed – 4.4
Knots
Top Speed – 5.3 Knots
Through the water
Total distance – 5.84
Nautical Miles
Travel Time – 1.34 Hours
Temperature – 32 degrees
Crew
- Fiona (Loving the Sunshine and cruising up the River Douro)
Missing Work – NO
Expenses – Dinner Out
€49, Provisions €5.3, 1 Bottle of Port €7.5, Beer €11.7
Next Destination – Avierio
