Stir crazy in Sines                                                       14-18 October 2014-10-18

We have now been in Sines (pronounced Singe) for 5 days and we should be good to go at 7am tomorrow morning. We planned to leave this morning and were all up and about at 6am, dressing in the dark and generally getting in each others way. Peter headed up to the marina office complex to have a shower and return the marina access cards (and get the 60 Euro deposit back) while I jumped on the laptop to get a final weather report. At that point the front wheels fell off our wagon, a large low has settled to the west of Madeira, from yesterdays report this should have shifted further west but basically hasn’t, which leaves us with 15-20 Knot headwinds for the first 24 hours. A quick chat with Norma and I decided to postpone until tomorrow morning. I dashed, well walked quickly as I refuse to run in public, to catch Peter before he returned the cards. At that point the rest of the wheels fell of our wagon because I met Peter returning along the pontoon. Ho Hum, book the boat in again for another day at 10 O’clock when the Marina day staff turn up for work. 

So what have we been up to in Sines for the last week? As I mentioned earlier, the trawler Western Star was in harbour, as was Dave on Wild Beast II, we have also chummied up with a couple from Northern Ireland, Eilish and Richard aboard The Yacht Granuaiile, so Norma has been in her element making new friends all around. We all went out for a meal on Wednesday (10 at the table) which was a great Craak as they say in Ireland. We found out that Richard used to be a fireman in Ireland as was Norma’s father and brother. It took about 20 seconds to trace the known associates back and discover that Richard is a  friend of Norma’s cousin John Belshaw, also a fireman in Ireland, small world. Richard and Eilish are on their second Atlantic odyssey, this time for two years and so we have thoroughly picked their brains gaining a wealth of top tips and good advice on all things cruising. Richard actually built their yacht, a steel gaffer in his back garden, teaching himself to weld along the way and she is a real credit to his workmanship.

            Hand made in Ireland out of steel by Richard in his back garden

While we are on the subject of workmanship, Peter and myself have been using our time productively by replacing the nasty cork material on the flat areas either side of the companionway with teak planking. We have also pulled out all 80 meters of the main anchor chain and marked it up as the old paint had faded, put chaffing tubes on the bowsprit stays, fixed the VHF as it was playing up, put a new clip on the mizzen boom crutch and generally been all round workaholics. Spectra is now gleaming again and ready to go. 

 Hand made by Peter and Paul on the dockside in Sines, Portugal. Not a bad job if I say so myself.

Today we walked up to the castle overlooking the town and visited the museum inside. The castle has a great view of the harbour from its battlements which is not really surprising I suppose, it being a castle and all, but it did provide a photo opportunity. On the way back we played a tune or two on a pair of xylophones that are set up in a children's park below the castle. I just know the locals were impressed but to their credit, they kept their cool and didn’t let it show.

Panoramic view of Sines harbour. Marina left of the entrance.

Western Star picked up their replacement engine bits yesterday and with a new crew member set of for Lagos at 1800 last night. From there they plan to go to Gibraltar (cheapest fuel apparently) and into the Med. We plan to leave at 7 tomorrow morning for Madeira and Dave plans to head of on Monday for Portimao and then the Med. Richard and Eilish will be heading down to the Algarve in the next few days and then onto the Canaries and the Caribbean. They plan to start at the top of the Caribbean and work their way down which is the opposite to us so I am sure our paths will cross again. Our little troop of travellers are splitting up and going there own ways which is really the nature of the beast

If I write again tomorrow it will mean we haven’t been able to leave and I will be Narked to say the least so I will probable be writing in BOLD CAPS. If I don’t write, it is four days to Madeira so watch this space. I will update ASIP…….(As Soon As In Port).

If you are enjoying the blog please drop me a line on Spectra {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com it will keep my enthusiasm up and might even get you a mention in dispatches.