Thursday 6th September at Lagos
Spellbinder
Thu 6 Sep 2007 11:33
Set off on Saturday morning for Cape St Vincent in a brisk south easterly wind, one reef in the main. The wind steadily increased as we approached the cape until it was gusting force 7. Rather than risk the proposed anchorage around the cape, which would be exposed to the south east, decided 2 miles short of the cape to go back to Arifana.Several other sharp changes in wind strength and direction kept us on our toes, but Arifana was well sheltered and even the swell had gone. This evening we were joined in the anchorage by an Australian catamaran.Hailed the skipper as he rowed past, and he joined us for a drink and the supper. Jeff built the 28ft cat himself in western Australia, and had been sailing in it since 1995, mainly single handed. No gps, spent most of the time hugging the coast, and managed for days on end with 45 minute cat naps. an amazing guy.
Off again on Sunday morning for a second attempt on Cape St Vincent. This time we had the expected north wind, but too light to be of any use, so we motored down and around the cape to anchor just on the south side in a smalll bay under the cliffs. Spectacular.Marjorie and Martin swam in the bay, inaccessible other than by boat, and then motored in the dinghy round to the next bay, where we left the dinghy and walked out to the cape. Very different than the view from a boat, but rather a lot of people to have to share it with. The wind got up from the north in the night, gusting down the cliffs, but worth the disturbance for the location.
On Monday we made our way 3 miles to the east, and anchored in the Enseada de Sagres, a more open bay than the previous night. Ashore in the dinghy to explore Sagres, the location of the maritime school set up by Henry the Navigator. Unfortunately for Henry our navigator, it was shut on a Monday. Consoled ourselves with a couple of beers before going back onboard for supper. A quiet night, with only one other boat in the bay.
Tuesday took us another 19 miles to the east, to anchor just inside the breakwater at Portimao.A terrifying sight of massive blocks of apartments, but we landed on the opposite bank of the river in Ferragudo, which still preseved the narrow streets of a pretty fishing village. Grilled sardines on the quay for supper.
Up anchor on Wednesday morning, and back 8 miles west to Lagos.There we entered that we will remain in for the next couple of weeks before setting off for Madeira. Henry and Marjorie return to England on Friday, while Martin remains in Portugal.
We will stat the blog again in two weeks, when we eagerly await the arrival of Bunny to beef up the crew until we get to Trinidad.