Wednesday 22 August 2012 - Wednesday 29 August 2012 Gibraltar to Lagos Portugal
Spellbinder
Tue 13 Nov 2012 21:28
There was a thick mist the next morning that delayed departure until 1100. There was a breeze from the south southwest, however, and although almost right astern on the port quarter allowed some enjoyable sailing up the coast to Rota across the bay of Cadiz. The wind veered into the west across the entrance to the bay and a most enjoyable sail was had in the evening light. Rota was welcoming and we had time the following morning to explore the old town before setting sail for Chipiona at the entrance to the Rio Guadalquivir. This was a good sail on the wind under a clear blue sky and fast enough to clear some of the weed off Spellbinder's bottom. This we think had attached in the waters of the Spanish Mediterranean coast where agricultural run-off is significant - a two month period afloat but stationary in the heat of the summer at La Linea did the rest.
The opportunity was taken to visit Sanlucar by bus from Chipiona and savour the fishy delights of the Rio Guadalquivir. Chipiona town itself was most pleasant on a summer evening thronged with young Spanish families enjoying themselves in the balmy warmth. We considered a night sail across to Cabo de Santa Maria from here but decided it was unwise given the number of floating fish farms in the area ready to trap the unwary. So Spellbinder set sail for Mazagon where she berthed for the night before heading west to Cabo de Santa Maria. It was a pity that tides approaching springs made it difficult to visit Huelva and the Rio Guadiana when the currents swept out from late morning for 6 hours. We anchored east of the east breakwater at Cabo de Santa Maria and had a comfortable night after motor sailing all the way from Mazagon. It had clouded over and some spots of rain fell. The anchor was weighed on 28 August on a calm sunny morning with some haze and after avoiding a new floating fish farm off the Cape set sail for Portimao in a rising wind from the SW. Four hours of enjoyable sailing followed on a beam reach along the western Algarve. After anchoring in Portimao harbour, the dinghy was lowered and taken to Ferragudo on the east of the river for a good seafood supper. The last short leg to Lagos was spent ghosting along in light airs but on proceeding to the west of the harbour towards Ponta de Baleeira the wind shifted dramatically and increased in strength in a remarkably short distance. We stayed with Plan A and put in to Lagos where Spellbinder was to spend the winter ashore in the Soprama boatyard. After a day spent visiting Cape St Vincent and its excellent new museum followed by lunch at the Pousada at Sagres, a day was spent striking down and stowing the sails and other deck equipment before motoring round to the Soprama boat lift. After some waiting around until the spring tide gave sufficient depth and the forestay was disconnected to fit the boat on the lift(!) Spellbinder was lifted out and the weed jetwashed off the copper-based hull coating. A further day and a half was spent preparing the boat for the winter and doing all those chores like clothes washing, heads cleaning, fridge emptying, upholstery cleaning etc. We left the boat on Monday 3 September.