Monday 8 April - Thursday 18 April 2013
Spellbinder
Thu 18 Apr 2013 16:10
drove down to Lagos in a hire car. Checked into the Solar de Mos hotel, and
then out for a late omelette at a simple restaurant by the town campsite.
Tuesday morning we were onboard Spellbinder in the Sopramar boat yard,and
put in a good days work preparing for the launch the next day. All seemed in
good shape. Wednesday morning was the last check round, then into the water
in the new 50 tonne boat lift, which saved having to remove the forestay, a
requirement on the way out last autumn in the smaller 35 tonne lift. Round
to Lagos marina. The short trip raised suspicions on the flow through the
seawater hull valve for the engine cooling. After half an hour of checks and
head scratching we came to the conclusion that the valve was not fully open,
despite the handle being in the rightr position, and the only option was to
ask the boatyard if they could lift us out again. Fortunately they had space
in the schedule to lift us the next day at 3pm. A somewhat subdued evening
ensued.
Thursday morning was too breezy for getting the sails rigged again, but many
other jobs beckoned,
including stripping and overhauling the winches, an annual job which had
slightly slipped. After lunch we walked round to the yard to see if they
were ready for us, only to fine the hoist was occupied with a large yacht
waiting for road haulage to appear. Many apologies, and postponed to Friday
afternoon, which was concerning. Back to the hotel for another nervous
night.
Friday morning was quiet enough to get the mainsail on, although we were
delayed by a screw on one of the batten fittings that would not come out.
Half an hour of increasingly frustrating efforts finally produced a result
but, just when we thought we were there, one of the lazy jack lines parted
up the mast. Out with the Bosuns chair, and after a quick weight assessment
Martin was winched up by Henry. By the time that was all done the sea breeze
had set in, so we retired for lunch. We then motored round to the boatytard
waiting pontoon, and by 3 they were ready to lift us out. A quick inspection
showed the hull valve was stuck about one eighth open, and the handle was
completely detached fron the valve. Paul, the Sopramar mechanic set about
removing the fitting, but due to a combination of difficult access, and
corrosion, eventually he had to use an angle grinder to cut off the fitting
from the outside, while Henry looked the other way! So having fitted a new
through hull fitting he recommended we stay in the hoist overnight to let
the jointing compound cure. Fortunately Pedro, the Sopramar boss was there,
so he ok'd the plan.
We stayed onboard, before 8.30 on Saturday morning Paul was back to check
all was well, and by 9 we were back in the water with smiles all round as
all was working as should be. Back around to the marina, where it was calm
enough to rig the mainsail reefing lines, and get the genoa hoisted. Time
for lunch, and much relief! Off to the supermarket with the car in the
afternoon, to get heavy provisions, beer, wine, tonic and some milk. All
back onboard in time for George's arrival at 6pm. Drinks, and supper ashore.
After such a busy, and somewhat stressful week, we decided to have a light
morning on Sunday, just checking out the dinghy and outboard, befrore taking
a trip down to Cape St Vincent, to eye up our forthcoming challenge. First
job was to put fuel in the outboard, which promptly flowed out the bottom as
the fuel tap under the tank had corroded away. Rushed round to the chandlery
in the boatyard to find them shut for the day. So we set off anyway to the
Cape, looked at the sea, thought our own thoughts on this daunting cape, and
enjoyed looking round the small but very informative museum recording the
superb record of the Portugese in maritime exploration and chart making.
Back to Sagres, and to the fishing harbour of Baleeira where we found a
very nice little fishy restaurant for Sunday lunch. Then gently back to
Lagos to return the car and enjoy a quiet evening onboard.
Monday morning round to the chandlers, to be told it would take 4 days to
get a new fuel tap. General gloom, as we wanted to be off the next day to
catch some favourable weather. They then suggested we try a little outboard
repair shop by the fishing harbour. Off we trotted to find a workshop full
of half dismantled engines, and two men who looked high and low through
piles of this and that, with no success. None of this helped by neither of
them having a word of English, nor us Portugese. However a phone call was
made, and we were indicated to return at 1 pm the next day. Hoping for the
best, we got on with shopping laundry, haircuts etc while Henry serviced the
main engine. Finished the day with supper in the cheap and cheerful Adega.
Tuesday morning was spent in final shopping for fresh bread and bits, and a
nice galao and custard tart in the favourite bread shop. Looked in to the
outboard shop at 12, where much to the owner's delight he presented us with
the exact spare part we required. So all that was required was a quick
lunch, and then we were off. A lovely northerly breeze gave us a brisk sail
along to Sagres, where we anchored under the lee of the peninsula, the
starting and finishing point of our trans Atlantic voyage. Early sups, and
an early, rather rolly night.
Tea at 6 on Wednesday morning, and as soon as it was light enough to see the
fishing floats we were off. 4 miles to the cape, motor sailing in increasing
wind and swell, and as we rounded the wind was on the nose for our intended
course, and the mist came down. An inauspicious start. We plugged on as best
we could, conscious that we needed to average 5 knots to reach the the first
sheltered port north of the cape in daylight. Not a fun day, but the
conditions eased later, and the visibility improved after the first hour or
so, so that we finally reached Sines with an hour of daylight to spare.
Motor on all the way, but also assistance from the sails most of the time so
we averaged 5.4 knots. Relief all round, opened the bar, early meal and bed
after a medicinal malt.