Leixoes, gale Thursday
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Fri 17 Oct 2014 00:18
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41:11.160N 008:42.325W Atlantico Marina, Leixoes, Nr Oporto, Portugal Dramatic and exciting weather today. We stood on the inner sea wall marvelling at the waves crashing on the outer wall, some reaching to the top of the crane, 60ft high? Gale force winds steady on the wind scale all night and day. The pontoons were all over the place and bigger boats had tied directly to the sea wall by-passing the pontoons for fear of ripping them off from the wall and dragging us all across the marina. Ropes pinged and rigging shrieked, at one stage Isabelle said she felt sea-sick which was very unfair considering we were safely in the marina. Photo here of Bol inspecting TC including the varnish work which has been trashed, note the ropes in all directions to ensure TC didn't break free. That brings me onto the subject of seasickness which I have been glossing over..... instead painting a rosie picture of a totally non-sick boat..... however, the detail can come another night; not now as it is late and we (7 boats represented) have just had a really lovely evening in a local Portuguese restaurant near the marina, organised by one of the boats earlier in the day, great idea as everyone had cabin fever. 17 of us around the table, a thoroughly international contingent and raising glasses to the calmer northerly winds which are due on Tuesday. Each time another boat arrived the proprietor just added another table. Harry and Isabelle did well trying out squid and deep fried whole fish where you just had to hold the tail and bite the head off and get on with it. Amazingly the bill was produced along with a bottle of Port, is that normal for a bottle of Port to accompany the bill not go on the bill. Perhaps in Portugal it is! |
