Sines Marina
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Mon 3 Nov 2014 22:32
008:51.969W
Sines Marina
We were comfortably anchored off the Vasca Da Gama beach by the Vasca Da Gama Avenue and near the Castle where Vasca Da Gama was born, so "History" today was learning about Vasca Da Gama! His discovery of the sea route to India in 1492/3 led to looking at the Geography and colonisation of Guinea, Angola and Mozambique. The more we are learning about Portugal the more fascinating it is.
We popped into the Port Captain to ask about the facilities and he informed us that Port Sines was on 'Orange Alert' ~ 60km winds due at 4pm today! As the beach was a lee shore behind us we scuttled into the very reasonably priced Marina and are once again listening to the 35 knots shrieking in the rigging. We probably could have stayed out at anchor but it was also getting quite uncomfortable as we were directly in the firing line of any incoming swell.
Being secured inside however meant the four of us could walk ashore in the comfort that TC was safe. A very interesting town with narrow cobbled streets, all built around the Castle. We were pleased to find the Vasca Da Gama statue, a fine sight of the pioneer peering out to sea.
An amusing sound greeted us this morning, someone was playing his trumpet on the beach.
