To Sines via a live gunnery range!
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Sat 18 Oct 2008 15:37
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Sines 37:57.05N 8:51.95W
Leaving Sesimbra at first light - well second light
perhaps as we are not good at getting up early! we attempted to sail a few miles
with the mainsail seeing daylight for the first time since the Solent. However,
the breeze was fickle and after an hour of drifting to the point where our
trailing lure on the fishing rod was probably bouncing along the sea bed we
decided to push onwards under engine.
The warship that we seen anchored of Sesimbra the
previous night - F475 a frigate of the Portuguese navy steamed past us after an
hour or so and promptly put out a warning (fortunately also in English) that
they would be conducting live round firing in a 10 mile radius area we happened
to be motoring through! As we didn't want the new genoa peppered with holes we
duly heeded the warning and steamed eastwards out of their live firing area. The
remainder of the trip to Sines was uneventful, arriving mid afternoon to an
interesting looking fishing port with a very well organised yacht
harbour.
A walk around the old town built under the shadow
of an impressive fort is charming if a little run down in parts which adds to
its charm. The new part of Sines makes no apologies for intruding into the
historic past and seems to architecturally barge its way into its own place in
the backdrop to the port. Not everyone's cup of tea but we rather liked the
place.
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