Fai Tira Blog Saturday 19/09 

Fai Tira in Leixoes near Porto 41:11.14N 8:42.29W

We woke to a bright and sunny day and after a bit of discussion and consultation with the weather forecast we decided to carry on south even though we had 35 miles to travel with a wind forecast of 5 miles an hour.

I nipped off to the shower block and arrived back to find John had been poking around with his stern gland.   (sorry I meant Fai Tira’s stern gland)  We had been taking on a far bit of water through this seal that stops the water coming up through the prop shaft. 

All jobs done we called up the marina on the VHF and asked them to open the foot bridge so we could extract ourselves from the mooring. 

John took to helm and he skilfully manoeuvred Fai Tira out of her birth and out into the estuary. 

We were expecting to have to motor all the way to Leixoes BUT when we got out to sea the wind was blowing from the North (good) and about 20knots (very good).

We had a cracking down wind sail with the Genoa poled out to windward. We were averaging 6 to 7 knots over the ground.  Denise was working her socks off keeping us on course. 

We arrived in Leixoes well before our estimated time an birthed up in a howling gale.  We were invited for drinks on our BWR companions on Enchantrace and then came back to Fai Tira and cooked dinner.  I had a very lovely fresh Spanish Mackerel which a local fisherman had given me.  Delicious!!  Chef John did some brilliant fresh veg to go with it.  

Bye for now. 

Pete and John.