We are in Sesimbra.  On anchor, in front of the small ‘village’,  Portugal. ;-) 

It was a nice ‘sprint ride’ — about 25 nm from ‘anchor to anchor’. 

We start to move shortly after  noon, from Cascais… The hope was — that though the .grib files do not predict any wind at all, the ‘local observation’ would be more accurate.  Under ‘local observation’ — I mean that shortly after noon the wind is peaking up,  probably so called ‘sea breeze’, due to the difference between the  big land mass on one side, and the big water space on the other…  And no matter what the ‘weather computer says’ — there is some wind from afternoon till the early hours of the evening…. 

And  indeed, the magic ( or physics ?! ) worked.   The wind started to picked up,  shortly after we left Cascais…  I was still running the motor for  an hour or so — to make the water, as we were enough away from the land and the harbour(s),  and to charge the batteries…  I was maintaining the ~5.5 kts of wind, on a broad reach,  following the coast…  Blue skies on top,  nearly flat  Ocean, and  the gliding boat… What else  we could dream off ?  ;-) 

To catch the fish… Well, the line(s) were in the water… With the same result as before — no fish…  ;-). But the good news — all equipment is back on the boat, so there would be another day, another try… 

A bit more wind…  That may be kind of true… Especially, as the need to run the motor — making water, cooling fridges, and charging batteries — disappeared…  At this point,  the wind made the different —  nearly diminished completely…. and then change direction  to 180 degrees… Instead of coming from the ocean, it start to come from the land… At this point, we were approaching the Cabo Espichel…  

At this point, I knew what would going to happen… ( Though I still do not know the physics behind… )  But the fact is —

— from Lisboa ( Lisbon ) area, from the river, the land is slowly but steadily picking up, as you approaching the Cabo Espichel.  It is seen very well as you following the coast… It is like a big valley, which South end is slowly getting higher and higher, from the North to the South….  And probably, as the Sun heating this valley, eventually, the sea breeze  is developed… 

— But then,  as you turn the Cabo itself — see the picture in the previous post — all that wind, which was accumulated in the valley,  Is coming down on you…  To which degree ?  As soon as we turn over the ‘corner’, the  wind wend from 7 kts to 20 kts within a couple of minutes…  And the fun part is — closer you to shore — even stronger the wind…. 

We had to go about 6-7 miles in ENE direction… And  then, get into the harbour….    As we were from the shore line 5 miles — we got 10 kts of wind… as we approaching closer — steady increase in the range of 20…. 

We arrived to anchorage…  Steady 25 kts of wind… Nice view, the old castle on top of the hill  — the picture below is not the greatest one, but you will get the idea — nice weather… And constantly blowing 25 knts….    Just in the area of 1 or 2 miles from shore…   I got my portion of fun to drop the anchor… 

But we managed,  we got new experience…   This wind should drop eventually, as the Sun will went down…  I hope the bottom is good enough to hold…   and the night would be peaceful and restful… 

What the plans ?  I checked tomorrow with marina, and double check what the possibilities are about visiting the castles, to see around. In any case — there is no plans to stay here for a long time…  The next place — Sien, which is about  another 30 nm further South…  

That is all for now.  We are doing fine,  everything is OK. 

Talk to you soon,

M.