Another early start for the 70 nm to Oeiras just outside Lisbon at 7.00am. Again little wind so motored over the start as all the ARC boats did. After about 3 hours the wind picked up enough for the second lunch of the Parasailor - this time it went up and stayed up! 3 hours of glorious sailing followed - what a sail. However ……. With the winds picking up a decision was made to drop the Parasailor - just as this was being done a big gust of over 25 knots hit the sail making it impossible to bring down but the gust also made the boat broach considerably . Nigel - now know as Mast Walker - could almost stand with his feet on the mast. Poor Sarah and Fiona in the cockpit by desperately hanging on as one of the life rings was ripped from the guardrail by the force of water. I was on the bow . Then the Parasailor ripped which meant it could be Brough back down to the deck. 

Crew very shaken but safe and we then sailed under wide sails to the finish at 18.30. Nigels first words to the ARC yellow shirts was “have you got the paint for the painting competition “

Th following morning Nigel was up early to add his painting talents to the marina wall before Fiona and his flight home.

What a day…

Michael