Lagos - 37:06:63N 08:40:45W
Red Skies
David Alexander
Wed 24 Jun 2009 18:12
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Monday 22nd June
With a 75nm passage ahead, we left Sines at 6.30 am
After a sluggish start due to light winds in the early morning, we
subsequently had a brilliant sail with our cruising chute. Some nervousness was
felt by the skipper due to the reputation of Cape St Vincent and having
experienced several previous incidents of increased winds around
lesser promontories.
Mid morning, a call was received that Rally
Portugal had chartered a light aeroplane to take a photo-shoot and
could all boats VHF their expected positions in relation to Cape
Vincent for 3.00 pm. We responded that we expected to be at the Cape
at that time and when 3 pm arrived it was gratifying to note that was exactly
where we were. Unfortunately, when the aeroplane appeared, we had just snuffed
our cruising chute and gybed to put us on course for Lagos, so Red Skies with
cruising chute in full charge was lost as an aerial photograph.
 Cape St Vincent from below Red Skies' Cruising
Chute
We had been told that it was custom for sailors to
dip their ensigns as thet rounded Cape St Vincent in memory of Admiral Nelson,
so we duly did.
 David and Alison dipping ensign at Cape St
Vincent
The remaining part of the voyage was a storming
reach until Ponte de Piedade and the turn to Lagos. Here we experienced over 30
knots of wind on the nose, which made for a very interesting final beat for the
finishing line. It was made all the more interesting to find that when we
reached it, the final buoy had not been laid! Nevertheless, it was a wonderful
sail to conclude a wonderful rally.
 River Bensafrim at Lagos
 Opening a magnum of champagne on reaching
Lagos
Once tied up in the marina at Lagos, another
interesting experience due to the wind, the business of partying began.
On Wednesday most crews were involved in cleaning
boats to some extent or other but in the afternoon, the Rally organisers had
laid on tripper boats to take us to the local grottos (it saved getting our
dinghys out) followed by a beach barbeque.This was a very dynamic and happy
occasion, with Charlie from Red Skies ensuring not a man present escaped from
dancing to the music provided by a very accomplished vocalist/guitarist. It was
a hugely successful evening.
The Rally officially closed with a Gala Dinner at a
marina restaurant on Thursday evening, where each boat received a prize for some
pretext or another. Among the gifts to each boat was a book of prints by local
artists, which were then subsequently annotated by crews of the other boats - a
lovely momento of a fabulous experience.
Alison's final Rally ode:-
Sines - it was lovely
The seas - they got calmer We were welcomed at the fort Home of Vasco de Gama We all got together For a pontoon 'do' But we didn't stay late Next leg leaves at o - six thirty-two >From Sines to Lagos Our Final trip - no swelly Cape Vincent was calm Dipped the ensign to Lord Nelly Rounding the cape into Lagos Was the sting in the tail We tacked to the finish In a dot - dot near gale We berthed in the Marina God - what a palava A downwind berth 20 knots - in a harbour? A trip to the caves Under arches and bridges We saw faces in rocks And an elephant in ridges A beach BBQ With a singer of quality We ate and we drank And danced with such jollity Thanks to Marina de Lagos For the splendid event A wonderful party We're so glad we went Tonight is the final Prize-giving and dinner We know it'll be fun Rally Portugal - What a winner! |