37:06.64N 08:40.53W

Sorry for the delay in reporting, but no internet at the last stop.

Monday 23rd June

Race started in nearly 2 knots of wind, with Serafina pottering directly along the line on starboard inviting all the others to turn away! Rally control then lifted the motoring restriction and with a roar of diesel engines, the fleet set off for Lagos, some 75 miles distant.

Gradually the wind began to fill in, and at around 45 miles the speed had increased to 15 – 20 knots and we were all flying along happily. Bouzouki (Beneteau 50), Blue Beyond (Moody 54) and Bali Hai (Moody 49) who were slightly ahead of us, called the rally as they approached Cape St Vincent, to report winds of 30 knots. Then as they continued round the cape to the next headland, this figure was revised upwards to 40 knots, which borders on Force 9. As we approached the first headland, we reefed down the main and replaced the genoa with our hard wind jib. The wind quickly started to rise and we found ourselves close to Sea Lion, blazing through the quite heavy seas, mixed with the Atlantic swell at 8 to 9 knots. Sarah was proved right at this point (she had suggested a bigger reef in the first place!) and we (Sarah) put in a further reef in the main sail.   (We all agree that racing is just in some people’s blood forever....) This actually made Serafina more balanced and when at the second headland the wind speed rose to 38 knots,  we finally pulled past Sea Lion, busily photographing each other. An added bonus is that the rally organisers had set themselves up on the second headland with some special camera equipment (borrowed off Blue Beyond) and took a load of pictures of us, Sea Lion and Blonde Moment, who were about a mile ahead of us.

The wind speed eased to a more respectable 25 – 30 knots for the 20 mile leg across the bay towards Lagos and Serafina raced away from Sea Lion, past Vision (Lavranos 50) and closed down on Blond Moment. The final leg was just over a mile, hard on the wind and we all managed to make the line without tacking, which surprised all the boats ahead who had had to make several tacks and subsequently lost time.

Sails down and motored up a narrow river entrance to the very fine marina in Lagos. Party organised by Blue Beyond (with a pirate theme) got under way on the pontoon followed by a Chinese meal. (well it is Portugal!)

Lots of photos were taken during this excitement and to do them justice, we will probably post these in a photos section on the website later this week.

A fantastic sail and sadly the joy was tempered by the discovery during the final part of the sail, that Ray had not closed the forward roof hatch as well as he thought and the waves that had been pouring over our decks had also been running into the forepeak bedroom. Total carnage in there and a major exercise in drying, washing, dry cleaning and dumping is under way as I write.

Big final prize giving and dinner tonight.