37:00.828N 08:55.627W
We left Bayona, Spain, at 1000 on Wed 12th August,
(having survived the pig flu at anchor), and headed out for our 48 hr sail down
the coast of Portugal.
Started with both sails up, but as the wind dropped, so did the Main, and later
on the Genoa.
So did our clothes – a beautiful warm day, (light northerlies all the
way) and other than constantly hopping around endless lobster pots, all was
calm. We saw lots of sunfish (huge, amazing & peculiar looking fish) and
the dolphins swam with us for a while. After a stunning sunset, we were
suddenly enveloped by thick fog, which stayed with us for the next 24
hrs. We couldn’t see the bottom of the mast, and as we got the fog
horn, grab bag, and white flares to hand, we realized how appreciative we were
for investing in radar chartplotter with AIS. It was a fairly stressful
24 hrs with no sleep (tho we tried shifts) as we did our best to avoid, and be
avoided by, tankers and fishing boats. To add to the stresses, despite
checking reports carefully before leaving, our Navtex was not receiving any
weather information, and we are having to carefully log engine hours as the
fuel gauges are down. We took it in turns to sit at the helm with eyes glued to
the radar screen, and after a few close misses, the fog finally lifted the
following night.
We arrived at Baleeira, (Sagres), Southern
Portugal, at 0830 yesterday (Fri 14th), and
dropped anchor. Its 35 deg, we had a couple of beers, dived off the side
of the boat, and then slept …….. until …. Yep…Shane got
his fish..!!!
Still trying hard … enroute
…. Dinner at last!!! big ‘king
mackerel …. Baleeira
