Portugal
Tillymint.fortescue
Tue 18 Aug 2009 20:31
|
40:39.578N 008:43.807W
Tuesday 19 August - after watching a beautiful
sunset yesterday evening we departed Seagull Island this morning. Hot on the
tail of the milkman we fled over the Spanish border into Portuguese waters
and after a 12 hour day we are safely anchored in Aveiro (which is
apparently Portugal's Venice - all lagoony and lovely). So far we have only seen
the industrial outskirts, the anchorage is well away from the old city and for
us the sun sets today over an oil refinery and ferry terminal - not so
photogenic! Our sail down was very tranquil and wholly uneventful. We motored in
the morning as the steam from the kettle was the only rush of air around the
boat. In the afternoon a delicate little following wind once more staggered out
of bed and we could turn the engine off for a few hours. We have to be a bit
more purposeful about making our destination along this stretch of coast as
there is a distinct shortage of ports of calls for boats the size of Tilly Mint.
Marinas are small where they exist and anchorages are few and far between.
Indeed our Yachting Monthly Cruising Companion book (which has served us
excellently so far) did warn of oil slicks and the floating carcasses of dead
cats in the one amply sized marina along the way but we thought we'd give
that a miss and press on south.
The light winds are a bit frustrating, something a
little bit spinnakery would have been useful but we are limited to good old
goose-winging due to our broken spinnaker pole. We are supposed to be
benefitting from The Portuguese Trade Winds as we progress down the coast. With
our experience to date it is a small wonder that Vasco da Gama made it beyond
the corner shop....... |
