Algarve Bound!

We thought it best to “head on down” to the Algarve while we had a good weather window.  WJ3 was packed up and refuelled in Cascais before heading out to sea again.  This time a short coastal hop to Sines (said sin nesh), the best, if only, anchorage suitable for us between Cascais and Cabo Sao Vicente.  

Vasco overlooking WJ3 at anchor & a thoughtful Cap'n

We hooked in near the well protected marina at Sines and took an afternoon stroll around town. The port itself is hugely industrial, leaving the old town a little overwhelmed and down at heel.  However a restoration project is underway and one street, already paved with cobblestones, is home to some smart boutiques and tourist knick-knacks.  The fort, though small, has an interesting museum with some unusual prehistoric finds. Sines is the birthplace of Vasco de Gama, and he, like us, enjoys fine views across the harbour and out to the Atlantic from the fort tower.  

Later we managed to find a mini-mart to stock up with a few basic food items and staggered back to the boat with a large yellow melon.  GS has the Cap’n on a fruit diet.

Cabo Sao Vicente...& Once End of the World

Sines explored, we motored on in an interesting swell and heat haze (land wasn’t visible even 2nm offshore) until reaching Cabo Sao Vicente.  Cape St Vincent was once considered the edge of the known world and it still looks formidable today – wild and windswept.

Conditions changed the minute we rounded the Cape.  Winds rose from 0 to 15kts in an instant and a large swell came at us from the opposite direction.  Motor off, sails up, the Cap’n headed us to planned stop Baleeira, a small fishing harbour, one time whaling station.  Waves rolled, WJ3 surfed and we couldn’t tuck up far enough behind the protection of Baleeira's rock wall.  “I’m not staying here” said GS and went below to pack her bags.  So, in fading light and exciting conditions a stern Cap'n continued along the coast, dismissing Lagos next (marina only), then Alvor (shallow entrance and anchorage) until we finally reached Portimao (at night) with its squeezy harbour entrance. 

Well, of course it's easy when you know how... 

Next morning, we watched (in our pj's) in absolute amazement as a rather large cruise ship came through that same entrance and glided serenely up the Rio Arade, leaving us rocking in its wake.   Welcome to a tourist mecca….

From:	Cascais	To:	Portimao
Lat/Long:	38:41.8300N  09:24.8750W	Lat/Long:	38:32.0090N  28:37.5160W
Date/Time:	22/8/11: 1000	Date/Time:	23/8/11: 1425
Time Taken:	136.5nm (20.5hrs) (this trip)
Distance:	4856nm (891hrs) (this year)	Dist Total	10228nm (since 2008)
Weather:	N to NNE 15kts G20; seas 4-5’; a few fish/crab pots to dodge too; huge dolphin escort
Fastest Speed:	Despite motoring we avg 6.1kts; best speed 7.7kts (we finally learned to read the log!!)