Wednesday 3 September 2014

The Portuguese coast and on to Lanzarote 2014

We stayed a week to take advantage of the weekly rate.
The closed street market stalls eventually opened after a few days - all part of a book festival with classical music for ambience. This was a total contrast to the Spanish Fiestas we had previously witnessed.



We were ready to leave after the week was up... Next stop Pavoa do Varzim (1/2 day sail).
Leaving Viana, a French yacht cast off at the same time. He put his sails up in the river ( haven't got the confidence to do thet our selves) and soon disappeared over the horizon. We have room for much improvement it seams.

Povoa do Vazim
Pavoa was very interesting. A popular Portuguese holiday resort for families and the retired. The marina was very cheap but has the best showers yet! Negatives were the abundance of sea gulls and the fog horn (read air raid siren) which seemed to go off every night, all night as did the church bells.
We met up again with 'Shuma'. It was nice to meet up again and have a chat.

Douro Marina
We were finally able to fill up with diesel. Not wildly available on the Portuguese west coast. This was a very plush marina and Nuno was the best 'marinho' we have come across. He ecen told me off for going the wrong side of a buoy. If you visit Duoro Marina yourself be very careful as the water has very shallow patches at low tide and it's important to keep in the channel until you are level with the marina and fuel pontoon (take a sharp right).

Figuera de Foz
Up the river again and the current in the marina was deceiving. We and a few other boats were drifting while trying to maneuver - still we managed!
Here we met Nigel aboard 'Sea Brigand' together with his crew. Delivery skipper Steve ( from our neck of the woods) and crewman Paul. We had a very fluent get together one night - conversation and the booze ( eh Steve!)
Hitch hiking Dragon Fly
Nazare
Trying to steer between the breakwaters was like wrestling with a bull ( wish I'd took a video). This entrance was so rough!!!!
Once moored up we found a run down marina that had seen better days. The office was closed so I had to go and see the security guard. He was not best pleased to have another job to do (booking us in). However as with the Portuguese, after initial protests he was ok, thankfully.


Cascais
We arrived at Cascais at 12:30am and stayed on the reception pontoon until later that morning. We were made very welcome and enjoyed our stay.
We visited the Museum Condes De Castro and walked the gardens.


When we departed we were not charged for the first night on the visitors pontoon. BONUS !

Sines
A small town surrounded by industry. However from th town and marina you can't see it. Beautiful marina building but marina very windy.
Used the Asemetric Spinnaker, with success, on the way. 
On the beach
Lagos
We had to round Cape Vincent on route and boy did we get a shock!!! The wind (due to the Nortada) gusted up to 36 knots. With a tiny handkerchief of jib we made good headway but it was difficult heading into land. Phew!
Up a river again! Very busy!
Great English breakfast (1st in a year) and a pot of PG Tips, lovely!
Managed to source some decent tea. 
You can eat out like a Prince or buy great ingredients cheaply and eat in like a King. Steak is cheaper than chicken here. 
There was a lot of holiday makers tramping around the marina and numerous boat trips leaving and arriving every couple of hours.
Heading out was a bit of a nightmare - lots of boats and we had to wait a long time to fuel up as many local boats were piling up at the pumps.
Fuel pontoon Mele. 
Portimao
Just 6 Miles along the coast we anchored for the first time overnight. Loved it apart from the rave music blasting out all night. We stayed 10 days. FREE PARKING

We met up again with Nick and Jay aboard 'Bonventure'. Nick came aboard and helped us anchor as we were having difficulty as they were so many yachts there. Thank you Nick!
Nick and Jay threading a chain through a hosepipe for us. Cos we couldn't. 
Madeira 
We set out for Madeira, out of a calm bay to be hit with the strong wind of Cape Vincent and then the lumpy sea.
The shipping lane was busy and we had take avoiding action on a couple of occasions. 


After 8 hours we had had enough of the unpredictable beam sea (waves hitting the hull on the side) so we had to choose whether to continue, go back or change course. We changed course and headed south to Lanzarote. The ride was better with the sea behind and it was only 50 miles further. It was a new moon so we didn't expect much night time illumination but at the time of writing, we have a half moon and the stupid thing is out only a couple of hours at night but visible during the day. Pitts. We had difficulty sleeping because of the motion. This type of sea we had we called the 'washing machine' as it's rolly and pitchy at the same time. It makes doing anything very difficult.
At last after 4 1/2 days we sited land and anchored at the first opportunity-to get a good nights sleep. In the sheltered harbor of Arricife we were moving around like drunkards. The boat was in calm waters however we were not used to this. 

The next morning we moored in Puerto Calera Marina to set about shopping, fixing and cleaning.