Pisces 615: August 2015

From the log with comments.

JB flew back to Oz on 8 August just as the weather turned hot! A lazy Sunday then Alice arrived for 10 days with a plan to make Lisbon if we could. Departed 11 August after breakfast and coffee with Delphinus in calm and became cold and misty as we motored along the coast arriving early evening in Viana. Remembered to change the curtesy flag as we were now in Portugal. Left in cloud and a rainy passage down to Povoa de Varim where we met up with Pierre and Ann-Marie. Drinks on Jubilaire II interrupted by a downpour and supper aboard Pisces. Moved on the next morning, 13 August and a sloppy motor-sail down to Leixoes (pronounced.Layoinsh) where we stayed for 2 days and visited Porto by bus. After some consideration I planned an overnight passage down to Nazare. We were tight on time and the entrances to Aveiro and Figueira da Foz were potentially dangerous in swell. We did not want to be stuck inside. So left Leixoes mid morning on 15 August and motored most of the way. Rainy and cold in the afternoon but a starry night with phosphorescent dolphins. We were out beyond the 100 meter depth contour where lobster pots are rare! Moored up in Nazare at 10.30 16 August. Rather rough marina but friendly folk and helpful little man in the shop who enjoyed speaking french with me. Long walk to get diesel from the Repol and departed late morningi n sunshine and NW 3/4. Good sail with Arthur at the helm until the wind dropped and I tried to put the spinnaker up but aborted after the halyard tangled. Into Peniche late afternoon and much shenanagans mooring. Ended up moving onto a rocky outside site and pinned in by the wind. Good dinner ashore but Alice had to climb over the gate as the office was closed. Rolly night and early departure for a very rolly sail with lone genoa and big swell down the coast and around Cabo de Roca. Took ages as we had to gybe a few times. Eventually got round Cabo Raso and about to relax when I spotted a marine reserve on the chart and the wind suddenly piped up to 30 knots. Very brisk sail through the pots overtaken by a beautifil ketch and into the luxury of Cascais marina, though more fun getting into our berth in the wind. Very pretty town and another good dinner before leaving in warm sunshine for the 20 miles passage into the Rio Tejo estuary, under the huge Ponte 25 de Abril up into the Tagus estury and into the marina Parques da Nacoes. Thursday 20 August bused to Lisbon and Alice flew back to London.

My Highlights.

A replica of the Pinta and the beach in Baiona.

Alice in the mist

Downpour in Povoa de Varim

Wet an windy to Leixoes

Porto

Mateus Rose first drunk by PT aged 14 in Spain!

Eiffel's Bridge

Alice and her disgusting steak sandwich

Overnight passage with sunset…...

And sunrise 30 miles from land…………..

Where's my breakfast??

Nazare entrance and aft the following day….

Peniche fish supper despite the hassle with mooring.

Cabo Raso and the ketch (yawl).

Cascais

For Mark…..Skip

Rio Tejo and the wonky building..

1721 Alice and Fort Bugio.

1731 Torre de Belem

25 Abril Bridge and Christ

Nothing like a cold Superboch on the way up river.

Downtown.

Paques da Nacoes

Sailing with Dr Alice Thompson.

Backgammon

Alice in Marina Parques da Nacoes, Lisboa, Portugal.

From the log with comments.

Departed Camarinas on 1 August in light airs that built up as we sailed south with a moderate swell but JB fine with no further mal de mer. Rather daunting along Finisterre but the wind dropped and we motored past the cape in sunshine and into the Ria Fisterra and up to a pretty anchorage off Ensenada del Sardineiro where we were joined by Odessey. Left after breakfast the next day and motored round to Ria Muros then a fine sail down to Portosin marina. Great festivities for Saint Carmel with fishing boats dressed overall and very loud firecrackers and bombs. Dinner in the yacht club and a lazy day shopping and washing before a motor-sail on 4 August around Isla Salvoa and into the Ria de Arosa and past the viveros and into Vilagarcia marina for supper of over battered tapas. We left on 6 August in a haze which became fog once we were in the Ria. On instruments (AIS, radar, chart plotter and Ipad apps) but still had a close shave with a fishing boat and almost hit port marker in the Fagilda passage. Visibility improved as we sailed into Ria de Ponteverda and anchored off Playa Silgar. However, the swell was working in so we moved to the next little cove off Agar and had a swim, champagne (the ice was holding out), supper and a quiet night but rudely wakened by a little fishing boat blaring ‘Una Paloma Blanca’. Good sail with genoa up alone and wind aft down to Playa Arena das Rodes on Islas Cies for lunch but rather windy across the sand spit. Then down to Baiona where I had reserved a berth for 4 days at the Monte Club Real de Yates, right in the middle of the crenelated Parador.

My highlights.

Finisterre from the north and south.