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Date Filed |
19/10/2010 |
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Lat/Long |
37º 06.58 N |
8º 31.31 W |
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Content complete to – (Date |
Place) |
Lagos, Portugal |
15/10/2010 |
Friday 1st October to Monday 4th October.
A longer than intended stay in
Monday was another windy forecast, so we all had another day
amusing ourselves in Gib before an early
start on Tueday 5th October. It was still dark so we were dodging
the ships at anchor & on the move in the harbour, then the sun rose behind
the Rock. We could see across to
Later we got a taxi to the white hill town of
Wednesday 6th October. A promptish start from
Barbate initially motoring to round the spits & shallows guarding
Thursday we all rushed into
Friday 8th October. A mid morning departure for what turned in to a fairly speedy sail, with lots of tide assisting. The only downside was seeing a very large dead turtle float by. Arrived at Chipiona around lunchtime. 19 nm.
Siesta time over (shops reopen) we set off on what turned into a marathon to find the elusive gaz bottle shop. The mission was finally successful despite several wrong directions (from other people) & several wrong turnings (our lack of language fault). Doug thought he should have worn hiking boots, not deck shoes!
Finally supper in a very nice harbourside resturant.
Overnight there was thunder & lightning, rain & wind.
Saturday was a day for provisioning, after the overnight rain cleared, & sightseeing.
The sea was breaking over the walls of the promenade & threatening to engulf some of the beach cafes. The showers & wind came back again overnight.
Sunday 10th October. Our visitors left for the
10am bus to
Gannet interlude. Early in the morning a young (all dark plumage) gannet was floating around in the harbour, very unusual but we assumed it was ‘shell shocked’ from the previous night’s storm. Late morning it was still there & we realised it had some fine fishing line entwined round its head, beak & neck.
Armed with our bird book I went to ask the office if there was anything they could do. Everyone was referring to the ‘cormorann’, & I realised we are lucky as these birds are mostly seen offshore & not by those who do not go to sea. Finally they rounded up the security man ‘who likes birds’ to help. We were not around to see what happened, but that evening it was ‘parked’ on a pontoon, & the line had been removed. Next morning as we were about to leave it was preening & someone had left some crabs nearby (I think fish would have been more appreciated, but the thought was there), so we hope it will survive. It is good to know that other people also wish & are willing to help wildlife.
Monday 11th October. Departed Chipiona at first
light & started sailing as soon as we cleared the harbour entrance. There
was still a big swell so it was fairly energetic, but quick, & the tide was
with us. There were a lot of fishing buoys & boats about, but only the
occasional ship. Early afternoon the wind dropped & the engine went on as
we were heading for a harbour that it is unwise to enter once the ebb is
running & did not wish to arrive late. In less than 2hrs we were sailing
again & needed to reef for a sudden squall as we neared our destination of
Ayamonte, 3nm up the river Guardiana,
the border between
The marina staff confirmed that the bridge over the Guardiana has a height of 18M, so it is too low for our air draft of 19+M.
Went for an evening wander round the town, which had 2 large churches with floodlit belltowers.
Tuesday 12th October. Another early start, this time in the dark, & again to beat the tide. Almost out of the river the prop kicked wildly, it had obviously hit something, which our usual ploy of hard astern didn’t cure as the boat speed was down ½ a knot. We pressed on until clear of the river shallows & as it became light we could see we were trailing a large lump of plastic sheeting. It was too deep to reach with the boathook, but fortunately we cut the engine while Doug contemplated diving to clear it & it dropped free. Very lucky. We were now in Portugese waters & it was an hour earlier (time zones), with very light wind so motoring. Mid morning we detoured around a huge set up of fish farm & tunny nets, then entered the chanel leading behind Culatra island near Olhao & Faro, & anchored behind the island. 31 nm.
It is very reminiscent of some of our local waters, & we had a relaxing afternoon watching fishermen, other boaters & the local wildlife.
Wednesday we took the dinghy to Ilha Culatra & walked across the dunes to the sea edge – a beautiful sandy strand. We encountered a gecko ambling on the dunes & watched it change colour to match sand or shrub.
Thursday 14th October. Departed the Cutatra
anchorage & with alight wind on the nose motored along the
Friday 15th October. A short ‘motorboat’ ride in
a flat calm sea along to
Arriving mid morning our first job was to visit the boatyard where Sugar ‘n’ Spice is to spend the winter. They had us ‘in the book’ so we then started on the chores that go with lifting out.