More of Portugal

As we are trying to press on towards the South (and warmer weather and water) we are making our way fairly quickly down the Portuguese coast and making the most of favourable weather windows, i.e not too much swell, preferably under 2m, not too much fog, Northerly winds of 5-25 knots. Sometimes the ports can be fogbound for weeks at a time at this time of year, and also can be closed due to large swells making them unsafe to leave or enter for weeks at a time. As we are conscious of this when we wee a good opportunity to sail, we take it…

We headed to Lexios, 35 miles, on the 25th, the harbour on the outskirts of Porto which was full of big ships. smelt like an oil refinery (probably because there is one next to the harbour) and the water was toxic. When Jen pulled the anchor up the next day it was covered in black sludge, as was the chain and anchor ball line, and shortly after, so was Sephina. The pilot book warns of crews that have become pretty ill after handling the lines that have touched the water here, needless to say we washed our hands and Sephina as soon as possible !

 

On the 26th we departed for Aveiro, another 34 miles and a nice sail in the end. A much nicer anchorage up a tidal river. Going into the river with the tide of 4 knots we were doing 11 knots over ground. The crazy fishermen were zipping in and out of the channel, racing to the mouth to drag their lines across the bottom as they drifted back inland.

We went ashore and ate at the touristy town with grossly colored tiled walls, brightly colored fishing dinghys and local dogs and cats, lots of cats !. It really feels like Portugal here..

next day down to Foz 55miles and ended in a good sail after a few hours motoring. Very officious marina officials checked passports and papers without a smile. We wandered  around the city, ate at pizza hut and watched some of the Olympic opening ceremonies. Next day Jenijane and I had our own olympic events with thumb wrestels, toothbrushing, singing, fishing and saiiling on the event schedule.