Wed 21st July - in Lagos cleaning, fixing things and packing for trip to
Les Carroz. Had another tough day yesterday. Left Vilamoura 1030 at HW to
catch the ebb all the way west to Lagos; wind 12 to 15 knots NW - a close
reach - perfect conditions for ALMA and we made great progress - at least
to begin with! Had a great "race" with another 2 boats heading same way
and was first to the first headland. Into the next bay we had a big wind
shift and then we ran into a big "hole" in the wind - when the competition
saw this they managed to sail around us! We slowly got back into the
breeze and then the wind built and built until we had a reef in the main
and half a dozen rolls in the jib in 22 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30
knots - not quite the leisurely sail we'd hoped for on the final day of
this leg of the odyssey. Thankfully ALMA performs well in these conditions
and although it was hard work we had no problems - at least thought not
until this morning on unfurling the jib discovered we had a small tear!
Grrr!
Maintenance work and cleaning today (just on my coffee break at the moment
- seems I'm allowed a short break since I started at 0700 this morning!).
Michelle is joining us on our return from Les Carroz and sailing to Gibraltar, stopping off en route to see the Spanish Horses in Cadiz. Really looking forward to sailing with her.
Off to Les Carroz tomorrow for a month - Rest and Relaxation!!
Will have better wifi in LC so hope to speak to you on skype soon.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
An eventful day!
Saturday 17th July – left Ayamonte Spain for a short sail along coast back to Vilamoura. Early start as shallow at entrance so alarm at 0700 and off pontoon by 0730. Stiff breeze blowing us on to the pontoon so not an easy departure but managed to spring off ok. Beautiful morning but quite breezy – think it might just be funnelled down the river valley. By the time we get to river mouth tide has already turned – should have left a bit early as don’t like crossing shallows on a falling tide (particularly as channel twists and turns a bit and in places it's not entirely clear where deep water will be)– danger clearly illustrated by a boat sitting aground – he must have gone well out of the deep channel and gone aground on high water – now he’s got a long wait until next tide! We have no problems getting over the bar but discover wind still strong (wasn’t just the river valley!) – up to 27 knots so set off with just the jib and make great progress. Sadly after an hour winds drops quickly and soon we’re crawling along at 3 knots – so engine on as we want to get in at a reasonable time (and Helen wants to see the Tour!). All going well until suddenly there’s an odd ripping sound from below then while we’re wondering what it is the engine overheating alarm comes on. Discover TWO fan belts have disintegrated – one runs water pump for engine cooling. So while Helen sails I explore the unknown territory of the engine compartment. Biggest problem is access – very confined space and the nuts I need to loosen off are particularly inaccessible. Two hours later and skinned knuckles and much frustration I managed to replace one of the belts. Unfortunately I discovered one of the spare belts I’d been left was almost torn through and wouldn’t have lasted 2 minutes. Moral about checking even the spares thoroughly! Difficult to get sufficient tension on the new belt so reluctant to use engine and we continue under sail. However, it is a lovely sail and we have a visit from a large school (Helen says its a pod) of dolphins – always a thrill. Wind holds up until we’re a few miles from Vilamoura but gradually dies in the evening. We should have anchored in last of the breeze but a passing mobo (motorboat) agrees to give us a tow. Interesting experience. So eventually we made it into the marina about midnight Spanish time. Glad to get in although reception pontoon was immediately outside Marina club and there was a very big party which lasted until 4am local time (ie 5am Spain!!) – but we were so tired we slept through it all except just woke briefly for the finale at 4am!
So an interesting and challenging day – but as it's probably about 35 years since I last used a spanner seriously it was a great experience. Now looking forward to some quiet restful days!
Best wishes
Iain and Helen
Saturday 17th July – left Ayamonte Spain for a short sail along coast back to Vilamoura. Early start as shallow at entrance so alarm at 0700 and off pontoon by 0730. Stiff breeze blowing us on to the pontoon so not an easy departure but managed to spring off ok. Beautiful morning but quite breezy – think it might just be funnelled down the river valley. By the time we get to river mouth tide has already turned – should have left a bit early as don’t like crossing shallows on a falling tide (particularly as channel twists and turns a bit and in places it's not entirely clear where deep water will be)– danger clearly illustrated by a boat sitting aground – he must have gone well out of the deep channel and gone aground on high water – now he’s got a long wait until next tide! We have no problems getting over the bar but discover wind still strong (wasn’t just the river valley!) – up to 27 knots so set off with just the jib and make great progress. Sadly after an hour winds drops quickly and soon we’re crawling along at 3 knots – so engine on as we want to get in at a reasonable time (and Helen wants to see the Tour!). All going well until suddenly there’s an odd ripping sound from below then while we’re wondering what it is the engine overheating alarm comes on. Discover TWO fan belts have disintegrated – one runs water pump for engine cooling. So while Helen sails I explore the unknown territory of the engine compartment. Biggest problem is access – very confined space and the nuts I need to loosen off are particularly inaccessible. Two hours later and skinned knuckles and much frustration I managed to replace one of the belts. Unfortunately I discovered one of the spare belts I’d been left was almost torn through and wouldn’t have lasted 2 minutes. Moral about checking even the spares thoroughly! Difficult to get sufficient tension on the new belt so reluctant to use engine and we continue under sail. However, it is a lovely sail and we have a visit from a large school (Helen says its a pod) of dolphins – always a thrill. Wind holds up until we’re a few miles from Vilamoura but gradually dies in the evening. We should have anchored in last of the breeze but a passing mobo (motorboat) agrees to give us a tow. Interesting experience. So eventually we made it into the marina about midnight Spanish time. Glad to get in although reception pontoon was immediately outside Marina club and there was a very big party which lasted until 4am local time (ie 5am Spain!!) – but we were so tired we slept through it all except just woke briefly for the finale at 4am!
So an interesting and challenging day – but as it's probably about 35 years since I last used a spanner seriously it was a great experience. Now looking forward to some quiet restful days!
Best wishes
Iain and Helen
Thursday, July 15, 2010
HOT! DAMN HOT! And I understand it is (was) too in England. Unfortunately for us, while there is a great breeze early morning and late afternoon/evening to keep us cool(ish), in the middle of the day the thermal wind seems to just about cancel out the gradient wind and we have to resort to sitting in front of our new fans to keep us cool!
Sunday 11th July – World Cup Final day - we’re sitting in Ayamonte on the River Gaudiana, the border between Portugal and Spain. We’d hoped to be able to go up the river as the pilot book says “not to be missed” esp to see white storks, cattle egrets, black winged stilts, kingfishers, red-rumped swallows, hoopoes, golden orioles, bee eaters, and azure winged magpies! I’ve no idea what most of these are like (need to get an App for an iphone – also need to get an iphone!) but it sounds wonderful. However, the clearance under the bridge is only 20.5m – our mast is 20m! We’ll try and get a local ferry at least part of the way upriver tomorrow. But tonight we want to be in town to see the football (well at least I do and Helen wants to see the Tour this afternoon as we’ve not managed to see it much this year – although we did see Cavendish win stage 5 in a fantastic sprint finish) and if Spain win there will be a huge party here. Last night the celebrations in the town centre just for Spain BEING in the final went on to 4am!!
On our way along the coast from Lagos, we’ve visited Vilamoura (a very large modern marina/tourist resort – great marina but the resort is totally artificial – makes me think of the Truman show – and is slightly run down/tacky) and a river estuary between Faro and Olhao – great anchorage except it’s under the flight path for Faro airport! Lots of very long term cruisers there – some may not have moved for 10 years!
We’re discovering what a small world this is – as we sailed out of Lagos we spoke to another boat (“Pennypincher”) from Lymington and arranged to meet up in Vilamoura – discovered Alan and Penny knew Dave, one of the skippers we’d met on the Rally whose boat is “Jennard III”, whom we’d had dinner with on Monday and they’d had dinner with him on Tuesday! And as we sailed into Ayamonte we saw “Yarona”, a Hallberg Rassy 43, whose owners, Barry and Cath, we’d met skiing in Les Carroz! And even more extraordinary, it turned out that “Yarona” was previously “Jennard II”! Barry and Cath had bought her from Dave! Spookily small world.
We may make one or two further steps eastwards along this coast but then, sadly, we need to turn around and head back to Lagos where we’re leaving the boat for a few weeks (seems a good secure marina and we get a good discount as participants in Rally Portugal since the marina sponsors the Rally). Looking forward to our next trip when we plan to visit Jerez and Cadiz before going into the Med.
Hope all well for you.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen
PS Only now (13/7) posting this blog as we’ve got good wifi here – we’re now in Mazagon, as far east as we’ll come this trip, having a rest day. Tomorrow we’ll start our return along the coast westwards to Lagos. It’s been great being in Spain – a very happy place after the World Cup final!
PPS Sorry – didn’t manage to post until today 15/7!! Now back in Ayamonte (on Spanish/Portugal border) where we met up last night with another two boats from the Rally who are also cruising this coast – one before returning to UK and one who like us will head into the Med late August. Reunions always seem to mean a late night so now having a quiet domestic day recovering (and laundry, emails etc). Also treated ourselves today to an English newspaper as we’re having coffee in a great cafe here (excellent wifi, lovely coffee and “tosta” with tomato and olive oil which seems to be the standard breakfast – although as we’re Inglese they bring us butter and marmalade too!). Early start tomorrow to catch the tide as it is shallow at the entrance to the river – only 1m at low tide – we’ll need to get to the Med before we stop having to worry about the tides.
Love and best wishes
Helen and Iain
Sunday 11th July – World Cup Final day - we’re sitting in Ayamonte on the River Gaudiana, the border between Portugal and Spain. We’d hoped to be able to go up the river as the pilot book says “not to be missed” esp to see white storks, cattle egrets, black winged stilts, kingfishers, red-rumped swallows, hoopoes, golden orioles, bee eaters, and azure winged magpies! I’ve no idea what most of these are like (need to get an App for an iphone – also need to get an iphone!) but it sounds wonderful. However, the clearance under the bridge is only 20.5m – our mast is 20m! We’ll try and get a local ferry at least part of the way upriver tomorrow. But tonight we want to be in town to see the football (well at least I do and Helen wants to see the Tour this afternoon as we’ve not managed to see it much this year – although we did see Cavendish win stage 5 in a fantastic sprint finish) and if Spain win there will be a huge party here. Last night the celebrations in the town centre just for Spain BEING in the final went on to 4am!!
On our way along the coast from Lagos, we’ve visited Vilamoura (a very large modern marina/tourist resort – great marina but the resort is totally artificial – makes me think of the Truman show – and is slightly run down/tacky) and a river estuary between Faro and Olhao – great anchorage except it’s under the flight path for Faro airport! Lots of very long term cruisers there – some may not have moved for 10 years!
We’re discovering what a small world this is – as we sailed out of Lagos we spoke to another boat (“Pennypincher”) from Lymington and arranged to meet up in Vilamoura – discovered Alan and Penny knew Dave, one of the skippers we’d met on the Rally whose boat is “Jennard III”, whom we’d had dinner with on Monday and they’d had dinner with him on Tuesday! And as we sailed into Ayamonte we saw “Yarona”, a Hallberg Rassy 43, whose owners, Barry and Cath, we’d met skiing in Les Carroz! And even more extraordinary, it turned out that “Yarona” was previously “Jennard II”! Barry and Cath had bought her from Dave! Spookily small world.
We may make one or two further steps eastwards along this coast but then, sadly, we need to turn around and head back to Lagos where we’re leaving the boat for a few weeks (seems a good secure marina and we get a good discount as participants in Rally Portugal since the marina sponsors the Rally). Looking forward to our next trip when we plan to visit Jerez and Cadiz before going into the Med.
Hope all well for you.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen
PS Only now (13/7) posting this blog as we’ve got good wifi here – we’re now in Mazagon, as far east as we’ll come this trip, having a rest day. Tomorrow we’ll start our return along the coast westwards to Lagos. It’s been great being in Spain – a very happy place after the World Cup final!
PPS Sorry – didn’t manage to post until today 15/7!! Now back in Ayamonte (on Spanish/Portugal border) where we met up last night with another two boats from the Rally who are also cruising this coast – one before returning to UK and one who like us will head into the Med late August. Reunions always seem to mean a late night so now having a quiet domestic day recovering (and laundry, emails etc). Also treated ourselves today to an English newspaper as we’re having coffee in a great cafe here (excellent wifi, lovely coffee and “tosta” with tomato and olive oil which seems to be the standard breakfast – although as we’re Inglese they bring us butter and marmalade too!). Early start tomorrow to catch the tide as it is shallow at the entrance to the river – only 1m at low tide – we’ll need to get to the Med before we stop having to worry about the tides.
Love and best wishes
Helen and Iain
Monday, July 5, 2010
BACK ON BOARD
After a week in Malta catching up with admin, and two weekends in the UK catching up with family and friends, we’re back on board ALMA in Lagos (Sunday 4th July). It’s now very hot here – up to 37 degrees yesterday so we’ve been out to buy some fans and covers for the hatches! Hope to get out sailing tomorrow and hopefully there will be a breeze to keep us cool. Glad we fitted the bimini – it would be just too hot to sail without it.
We plan to cruise along the Algarve/SW Spain coast to Cadiz visiting Villamoura, Ayamonte (on the River Gaudiana which forms the Portuguese/Spanish border), El Rompido and Mazagon before returning to Lagos by 19th July where we’ll leave the boat again while we spend a few weeks in Les Carroz.
We feel very relaxed this time on the boat as now we don’t have any timetable – so we’ll just cruise along slowly and see how it goes.
Hope you’re enjoying great weather and having a lovely summer.
All the best
Helen and Iain
After a week in Malta catching up with admin, and two weekends in the UK catching up with family and friends, we’re back on board ALMA in Lagos (Sunday 4th July). It’s now very hot here – up to 37 degrees yesterday so we’ve been out to buy some fans and covers for the hatches! Hope to get out sailing tomorrow and hopefully there will be a breeze to keep us cool. Glad we fitted the bimini – it would be just too hot to sail without it.
We plan to cruise along the Algarve/SW Spain coast to Cadiz visiting Villamoura, Ayamonte (on the River Gaudiana which forms the Portuguese/Spanish border), El Rompido and Mazagon before returning to Lagos by 19th July where we’ll leave the boat again while we spend a few weeks in Les Carroz.
We feel very relaxed this time on the boat as now we don’t have any timetable – so we’ll just cruise along slowly and see how it goes.
Hope you’re enjoying great weather and having a lovely summer.
All the best
Helen and Iain
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