Jun. 7, 2007 - Espania
Written, 29/5/07
Berth – Ayamonte Marina, Rio Gaudiano, Spain
Well, finally left Lagos. Bungie port it certainly is, tempting to go back and visit but not just yet, not for a while. Left last Wednesday, 23rd, slowly sailed just across the bay to Portimao, massive passage of, oh, about 6 miles. Very little wind but enough to get her moving, just had jib up and getting up to 5kn in little gusts. Go girl, go. Well done you, we got miles to eat. Wind picked up for brief moment so main up and considered carrying on to Vilamoura but was not to be so main down, jib in and motor last little bit into marina.
Couple of days in Portimao, tidying boat and generally relaxing after final few days of late nights in Lagos. Friday and we’re off again. Nice wind, sw high 3 , low 4 and we’re heading pretty much east so with with a bit of boat speed apparent wind is bang on the beam. Just how she likes it so lovely passage, thought first to put into Albufiera but sailing too good, then Vilamoura came and went so ended up anchored up inside Isla Du Culatra, near Faro. Beautiful sail, big ketch, must have been 60’ plus came out just behind me and only just overtook before turning back before Albufiera. Go girl, go.
So sailed all way into estuary (engine on tickover ready, not that stupid) and anchored up near Unity. Wind up a bit by then but new anchor (rocna 20) seems to hold well. Over to unity for fine fish and prawns with Mike and Tina.
Saturday morning, well midday – should have been earlier! Off east again, fair bit of breeze, 20kn maybe and motored out of estuary. Entrance choppy, swell just breaking and I’m very wary of gunning the engine (rightfully so, it turned out) main up tacking out the entrance, down to less than 1kn, come on girl, just another 50m and we can bear away and be off. Bit more engine, play chicken with a fishing boat coming in and out we get. Fast for a while, hitting 8kn then weather front catches us up. Wet!! Few hours of fast sailing then wind goes leaving rain and sloppy sea and boat wallowing, ugghh. Motor on. But got there in end, considered Tavira but pilot book put me off “do not enter before half tide…”. Alright then, shan’t. Same for Rio Gaudiana but text from Unity confirm that more than 3m water over the bar in the entrance to the river. By this time sun is out with a bit of swell left over from the swesterly so I motor into the river with couple of dolphins playing 100m behind, over the bar, inside the breakwaters and at last out of the swell. Gaudiana is border between Portugal and Spain, this particular Saturday Portugal is having some powerboat racing so I sneak slowly up west side of river out of the way. Then into marina, rising tide so fair bit of current behind and into berth, luckily couple of guys off big German boat grab lines and stop me, gun engine in reverse to try and stop boat against current and it revs then stops. Now that’s not normal. But I’ve had pretty unpleasant 7 or 8 hours, aries not working so handcuffed to the tiller, wet and cold. Tapas and vino waiting in square, doesn’t take long to catch up with Unity crew. They had perfect sail!! Kept ahead of weather and watched me disappear into rain! Wind all the way. Oh well, there you go.
Next day look at engine, fuel seems ok, thought it might be air lock or something. Can’t figure it out so go for a walk, then think, I haven’t even looked at the oil, back to boat and oil grey and watery. Blown head gasket top of the pile of causes. So next day head off and indeed, 1 cylinder gone. And to add to the mess I’m stuck in a 16m berth – and paying for it. And come 1st June it’s high season, prices go through the roof! New gaskets arrive hopefully 3 days time so might have to do bit of funky warping the boat around other side of pontoon into cheaper berth using the tide if they take any longer.
But all good really, very lucky engine went when I had a rope on a pontoon and not in Faro entrance or halfway here. Concentrates ones mind having a slightly temperamental engine in many good ways, sails and anchor always at the ready. So now I shall have a few more days in the very pleasant Ayamonte, enjoying Spain. But have to say, I do miss Portugal a bit so might have to jump on the ferry, tapas is fantastic but the Portuguese have got the edge on grilled sardines!
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