Sesimbra to Portimao
Posted at 10:28 PM, Jul. 20, 2005
Saturday 16th July saw another late departure for a short 40 mile southward run to Sines the birthplace of explorer Vasco da Gama (hugh statue on the hill overlooking the bay). Sines is yet another fishing village with the port and marina activities hiding behind a huge breakwater, with outer breakwaters providing shelter for some significant shipping activity.
As we entered the bay we saw that Stromboli who we had not seen for a few days had reappeared and were well anchored. Dinghy in the water, an explore around the old town, looking for a place to have a beer with a view over the bay and we all ended up on Savarna for a few pre-dinner drinks comprising Pam's, recipe not disclosed but potent, cocktail mix.
During the Biscay crossing we had realised that the top rudder bearing was making an awful grinding noise, which made sleep difficult in the after cabins. and we had contacted the Hanse yard once we got down the Portugese coast. Pedro Franco, the Portugese Hanse dealer, was on the phone to us quickly and offering to drive to wherever we were to check out the problem. Once we had reaassured him it was not a case of losing the rudder we agreed to meet up with him at his business place of Portimoa on the Algarve the next week. The 24 volt charging system, which runs all the onboard essential electrics, had also failed (we suspect a miswire from the 24 volt alternator) but fortunately we were able to keep the 11 gel battery bank fully charged with the genset.
Consequently with yet another fine clear day and the northerly trades blowing well we decided to make the 85 mile sail down to the "corner" of Portugal (being Cape St Vincent or Cabo Sao Vincente) about 60 miles south and then turn left for the run along the Algarve coast to Portimao. Another great genaker run, hoisted in 10 knots and taken down in 22 knots off Cape St Vincent and then a two sail reach along the coast with one reef in 25 knots but travelling at a steady 10-11 knots all the way to pull into Portimao mid evening.
The Algarve coast is quite different with a lot of development well removed from the fishing villages with cobbled streets and stone chip pavements we had grown used to seeing. Hotels and apartments (high rise included) to serve the the English and German markets who enjoy been roasted in mid 30 degree temperatures with a daily strong offshore but warm wind blowing.
Portimao is a 3 year old luxury resort/marina development and Pedro wasted no time in taking control. By mid morning the next day he had been in touh with the Hanse yard and had declared that the boat would need to be hauled out and the rudder bearings replaced as we had a long trip ahead. A few minutes later he had made the booking for the haul-out and also our flights back to London. So Tuesday 19th saw the big clean up and then haul out (in 38 degrees) which became a bit of a major as the travel lift could not lift us high enough to get us into a cradle going in astern so we had to remove the forestay after loosening off the rig, and go in forwards.
Savarna currently is high and dry getting some warranty work done while we return to NZ for a few weeks before returning for the next stage to Barcelona and the Baleraic Islands where we will winter the boat. Consequently this is the end of chapter one of the trip to NZ until we return in early September.
One notable point not previously mentioned was that in the English channnel we went through zero degrees longitude except we were so busy no-one noticed it.