Hi everyone,
We retired and moved to the Algarve! Or more accurately we retired and, so far, have sailed to the Algarve. We arrived in Portimao this morning after an overnight sail from Cascais.
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| Kazi the WindPilot in control |
Here are the plots...
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| Track |
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| Arrival Track Detail |
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| Graphs |
And here are the vital stats for the passage…
• Distances/Speeds
• Route Distance = 136nm
• Logged Distance = 121nm (log still under-reading)
• GPS Distance = 148nm
• Duration = 26.5 hours
• Average speed over ground = 5.6 kt
• Minimum boat speed = 3 kt
• Maximum boat speed = 8 kt
• Weather
• Minimum wind speed = calm
• Average wind speed = 18 kt
• Maximum wind speed = gusts to 32 kt
• Apparent wind angle range = 50 to 160
• Seas up to 1.5m NW
• Swell up to 1.5m NW
• Cloudless throughout!
• Engine
• Total = 6 hours
We departed at 0900 yesterday. The winds in the bay were light and we motored for 1.5 hours to get clear of the cape and into the wind. For the rest of the day it was champagne sailing with a 15 knot NNW breeze and slight seas.
The weather was so good the AIS range was unusually high. We could see ships 80nm away.
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| AIS range up to 80nm |
As predicted, the wind picked up overnight. We gradually reefed and furled down to 2 reefs (trisail size) and 3 furls in the yankee. The sea state was a little nasty at times, especially when the wind veered to the north, setting up seas no longer aligned with the NW swell.
We gybed our way downwind, staying east of most of the traffic. In the evening the night sky was wonderful. Time to learn a few more constellations. At 2330 a 3/4 moon rose and lit up the night nicely for us.
We approached Cape St Vincent in the morning twilight. By then the wind was decreasing and we ended up under full sail as we passed south of the cape in the early morning light. It's an impressive cape.
From the cape we headed ENE towards Portimao, staying offshore to avoid several charted fish farm areas. There were quite a few fishing floats around too, including some in pairs perhaps supporting nets.
Soon the wind died to a dead calm so we motored along gently to complete our passage. Portimao harbour includes several anchorages as well as a marina. We toured the harbour before selecting where to anchor for the night.
Portimao looks like a busy little town with a lot of beaches and tourist facilities. In our anchorage there's one very large yacht and one very large motor yacht, plus an assortment of regular yachts.
The sun is actually pretty warm here. At last!!! The temperatures are still in the 20s but we'd burn rapidly without sunscreen.
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| Cape St Vincent from the South |
From the cape we headed ENE towards Portimao, staying offshore to avoid several charted fish farm areas. There were quite a few fishing floats around too, including some in pairs perhaps supporting nets.
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| Reaching towards Portimao in vanishing breeze |
Soon the wind died to a dead calm so we motored along gently to complete our passage. Portimao harbour includes several anchorages as well as a marina. We toured the harbour before selecting where to anchor for the night.
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| Entering Portimao harbour |
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| Inside the harbour |
Portimao looks like a busy little town with a lot of beaches and tourist facilities. In our anchorage there's one very large yacht and one very large motor yacht, plus an assortment of regular yachts.
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| Interesting buildings and nice beaches |
The sun is actually pretty warm here. At last!!! The temperatures are still in the 20s but we'd burn rapidly without sunscreen.
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| Anchored and boom tent out! |
Trust all's well where you are!
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