2019 Season - Atlantic Portugal
Sines to Lagos
03/06/2019
We departed Sines (pronounced Sinus) at 07.00, conditions were really good and we were prepared for a long day down to Lagos. The wind for once was in our favour and we were sailing with the Genoa, stay and mizzen for the first few hours maintaining 6.5knts.
The wind unfortunately dropped around 1.00pm so we motor sailed as speed had dropped to 4knts, if we were going to make Lagos before nightfall we had to increase the speed.
BY 16.30 we had rounded Cabo St Vincente, we had less than 20NM to run to Lagos, easily doable. I spoke to the marina on the phone and checked the arrangements. There was a problem with the channel water depth around low water due to silting, again this was doable as low water was at 21.30pm. We expected to be tied up by 8.30pm.
By 17.00 we were starting to experience a very heavy squall come in, northerly gusting to 28Knts at one point. We brought the mizzen and the Genoa in and we were motor sailing with the stay sail. Pushing 6.6knts in a slight swell.
Our passage down the coast was hampered by the current and wind and we were slightly worried that we may not get in before very low water danger point.
A pod of about 20 dolphins came to play around OW at about 19.00 which delighted and amused us and we could see the point of Lagos but progress was slow. OW and Alan took a pounding by the waves as they were blown up the sides. At one point I was wiping surfaces and Alan whilst trying to keep the windows clear. Not a very nice welcome to the Algarve.
As we rounded the point at 20.25pm into the channel for the marina the light was fading, I contacted the marina at Lagos again and asked for help on the visitors pontoon as Alan felt the wind might be an issue.
We stuck to the centre of the channel but the wind and current were very strong, Alan was doing well to maintain course in the narrow channel in the conditions we were facing. We could see the marina staff flashing lights at us to direct us into the space but just as we were approaching them the wind pushed OW across in the wrong direction.
Alan reversed her, then tried to bring her back but again the wind took OW and literally put us broadside to the channel, very scary as it very narrow and there are hazards all the way up on both sides.
Alan managed to bring her round to face the sea end of the channel, and we were both stressed at this point. It was dark and anchoring or going onto Portamaeo was not really a good option. By this time it was very dark.
Alan took OW out of the channel, we looked around the bay and there were a few yachts anchored some without lights of any description so it would have been difficult trying to find a spot to anchor in, neither of us wanted to try and make a passage in the dark due to the numerous fishing nets and lobster pots all over the Algarve. So the only option was to go back up the channel again.
As Alan nosed his way up I called ahead and the staff were great, even though the office had shut the marina boys who take lines volunteered to stay on and help us. I was very stressed and scared if I am honest (not for the first time on OW and i'm sure it wont be the last either) but Alan was doing his best to control OW in the wind and as we approached the fuel pontoon the wind died down enough for Alan to pull her over.
I threw ropes to the boys and they did an amazing job of getting her tied on quickly, even though the wind and current were trying to push OW away from the pontoon. We were safe, tied up and relieved. Tomorrow we would have to move off the fuel berth to a mooring but for now we could rest.
Rest did not come easily for either of us that night, the adrenaline was pumping and we had learnt another lesson on OW that would take time to process.
The next morning we exited the pontoon and entered our berth like nothing had ever happened the night before. Ow had not suffered any damage and we were safe and well which is the main thing. But this old girl really likes to put us through it some times.
Now for some R&R.
Oeiras to Sines
02/06/2019
This was meant to be a short sailing log as the passage down the coast from Oeiras to Sines should have been uneventful, The weather forecast was for very light winds and slight swell.
We knew that motoring was probably going to be for most of the day, how wrong were we!
We were able to put the Mizzen, Genoa and Stay sail out within 20 minutes of leaving port, and we were very pleased to be making 6.5knts SOG. It was a beautiful morning again and we settled into the passage, taking it in turns to lobster pot watch. (a must in Portugal, they don't care where they put them or how they mark them).
Now the passage gets interesting - 12.30am we received an all ships report on the radio from Foxtrot 331, A Portuguese warship. They were going to commence live firing at 13.00 at the following location: 38' 21 40 N and 009' 08 64W.
All ships must observe the 10NM exclusion zone. Clear enough except the current location of OW was exactly where they were going to fire.
We could see a large blue inflatable tube that they were going to blow out of the water (we had seen something similar when we watched a TV programme on the new British warship).
I radioed the ship and explained that there was no way on this earth we were going to clear the 10NM zone in 30 minutes travelling at our current speed of 6.00KNts.
That's OK said the warship, we have you on AIS and Radar, continue your course. I ask again are you going to blow us out of the water! Maintain watch was his reply. Standby on Ch 11
Alan and I looked at the blue target, and listened to other concerned vessels within the vicinity including one other military vessel who was escorting a fishing vessel asking for more clarification on where they were going to fire.
Is this covered on the insurance I asked, I don't think sinking by a warship is covered says Alan.
At 13.25 I radioed the warship again, and asked for clarification on the firing plans, I was told that they would be firing slightly away from our current location. Very reassuring I said.
At precisely 13.30 the very loud booms started, thankfully we heard no splash near us, this went on for about 25 minutes. We then had a message to say that firing was over.
We had survived an attack by the Portuguese navy, I informed the Admiral that this was not good enough and could he speak to the relevant authorities please. Scaring the crew of OW was not on the cards for today's passage.
From then on the passage was very boring , we arrived in Sines at 18.00, tied up, paid the fee for the overnight and had a drink to celebrate our survival. We live to fight another day!