Going downhill

Anchoring in Bayona (had to remove the washing!)

Bayona was an interesting place with its castle – with a statue where the Pinta return bringing news from Columbus that the new world existed. S V Rugg and the boys had just arrived before us.

We anchored for two nights but the holding wasn't brilliant as the bay was full of Ulva lactuca.....sea lettuce.

When we arrived the one thing that struck me was the smell of eucalyptus..... made a change from fish oils.

Heading south downhill

We had a brilliant sail with huge seas and very little wind. Tristan had the head sails poled out and we were downwind sailing for the first time, although it was downwind surfing most of the time! It was like being at the top of a mountain then down in the valley with the odd rogue knocking you off course.

Lesson learned …..when enjoying yourself, don't be greedy! We decided to carry on as the wind got up and the entrance the some of the Harbours were challenging in strong winds.

We blew into Portugal and kept going.

For me it was the night of hell.....winds were strong and 4 often 5 metre waves, mainly from behind but occasionally one would sneak up on the starboard side and give us a push just to be awkward.

I woke Tristan after being flung from one side of the boat to the other.....the final straw. 'Decster' our favourite wind steering gear was not keeping up! The wind got up one sail came down and we were still doing 10 knots occasionally 12 down the front of the waves. Whilst I was teaching I described whale watching as 'Kodachrome, hydrophone and a semi-submersible sea sick machine'. Meriva is a 'semi-submersible seasick machine'. I now know what they meant, when previous owners describe her as being 'lively'.  She is and frolics in the waves with no respect for the humans on board. Tristan has always pointed out that boats rarely break at sea but human often do..........he must have had a word with her before we set off! However I have noticed my stugeron going down quicker than I would expect and I wasn't the only one taking them! We put 180 miles in on  that trip and were safely down the Portugese coast. We surfed down into Peniche … appropriate as its the surf capital of Portugal.

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This is a real place, no frills, a fishing town with an old prison.

We also did the tourist bit with fellow sailors, Rod and Julie to Obidos.

Another beautiful walled town without health and safety regulations.

Look no rails !

We walked around the walls occasionally peeling Tristan off to move on to the next crenellation. He talked continuously, so obviously wasn't scared at all. This was a very pretty place with a wealth of colour from the painted houses and beautiful flowers.

Tristan is going to stay in Peniche for a while as I have to return to the UK as Mum is ill in hospital. I will return with a Navtex so we can get an up to date weather forecast and Tristan will keep the maintenance on Meriva going! He has the task of keeping his 'other' women under control and sailing her solo to the next destination, Cascais when  I return.