Timshel - Timshel - the last leg Oeiras to Lagos

Too many choices for this one - due to the closure of the marina (and official anchorage) at Sines, done boats set off Sunday, some Monday,  some stopped at Sines some at several other anchorages. We elected to sail the 125 miles overnight setting off just behind Pirates Moon and Arrietta.  Major worries were the fishing buoys lying in wait and the possibility of Orcas - reports had them moving on from the Gibraltar strait and some sightings off Cape St Vincent.  Wind came up and we were bowling along merrily reefed and wing and wing (Timshel sails very well like this) when we got reports on the WhatsApp from Assifa who had just had an Orca attack - luckily no serious immediate damage to boat or people.  Their position was right on our route and everyone headed. read more...

Timshel - Timshel leg 5: Nazare to Oeiras

The hospitable Club Naval da Nazare gave us all a burgee and a lanyard.It was Steves birthday so he got a card from the fleet when he went to check out (also a card and present and tea in bed from me).And the yellow shirts sang Happy Birthday to him as we went through the gate start!No wind so everyone motored on rolling in the swell.After a couple of hours a breath of wind had sails setting and we were able to take some pics of Fisk who was close by.As we rounded the Cabo inside the islands and came onto a run we set our sails wing and wing, but our speed decreased - eta at the finish was now after 2200.Luckily the wind filled in and we had a lovely sail with dolphins playing round the boat - either 2 pods or the same ones twice.Saw reports on the WhatsApp chats of 25-30 knots round. read more...

Timshel - Timshel Leg 4 : Figueira da Foz to Nazare

We had a lovely few days in Figueira, looked after by the marina and the yacht club.  Apart from the trip to visit Coimbra and the magnificent Montemor Castle, a highlight was the walking tour of the city guided by Miguel Amorel who is not only Commodore of the yacht club but also head of the Bull Ring and a barber shop, he was so enthusiastic telling us about his city.  And we all got a gift of a local product: salt.There was not a breath of wind at the start.  Some had mainsails up, all lined up behind the line ready to shove throttle levers forward on the starting signal.Sayonara and Mahi headed way off shore and found some wind (though a longer route).  We motorsailed with main and staysail and eventually were able to deploy the Yankee on a nice reach and turn off. read more...

Timshel - Timshel Leg 3: Povoa de Varzim to Figueira da Foz

This leg was in the handbook as 55nm, 65nm on the briefing slides but actually nearer 75nm.The evening dinner was 2100 and several boats left an hour early to be sure of making it in time.The rest motored across the line at 0700, except Majic-L and Arrietta who managed to drift across under sail.Special mention to Vibe who very correctly displayed a motoring cone.The boats motored on in the sunshine.Sayonara proposed a fishing competition - probably won by Majic-L.As the wind came up Parasailors and similar coloured sails blossomed.Those like us with white sails only had to wait for more wind - which did come eventually so that we had a nice broad reach and finished under sail, though the finishing line was a little confusing as no outer limit had been set.The rally WhatsApp group set up. read more...

Timshel - Leg 2: Baiona to Povoa de Varzim

The wind came up just before the start (showing the sagacity of Rally Control setting what seemed to be a late start time) and we were able to sail across the line on starboard tack.Soon boats started sprouting coloured sails as they bore away down the coast.After some messing with a new system for the tack involving parrel beads round the furled Yankee, we set our cruising chute and dolphins came to play under the bow.Unfortunately this was short lived as taking off the autopilot I managed to over correct, boat came up to wind apparent wind increased and the chute blew out.Guess it was getting rather old and faded.I dragged the bottom half out of the water and the got the top half down shoving it all down the forehatch.No rest though as Steve was demanding the pole be set up so we could. read more...