Blonde Moment - Blog 9 Figuero da Foz to Nazare

`Having recovered from the long sail and a very late night celebrating over sardines......it was also our wedding anniversary.... Paul and I decided to skip the tour of Coimbra as we had both been before.

BM was given a thorough bubbles wash down outside and a good dust and polish inside whilst the washing machine did endless loads. Sometimes on these rallies you just need a day to catch up with yourself. We popped over to the market opposite the marina and bought half a kilo of fresh prawns and some lovely bread and thoroughly enjoyed our lunch in between jobs. There is also a walk along the beach which is worthwhile.

Monday 27th there was a coach trip to the top of the hills behind Figuera with a stunning view along the coast. We also visited the museum with lots of modern art and finally prize giving was at an old house which the mayor uses whilst in office and it is full of lovely works of art and china. Refreshments were provided in the garden - chilled port is becoming a rally favourite!

Tuesday 28th June we were meant to be heading to Peniche but because of the strong winds family boats had been given our berths there and could not be asked to leave when the forecast was so bad, so the rally team did a brilliant job and got all 19 yachts into Nazare. A very lively sail down with a big ground swell more normal in winter time. Paul poled out the headsail and with 1st reef in the main we goosewinged very quickly down to Nazare.

Nazare is a proper holiday seaside resort with a huge sandy beach and every other building is a restaurant or icecream shop. The rally team managed to get us a booking for lunch on the Wednesday (no mean feat with 50-60 crew members)
with delicious swordfish steaks or pork on offer.

After that it was time to take some exercise, so we took the funicular to the top of the cliff and walked to the lighthouse where you get the full effect of the famous waves that are caused by the underwater canyon that comes right up to the rocks below and lighthouse. This was a relatively light wind day but the waves were building just off the shore and the roar of them dumping of the surfers beach was very powerful.

Inside the building the walls are lined with the surf boards belonging to champions who have come to compete here with amazing pictures of the waves they tackle.

All in all Nazare was a good stopover and for Paul and I it was nice to be somewhere new.
Dee