ARC Portugal has now arrived in Douro Marina in Porto. Having had a fantastic downwind sail from Póvoa do Varzim, all participants were very energetic and ‘buzzy’ after their fast passage. Arriving into Porto through the river, the yachts took their slips in the newly finished Douro Marina where they were met by Rally Control who had just arrived in Porto in time for the first yachts. Once all 19 yachts were safely moored, a very sleek and stylish tour of Grahams Port Lodge was organised for all participants combined with an equally quality dinner and prize-giving.
Crews were taken from the marina via Tuk Tuk’s up to Graham’s wine lodge. A short but very interesting tour of the Lodge then followed, where participants were shown around the very impressive building. The lodge was built on an impressive scale, its sturdy granite walls currently house just over 3,500 casks of Port as well as many large oak tonnels, vats and an extensive Vintage Port cellar. Constructed on a commanding site in Vila Nova de Gaia, a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean, Graham’s lodge enjoys magnificent views of the ancient city of Oporto, across the Douro River, and also of Vila Nova de Gaia. The temperate, maritime climate is ideally suited to the slow ageing of Port.
Once the tour was complete, aperitif’s were enjoyed on the terrace with an amazing view of Porto as a backdrop before heading into the dining room which is only metres from the 3,500 barrels of Graham’s Port fermenting ready to be bottled. A splendid 3 course meal was served followed by the results ceremony before Tuk Tuk’s escorted the fleet back to the marina.
Rod, owner of Charlotta 1 concluded his evening saying ‘I have been to hundreds of factories and tours with my work, but this evening was something special! Pure Slick’.
We thank the commercial manager Jose Sanpaio and also Francisca Lima from Douro Marina for their support and hard work in making this stopover such a splendid experience thus far.