Despite the merriment in Sines the night before followed by a music session back on the boat the alarm goes off at 05:30 and we drag ourselves out of our bunks and into our smelly oilies. By 05:45 we have slipped the lines and motor out of Sines and head south. Another perfect sunrise greets us over the laden container ships in the harbour. Its 15 kts already and forecast to build to 25. We decide to motor sail for a spell to get some miles under our belt. There is a big swell and we surf south at 9 knots. More dolphins under the bow. The wind builds and the white caps and rollers glisten against the pure blue sky. The engine goes off and we continue at 9 kts. As the southern tip of Portugal comes into view the swell is such that the cliffs disappear occasionally as we sink in the trough of a wave. The boat is pitching and tossing in the confused sea.
We round Cabo St Vincent into smoother water. The cliffs are gouged and arches and caves are everywhere.
We harden up onto a beam reach and fly along the Algarve. Wind now 25 kts. The coast is littered with holiday developments.
Soon we approach Lagos, a really pretty town accessed by a canal and we resister and get clearance to go under the lifting bridge and find our berth.
So the 1000 mile charge down the Atlantic Coast is coming to an end. No more big rollers and empty seas.
Let's hope there are more fish in the Med!!
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