toward the Algarve coast

Röde Orm and Cape Saõ Vincente


One always have preconceptions about commercial harbors, especially when looking at a chart. They do not incite you to prolong your stay. But Sines is worth knowing. It is a petro chimical harbor but also a very charming city which is the birth place of Vasco de Gama. It kept its authenticity without the touristic glittering part. It is modest, simple and sympathic. The walled old city on the waterfront is a place where we like to wander. Its people are very laid back and nice and always helpfull.

The anchorage in front of the beach between the two jetties is often rolly with those southerly winds that bring the swells in pass the long outer jetty of the comercial harbor. We wait three days before the northerlies winds come back. We leave with a cloudy sky and very weak winds despite a high pressure. We have to motor three quarter of the 63 miles. We pass the mighty Cap Sao Vincente under sail before turning at right angle east toward the Algarve coast. We pass the second point, Sagres where we anchor in a wide bay in company of Zephyr. The capes and cliffs are impressive vertical walls, becoming shadows of black forteresses and mighty castles under the moon light. We dine in the cockpit as soon as anchored, the air is warm and Magnus cannot keep marvelling at the wonder of dining outside on november 2....

entrance of Rio Arade, Portimaõ