Howdy chums.
After a week in Leixoes we did the 65nm motor to Fig da Foz on a foggy, misty, flat calm day.
After a couple of days there waiting out the weather, we cracked on and motored down to Nazare. You'll note I'm using the word "motor" quite a bit still.... well, that's because there is simply no wind. The Portugese Trades just don't exist this year, so everyone is motoring.
Anyway, we'd pretty much had enough by 15nm out of Nazare so decided we were going to moor the boat somewhere and just relax for a week or two. I know this whole sailing around the world thing sounds like we're goofing off every day, hanging out on the beach drinking rum cocktails, but this year has been a bit of a grind so far (especially with getting the boat ready to go and all the subsequent motoring) and we're ready for some time off.
Pulling into the small fishing harbour of Nazare, a couple of liveaboards grabbed our lines and introduced us around, including giving us a heads up on the great little fishing cafe that does 1EUR beers. Perfect. There's a great boat yard here as well where we can get some work done, plus it's very safe and we can leave the boat here while we go back to Aus for a few weeks.
The other reason we're happy this place has a boat yard is having done a few calculations, we've come to the frustrating conclusion Calypso needs another 50% sail area or we're just never going to get anywhere. Fitting a new mast to a boat is a bit of an undertaking, so having a good, cheap boat yard close by (plus the manager is English and understands steel boats) means we've got a good chance of getting this all done in time to get to Lisbon for Christmas.
That all happened by Wednesday, so we've spent the last few days cycling into town, helping out with other boats, and relaxing in cracking 32 degree sunshine. Add to that the beach party last night, and we're pretty happy with the decision to stay here for a couple of months before making a move further south (blog updates to of course follow on the shenanigans of obtaining another mast and getting back to Portugal......)
After a week in Leixoes we did the 65nm motor to Fig da Foz on a foggy, misty, flat calm day.
After a couple of days there waiting out the weather, we cracked on and motored down to Nazare. You'll note I'm using the word "motor" quite a bit still.... well, that's because there is simply no wind. The Portugese Trades just don't exist this year, so everyone is motoring.
Anyway, we'd pretty much had enough by 15nm out of Nazare so decided we were going to moor the boat somewhere and just relax for a week or two. I know this whole sailing around the world thing sounds like we're goofing off every day, hanging out on the beach drinking rum cocktails, but this year has been a bit of a grind so far (especially with getting the boat ready to go and all the subsequent motoring) and we're ready for some time off.
Pulling into the small fishing harbour of Nazare, a couple of liveaboards grabbed our lines and introduced us around, including giving us a heads up on the great little fishing cafe that does 1EUR beers. Perfect. There's a great boat yard here as well where we can get some work done, plus it's very safe and we can leave the boat here while we go back to Aus for a few weeks.
The other reason we're happy this place has a boat yard is having done a few calculations, we've come to the frustrating conclusion Calypso needs another 50% sail area or we're just never going to get anywhere. Fitting a new mast to a boat is a bit of an undertaking, so having a good, cheap boat yard close by (plus the manager is English and understands steel boats) means we've got a good chance of getting this all done in time to get to Lisbon for Christmas.
That all happened by Wednesday, so we've spent the last few days cycling into town, helping out with other boats, and relaxing in cracking 32 degree sunshine. Add to that the beach party last night, and we're pretty happy with the decision to stay here for a couple of months before making a move further south (blog updates to of course follow on the shenanigans of obtaining another mast and getting back to Portugal......)
