From the Rias Bajas in Spain we (motor-) sailed into Portugal through Baiona and Povoa da Vazim to Porto. After successfully dodging 100 fishing nets, Sunriser’s propeller got caught into net number 101; Jos heroically released us by diving and cutting us free with a knife.
The Portuguese coast at this time of the year is, to say the least, not the best sailing ground. Most of the days the swell (big ocean waves) are over 3 meters which makes sailing along the coast uncomfortable. But also in the harbours the swell comes in shaking boats and floating pontoons. For this reason we left the marina in Porto after 3 nights ‘dancing’ (and a broken landline as boats don’t dance well on a leach) and went at anchor in the river Douro. This was a good decision, as at anchor Sunriser was gently dancing a valse rather than rock and roll.
Porto is beautiful, with its famous Porto houses (Kopke, Taylor, Calum etc) on the south side and the old city on the north side of the river Douro. From our anchorage we could reach the inner city with our dinghy, which made transportation easy. Porto has some old beautiful buildings decorated with azulejos, blue tiles which reminded us of home. We wandered through the cobbled narrow streets and enjoyed the sunset drinking port at the Ribeira.
When the swell diminished to less than 3 meters we left Porto and ‘hobby horsed’ the way through Figuera da Foz to Nazare. As Nazare is known as one the best surfing places in the world with waves over 30 meters, it was a bit nerve wracking. But in the end we found out that the monster waves are confined to a localized spot and do not pose a problem for sailors staying in deeper waters (which we did).
Since Baiona we ‘buddy boat’ (sailing together) with a sailboat called Aliante. Besides good company, as this coast is challenging, it is reassuring to discuss the plans (and execute them) together.
