Yacht Aditi

Truly moved by Craig David

So having grabbed a prime anchor spot just off Cascais town we were about 200 metres from the stage which is set for the 5 day music festival. We were just finishing dinner, the sun was on it’s way down and we planned to go ashore and watch Craig David perform. Then along comes an orange fishing vessel with a local policeman telling us we had to move now as they were setting up the fireworks platform where we were anchored. Of course as we got ready to move the wind picked up through 20 knots, within a couple of

Yachts Don’t Bounce

For any of us that sail around Portsmouth there has always been a fine line on the chart off the shore of Southsea that runs out to Horse Sand Fort. This minor detail relates to the submarine defense wall. Wonder what happens if you hit it? We know of a visitor to the UK who hit it at 7 knots and immediately stopped. We understand that the metal hull & keel had to have very substantial repairs in Portsmouth and that the family crew was rattled. It’s a feature that is easily missed on our Solent charts.

Read the small print!

We sailed almost due south from the Spanish Ria’s to Peniche, Portugal. In Peniche we were amazed at how late everybody ate lunch and dinner. At how late we would get up in the morning. And that nothing was open when it was supposed to be even if we arrived at the opening time. We went to Mark’s bar which gave 3 time zones for something like New York, Paris and Berlinga. Berlinga was 6 miles away and corresponded to our watches. After a week in Peniche we went to catch a bus to the walled town of Obidas (where

Our very special Portuguese hosts in Peniche

Antonio and Josef, two very special Portuguese sailors who welcomed us to Peniche and Portugal in spectacular fashion. Antonio cooked Paella on Josef’s boat Azulum and brought it over to finish the cooking of the rice on our boat as we were eating on Aditi. The following evening he brought over the home produced wine. They have sailed back home to Cascais today and we wish them fair winds and hope the fog lifts for them.

Paella made with a touch of love

The first person we met in Peniche was Antonio onboard an adjacent boat. We wanted to double check the depth at our berth. We were immediately invited onboard and perhaps to join him on his friend’s boat to head out to a fascinating island, Berlinga. We got talking and Antoine then declared that he would make us all a Paella which was not only very generous but anyone cooking a large diameter Paella on calor gas will know how difficult that is. Antonio and Josef brought the completed dish round to our boat and we had a great dinner. Josef

1890 Vintage

Antonio in an act of amazing generosity had his brother deliver a bottle of wine to us. It was produced on their family farm and was casked in wooden barrels in 1890. This was then bottled 40 years ago. So the 120 year old wine was opened this evening and that in itself was a fantastic treat. The result is a wine of light golden colour, with the aroma of port, yet an ever so soft and smooth touch on the palate. It delivers several flavours in sequence and finishes with a light cognac taste. Thank you to Antonio and

More customs officers than Heathrow

Atlantic Portugal;A special kind of place. Friendly, relaxed and natural. Upon arrival our lines were taken by customs officials and they tied us to the dock. We are berthed next to their 55ft patrol boat which often has about 5 officers onboard, more than you normally see at a Heathrow check in. Having then shown our passports for the second time in 17 years sailing (first time was last week) we were checked in. Our ultra polite customs officer then kindly pointed out the marina reception, the village area and restaurants along the quayside. Once finished with us he returned