Talking of blurry pictures. I inadvertently got caught up in the return pilgrimage with our Nossa Senhora, after leaving the ferry at the jetty in Olhâo. This shot was taken after rummaging around for my black camera case, in my black back pack. By the time I had the thing switched on, they had almost passed me!

The Pilgrims sauntered along the road, clasping candles that flickered, whilst they sang in very low tones. The atmosphere was incredibly moving, I have to say.

Same day, a fire broke out in Alportel. It was one day after full moon and as she rose, she seemed to burn red, before she was sucked up into the cloud of smoke caused by the raging fire. It was a dramatic site indeed. I screeched to a halt and quickly took some shots before she disappeared again!

The Lighthouse and Radar station at Santa Maria

I am still afloat

I think by now, people are beginning to wonder that, perhaps I sailed off into one of those dynamic sunsets. Truth be known, I have sailed into many and sunrises alike. Today was a spectacular deep orange looming up to bless us with yet another beautiful, sunny day. But the eventual answer is no. I am still around Algarve.

When out sailing, I can not always get an Internet connection. Alas, I am then reduced to scribbling notes on my ongoing antics.

A few weeks ago I was having a fantastic sail down to Tavira (check map). Smooth running, as they say, making excellent way goose winged and all. About 2 miles off the entrance, I saw a grey military ship, cruising a mile off my stern. I acknowledged them with a wave and a smile as they approached to take a closer look.

Within ten minutes, three crew had launched themselves in a R.I.B, and were speeding towards me. I took a deep breath and my shoulders dropped. What was in store for me, I dreaded, as they skimmed across the water, throwing up white surf behind them.

Unbeknown to me, I was last on their list of inspection figures that day, to check for illegal immigrants and vast quantities of drugs. Neither of which I could produce, so they started checking through my safety equipment, paperwork, etc. Now on the one hand, I could have politely told them to go forth and multiply, but they all were sporting guns in holsters and they outnumbered us, so I complied.

Suffice it to say, in all the confusion I couldn't find various things and what I could produce, was out of date! Their faces took on a grave look, and I thought for a moment, they would arrest me on the spot, seize the boat and throw away the key.

The eventual outcome at the office of the Policia Maritima, was they hadn't heard a Dicky bird about me and had comical puzzled looks on their faces, when I thrust my paperwork under their noses. Including the various objects I found at a later date, that were in date.

One of them openly joked with me and wished me a pleasant stay, as I retreated with haste out the door.

Now there's an F word that springs to mind and it's not the one you are thinking of!!

Hoisting foresail, mainsail and bum shot!

TopTipOf The Day

If you happen to have an onboard cat, I would recommend the worming course before you install the cat on the boat. Administer the worming tablets or paste and wait a good 48 hours. This is turn will avoid any projectile matter hitting any area of your vessel.

BACK ON THE WATER; WHERE BOATS BELONG

From the dust to the sea, the trolley to the water. We do eventually reap our rewards, as 'she' was gently reversed back to where she rightly belongs. Afloat. Like some majestic swan, we ease away from the pontoons and motor out to the anchorage, with smiles so wide that by the time we arrive off the island, the facial muscles are beginning to ache. A very pleasant ache at that!

The anchorage is vast, with reasonable holding, though you maybe wise to put out a tripping line as the seabed is rather littered with a variety of maritime rubbish.

What's a bonus, is there is heaps of space here for scope, you rarely find another has anchored far too close to hear the blades of their wind generator driving one potty.

The inhabitants on the island are a unique community. I am only just getting to know them, with the invaluable help of an ex islander, who is also visiting this summer.

As we ate and drank our way through most of Sunday, feasting on a mixture of grilled cuttlefish and spider crab I was told a hilarious story of when The Pope visited the people of Peniche. 39º21'N 9º22'W

The Pope, obviously wasn't prompted on the art of correct pronunciation and upon addressing the people, what he wanted to say was. 'O povo de Peniche' (To the people of Peniche) when in actual fact, what he ended up saying was 'O povo de Penís' (To the people of Penis)

Not a dry eye in the house! Was it a pre organised faux pas I wonder??? Simply hysterical and I had to pick myself up from rolling around in the cockpit.

Once more, you couldn't make that up!

ILHA DA CULATRA, OLHÂO

LATEST BOATYARD ANTICS

Discovering the Algarve Coast

Map of Olhâo, Ria Formosa, Algarve

Ver mapa maior

Boat yard weekend in Olhâo, Algarve

I know the cake on top of the can resembles some kind of sun hat, but its not. It is in actual fact called a pastel de nata, which is a custardy filling inside a cup cake of light pastry. In a word its lush and I was looking for a sugar hit, to boost my wavering energy today.

I think everyone here wanted to take the day off, seeing it is a Sunday and the yard was eerily quiet. One yachty had an accident with a dish of red paint and precarious scaffolding collapsing. She fortunately landed on her feet but the red paint, well, it went everywhere! Most of the scaffolding has been taken to the adjoining yard to paint a huge vessel, so what's left are incomplete pieces you have to put together in the hope that you will be able to elevate yourself safely. It's like something out of the krypton factor, (now who remembers that programme?).

I, on the other hand use step ladders. They are even more precarious, especially when they don't lock and you position one of the feet on a loose stone. You get to the top and the thing tilts and you just have to reach for part of the boat to steady yourself. I love it! The best area is mid-ships between my neighbours boat and mine, whereby there's only enough room to pass a bucket and you somehow have to squeeze yourself up the ladder with paint laden roller to apply, without getting a mouthful or eyeful of the stuff!

I switched to the mohair roller and low and behold it doesn't shed but leaves a more enhanced orange peel effect. Now whoever said you simply run it off with one swift brush stroke is having a laugh. The idea behind this is to eliminate the orange peel effect. Trouble is you would be left with an ugly brush stroke instead. Or the brush stuck to the topside, glued with the two pot paint. I left my brush in its plastic wrapper under the boat.

Right then, one more to the NIB. No its got nothing to do with bank identification numbers. Its called nibbing and its simply a bucket of soapy water and some 240 grade wet and dry, so I can rub down the freshly painted topsides that I coated yesterday, to re-coat tomorrow. I can't wait.

Sunday lunch!

Sunday Lunch!

another weekend in the dusty yard...

So another weekend upon us. At least the epoxy coating has finished. It was rather like applying honey on a roll to a surface, but not quite as tasty! In fact it's nasty nasty stuff, but the hardest product you can buy and I'm after maximum protection of my hull.

The coating has now switched to topside, two pot paint. White, of course. Here stands a purist who believes all boats should be white. Be seen, more glare, more contrast. I also believe in doing most of the maintenance work myself, due mainly to my tight budget, but also I love the idea of learning by doing and each time, getting better at it! (now that's relative!!)

Well I would recommend you stick to the mohair type of rolls and not the spongy type, that love to shed bits of sponge all over your newly painted topsides!! Ahh what joy...

A friend and fellow sailor prompted me to alter my title of sea amazons to soap amazons, adding in his best Vincent Price accent, "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...."

You see the whole point of owning a boat is to be inundated with high high maintenance at a costly price, filled with glitches along the way, that will trip and sabotage at a moments notice. I merrily skipped off to the Hempel shop (free advertising) to buy the anti foul and light primer I need to finish the hull, only to get a shake of the head as they didn't have the anti foul in stock. It will, however, be in on Wednesday....

And no I am not going to say all will be ready by next weekend, because you never know. But I do remain quietly confident! Hey if I'm not, who will be, as I look over to my neighbour's boat whose engine is painstakingly reassembled by a very quiet guy, who seems to relish more meditation to mounting...

Yes, neighbour, you couldn't make it up!!!

Chocks away...

Sunrise in the Ria Formosa

Race to reach deadline...

There's something deeply disturbing about being laid up in a boatyard. I'm definately getting the word static. It's just not right to wake up and see the same old view from the main hatch. Now don't get me wrong, the view the the south and southwest are awesome.

You can soak up the Ria Formosa, reaching out to the series of islands, the nearest one being Ilha do Coco, stretching across mud flats on the low tide and in the distance, Ilha da Culatra. Recently around €33,000.000 was spent on supplying both the main islands of Culatra and Armona, with a water supply and sewage and fibre optics. Not bad considering all the dwellings are considered illegal, as they were constructed within the Nature Reserve. Another immense contradiction in the continuing saga of the Ria Formosa and whose fingers are dipping in whose pies!

So anyway, I digress. My deadline is the end of May. My boat should be all done and dusted and afloat, where I shall exhale a huge sigh of relief and no doubt have the biggest smile on my face as I gently motor out to the anchorage at Culatra.

Today, I mainly climbed up and down the ladder, which is the only access to the boat, which my cat has taken an abrupt dislike to. She usually scales up and down the ladder with no trouble at all, but has decided to stay boat bound and she's not giving me a reason.

So the work is concentrated under the waterline. I am coating it with a clear epoxy resin, to strengthen and protect the fibre glass laminate. Interestingly enough, it's a great excuse to drive to Spain to buy most epoxy products, because they are half the price to the shops here in Portugal. Let's face it, the cerveza is cold and the tapas are a plenty!!

So back to the boat I go, laiden with just about all the epoxy cans I need until I can start slapping on the anti foul paint.

Hopefully I will be able to upload some more photos of the surroundings here, only I have to get my hands on the relevant Dvd, which holds the photo files.

Mmmmm it's sundowner time!!

I am currently chocked up as high as my Westerly Fulmer twin keel will allow. But as with all my nautical neighbours, this position is temporary. Upon leaving this dusty boatyard, I shall be cruising the portuguese waters and beyond, ducking into quaint ports along the Ria Formosa. It still remains a rather lovely nature park, despite its failure to hold back to encroaching developers.

That is another subject entirely and one that should not be dismissed. The Ria Formosa needs support. I shall be looking into ways that I hope can save the natural beauty and wildlife.

If we are not aware, we will not be in a position to aid.