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So, that wasn't the last post - but this will be.

Portimao anchorage felt like home. We met people we had seen along the coast and we went for a couple of day sails, including an 'all sails' romp back to Portimao from Alvor beach on the last day. In the afternoon we went across to the marina, turned round like experts, warped her back to the diesel pumps and filled up. I needn't have worried about running out of fuel - we we're still over half full! Anyway at least that means we can leave her topped up for the winter avoiding the dreaded condensation in the diesel tanks. That evening we took down the genoa whilst still on the water so we wouldn't have to do that in the wind predicted for the next day.

Indeed a strong SE wind was blowing when we came out of the water so we were pleased to have opted again for the travel lift. Gill took us in nicely and then it was warps on before we drifted into the side of the lift. It took 3 attempts to get the lift slings correctly positioned so that the front sling was supporting the boat rather than sliding up the bow. The rest of the day was spent cleaning the outside of Petronella, removing sails and washing and inspecting salty warps.









On Thursday the girls got the train into Lagos for the day whilst Gill and I packed, changed oil and oil filters, checked difficult to get at bilges, paid for the next few months at the boatyard. Then into Portimao (heaving with Maddy McCann journalists) for a final cataplana which Ruth generously paid for and home to Petronella for the last night.

Up early, train from Ferragudo to Faro, swish coach along the Algarvian and Andalucian coasts to Seville where it was over 40 degrees C and home for 3am to Gleaston. Now we have to decide what to do next year!


Bye till then.

John and Gill

Portimao Anchorage

So, we are back where started at Portimao. We had a cracking sail back from Culatra on Thursday. Wind behind us, F3, 4, 5 – a super sail. On top of that the mackerel were feeding as we approached Portimao so we ended up with a dozen fish for dinner. It was a long day and it took us a couple of attempts to anchor sufficiently far away from everyone so we would not swing into them but very satisfactory none the less. Since then we’ve chilled really, getting ready to accept that our time with Petronellla is nearly over for this year at least.

A couple of incidents have occurred though to make us think we are starting get the hang of this game. Firstly, after arriving, a small racing yacht, Roff Global caught a mooring buoy as it tried to leave the anchorage late at night and ended up re –anchored within 10 m of us. We saw them trying sort out some problem or other and correctly guessed their problem. In the end we ferried them across to the marina at 12.30 in the night so they could pick up their dinghy, release the prop and set off the next morning They were from Lisbon and were setting off back there (father and son) the following day.

The second incident yesterday started when the frenchman next to us rowed across to say he needed some help and we looked like the boat to give it! He was a single handed sailor and very experienced. He was called Serge, from Brittany. He was due to leave Portimao the following morning but his self steering gear had broken on the way from Seville – could we help sort out the problem otherwise he would have to spend the next month without sleep hand steering back to Brittany, across Biscay. I gathered up my multimeter and a few bits and pieces and we rowed back for a fascinating 4 hours of problem diagnosis, repair and stories of his travels. In the end we sorted it (damp connection) courtesy of my Intermediate radio manual! As a result we were invited to his boat for drinks in the evening and more stories of him taking his 24’ boat around the Outer Hebrides, catching tuna in the Bay of Biscay, writing articles for saiing magazines and his whole philosophy towards life – absolutely fascinating. And to think we fixed his boat so he could set off this morning. Apparently he wanted a photo of us before he left this morning but we were already in Portimao sorting out coming out of the water on Wednesday and paying some Portuguese lighthouse tax to the tune of a massive 2 euros.

We need to get some more fuel so the tanks do not stand empty over the winter so that is tomorrow’s job. Then its out of the water on Wednesday morning, cleaning, oil and filter changes, sails off and other jobs for the rest of the day. On Thursday the girls are going to get the train to Lagos for the day while Gill and I finish the loose ends. Then in the evening Ruth is taking us all out for a meal. Then it’s the early train to Faro and bus onto Seville from where we fly late on Friday.

I’m sitting typing this up in the cockpit on the most beautiful warm, still evening. Most of the boats have gone off to marinas for their cheap overwintering rates that start on the September 1st so we have three times as much room as previously. We’ve just got back from taking the dinghy to the beach for a very chilled out beer and now the girls are cooking tea. Not a bad life I reckon.

So this will be the last of Petronella’s postings for this year.

Goodbye until next April when we’re still inclined to move eastwards to the Mediterranean – probably via Gibraltar, the Balearics, then on towards Croatia, Greece or Turkey. We still need some more practice and confidence building before we tackle a proper ocean but we’ve come a long way in the last 5 months. So, if you fancy a bit of a voyage or just a holiday next year let us know.