P1 Power Boat GP
05 October 2007 | Portimao
We decided to anchor in the bay opposite the marina in Portimao for several reasons; it made a change from being in a marina where we had been for 9 days previously, we saved some money but then spent it on an expensive fish dinner, we fancied speeding around in our dinghy to get a feel of what the P1 Power Boats (they are the equivalent of F1 in motor racing) were up to but then realised that the dinghy leaks and we need a new one!
We had intended to stay for just one night but the weather had a different idea. A bad weather front moved in and meant that we could not leave so we spent 3 nights in a swell. We were being rocked from side-to-side quite strongly but it made cooking dinner a bit more exciting. Luckily, the cooker can pivot otherwise the interior of Deep Blue would have had a new decor and Thai curry and rice isn't one that we fancied. By the third night, we even tried sleeping in a different direction so that we were rocked from head-to-toe rather than side-to-side but it didn't help much. How I wasn't seasick, I do not know. But, it's all part of the experience and we now have total confidence in our trusty Spade anchor.
There was a big build up for the P1 Power Boat GP and we had a great viewing point from the boat as the power boats did time trials between the marina and the sea. The noise they make is quite incredible - deep, flat, powerful and very loud. We went on land to watch the action in the bay opposite and, with cold beers and ice-cream in our hands; we got settled for the race. The boats set off on the opposite side of the bay, with TV helicopters circling overhead, and came towards us leaving a powerful spray behind them. We were expecting them to come in quite close but unfortunately they didn't and it was quite disappointing in the end so we watched it for a while on a big TV screen on the beach and went in search of more beer and ice-cream. We did see Tiff Nedell and Chris got photographed standing on the red carpet. That evening there was due to be a big party on the beach but the wind and rain had arrived and it got cancelled. Luckily, the fireworks didn't get cancelled and we had front row seats on our boat for a spectacular display.
With a small weather window, we left for Albufiera on Monday.