We left Lagos and set off eastwards, anchoring in Culatra. We tried out the new Rocna anchor which worked like a dream, setting first time. Culatra is an island opposite the salt marshes inside the inlet to Faro and Olhao. As it was mid June the anchorage was not too busy. As we sat in the cockpit admiring the sunset we realised that we were about 50 metres behind Bev and Alan from Lagos so I texted them to say we were there and the following morning after we had swung round on the anchor she replied “No we’re behind you!”

The weather was hot and a lot of other sailors were going for a dip over the side to cool down but we noticed that around the same time each night in the dusk a slick of rather unhealthy-looking froth flowed past the boat - from a sewage outlet I suspect so we decided to stay on board!

While we were anchored we set about some re-painting. Steve had bought what he thought was a lemon coloured paint to match a strip near the waterline but it turned out a vivid, dazzling yellow. Alan asked if we had a dimmer switch fitted and Steve considered renaming the boat “Electric Banana”. It will have to go.