Well it was quite a blast as we arrived in Viano do Costelo on Monday evening.... 35 knots in fact as we approached the large breakwater protecting the harbour. We dropped the main and motored into the river through a small fleet of Laser dinghies and flying kite-surfers revelling in the breeze.

Mike berthed Offbeat on the large visitors pontoon outside the marina and we then had around an hours wait to check in as the lone harbourmaster struggled with the broken footbridge which closes the marina entrance. Fortunately we stayed outside overnight.

Viano is a pretty village, with a stunning church high on the hill above reachable by funicular railway.

On Tuesday we left late morning for 38mile sail down to Porto. We arrived late afternoon and berthed in Douro Marina on the same pontoon as HMSTC Dasher, a Navy training boat crewed by one of Mike and Sarah’s friends.