The weatherforecast 'promised' us a northerly breeze of some 10 knots today, so a brilliant day to preceed the 13 odd miles to the Rio Guadiana.

Unfortunately we didn't find much of that breeze, when we left around 9 in the morning when the flood just started. So the engine got a lttle workout while we enjoyed the sunny weather and the warmest day this far during 2010. Around 27 degrees, means at sea one needs a t-shirt at least, because it feels a bit more chilly than on land. the water temp. is still 15-16 degrees in the sea so keeps a nice chill in the bilge where we store provisions that benefit from a cool place.

The river is wider than we expected inside the entrance. To our left - the Portuguese town of 'Vila Real de San Antonio' and at our right the spanish 'Ayamonte'. A choice to be made....


Since it's almost 6 months since we left Spain for Portugal, we thought it was time for a return, and anchored just north of the centre of Ayamonte. Right opposite a yard where 2 laarger fishing vessels was on the slipway with shafts out and propellers on the ground. A regular maintenance session apparently.

The tide, and especially the ebb of course, runs very strong here.... look at tha photo of our bow and the anhor chain. We are NOT making 4,5 knots through the water.... the river is making 4,5 knots around us!

Speed enough to make the anchor snubber (line to take the load of the windlass) vibrate at around 200 a minute producing a very unfamiliar singing noice inside the boat, especially in the fore cabin where we sleep.

Thus, the Captain, didn't sleep all that well the first night