sySpringDawn

Vessel Name: Spring Dawn
Vessel Make/Model: Rival 41
Hailing Port: Hamble
Crew: Robbie Wilderspin & Jacqueline Cole
About: Robbie's a salty old sea dog. Jax is still learning.
20 June 2017 | Rio Judeu, Seixal
17 June 2017 | Praia Grande, Portimao
15 June 2017 | Alcaidesa Marina, La Linea
13 June 2017 | Benalmadena Marina
12 June 2017 | Almerimar Marina
08 June 2017 | Marina Alicante
07 June 2017 | Marina Alicante
06 June 2017 | Marina Alicante
03 June 2017 | Rada del Moraira
02 June 2017 | Islas Columbrete
05 October 2015 | Sant Carles de la Rapita, Spain
30 September 2015 | RCN Palma, Palma de Mallorca
26 September 2015 | Cala Gran, Mallorca
25 September 2015 | Cala Ratjada, Mallorca
24 September 2015 | Puerto de Pollenca, Mallorca
17 September 2015 | Villa Can Joan, Pollenca, Mallorca
13 September 2015 | Puerto Soller, Mallorca
11 September 2015 | Real Club Nautico de Palma, Mallorca
09 September 2015 | Isla de Cabrera, Balearics
08 September 2015 | Sa Rapita, Mallorca
Recent Blog Posts
20 June 2017 | Rio Judeu, Seixal

Lisbon and an intermission...

Having enjoyed a day to go ashore, do a bit of swimming and generally restore ourselves we left the anchorage on Monday morning. First stop was the waiting pontoon in Lagos so that I could go to Sopromar for impellers and gas, Tom went to Intermarche for other essentials. Sopromar came up trumps, though [...]

17 June 2017 | Praia Grande, Portimao

And so to Portugal...

Left La Linea bright and early for the journey onward from the Med and into the Atlantic. It was the first day of the tuna season so our exit was in company with a number of power boats equipped with fearsome looking rods and what appear to be dentist chairs into which the fisherman can be strapped should [...]

15 June 2017 | Alcaidesa Marina, La Linea

Leaving the Med (and more socialising)...

Left Benalmadena around 08.00 for a motor sail around Europa Point and into La Linea Alcaidesa marina, picking up fuel in Marina Bay, Gibraltar, on the way - 50p a litre ! Bit hazy all the way with the rock appearing out the mist at around 5 miles, and if you want to see traffic on AIS look no futher [...]

13 June 2017 | Benalmadena Marina

Sail repairs and socialising...

We left the marina at Almerimar about 3pm to anchor outside (and not incur a second nights charge). The plan was to have supper and set off for Benalmadena overnight, about 85 miles. Didnt really fancy much to eat as we'd had a largish lunch (black pudding sausage n chips for me) so a quick sarnie, up [...]

12 June 2017 | Almerimar Marina

A bit of a blur...

On leaving Alicante we had a short trip to an anchorage in the entrance to the Mar Menor. We passed Torrevieja on the way where I have been assured the cheapest full english on the Costas can be had for something like €2.99, never mind the quality eh! The anchorage is not pretty but it is secure, its [...]

08 June 2017 | Marina Alicante

The delights of Alicante...

The marina is part of the local scene as the paseo goes around the outside of the basin with a casino and many restaurants and bars. The city is a cool network of narrow streets and squares overlooked by a castle whose origins go back to the 9th century during the Muslim occupation of Iberia. The paseo [...]

Lisbon and an intermission...

20 June 2017 | Rio Judeu, Seixal
RobbieW / Scorchio
Having enjoyed a day to go ashore, do a bit of swimming and generally restore ourselves we left the anchorage on Monday morning. First stop was the waiting pontoon in Lagos so that I could go to Sopromar for impellers and gas, Tom went to Intermarche for other essentials. Sopromar came up trumps, though twice the UK price, so I now have a couple of spare impellers again; isnt Sopromar posh now, big shiny showrooms for both spares and new boats. Those jobs done we set off toward Lisbon.

The wind was still blowing out of the straits and a nasty little sea had now built up from the E/SE. That was only a nuisance until we had cleared the nets (tuna ?) set just to the south of the Lagos harbour entrance. We fairly quickly rounded Cape St Vincent which kept the wind and hid the SE swell, the Atlantic swell was much softer and easier to live with. The wind lasted a couple of hours before the engine went on then we had a longish haul toward Lisbon. As night fell the horizon became indistinct and we had fog, one yacht passed within 2 miles on the AIS but no sighting, a little later I could see shipping heading toward Sines on AIS and could then see lights at around 6 miles. As dawn broke it was still misty and we were fairly close in to the Tagus running up to Lisbon.

We had the option of heading toward Cascais to anchor with the intent of carrying on North or heading in toward Lisbon and an anchorage near Seixal. The forecast was showing a return to the predominant northerlies within 36 hours after which progress north would be difficult. So, for a number of reasons including the weather, we headed in toward Seixal and an anchorage tucked away in the waters behind. Seixal is a stop on the ferry network around Lisbon, within 20 minutes you can be dropped in the centre of the city for a very reasonable price. It was also about 10 minutes in the dinghy from the boat so Tom, having reached the limits of his pass, had booked a flight and went ashore en-route to the UK.

Of the two other anchored boats in the creek was one called Vlad from Poole. Vlad had an interesting looking rig and was clearly not a cruiser by design. I stopped for a chat on the way back from dropping Tom to discover she had been called 'Vlad the Impaler', shorthened for brevity on the radio, a one design that had been sucessful in the Solent race circuit. I certainly remember the name, well you would, from my experience racing in the Solent. They were on thier way south so left as the wind changed.

There is also a yard near Seixal in which its possible to lift and store a boat at a very reasonable price, Tagus Yacht Centre. A friend had used it a couple of years ago prior to an atlantic circuit. I called and booked a slot for a lift so Springy is now having a well earned rest ashore for a month or two. She hasnt been out of the water for more than a week since 2010 so it was time she had a bit of dry out.
Comments
Spring Dawn's Photos - Main
Cefalu to Vulcano and Messina
30 Photos
Created 20 September 2013
Capo Vito to Termini Imerese including Palermo
29 Photos
Created 18 September 2013
Trapani & the Egadi Islands
13 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
Carbonara to Olbia & back
29 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
Maddalenas - Alghero - Cagliari
41 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
...Alghero to Bonifacio with Ocean Hobo
46 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
35 Photos
Created 16 September 2013
..but mostly Valencia
38 Photos
Created 22 January 2013
45 Photos
Created 22 January 2013
14 Photos
Created 22 January 2013
23 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
71 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
Costa del Sol, Costa de Almeria & Costa Blanca
19 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
44 Photos
Created 21 January 2013
Smir, Tetuan & Ceuta
27 Photos
Created 20 January 2013
16 Photos
Created 20 January 2013
The Guadiana to Tarifa
39 Photos
Created 1 March 2012
Lagos, Alvor, Portimao, Faro & Culhatra
13 Photos
Created 1 March 2012
Povoa da Varzim, Oporto, Peniche, Lisbon
18 Photos
Created 12 November 2011
Ria de Muros, Ris de Arousa, Ria de Pontevedra & Ria de Vigo
16 Photos
Created 12 November 2011
Ribadeo to Finisterre
15 Photos
Created 17 October 2011
12 Photos
Created 14 September 2011
19 Photos
Created 3 September 2011
23 Photos
Created 2 September 2011
19 Photos
Created 18 August 2011
41 Photos
Created 1 August 2011
9 Photos
Created 19 July 2011
28 Photos
Created 19 July 2011

About & Links