Baiona to Póvoa de Varzim 55nm
Thursday 20 August
Well another day and we have no wind in the marina. But David has promised us 25 knots out there today and we are getting excited after all these light winds. Before we left we filled up with diesel.
Today we say adios to Spain: we have loved sailing along your green, dramatic, mountainous, rocky and beautiful shores, eating your delicious seafood and drinking your wine and keeping a weather eye out for your orcas!
As we left the bay the wind filled in nicely and we bore away in 17-20 knots of wind.
The wind is basically right behind us today.
Initially we went out to get good winds and then we gybed and goose-winged for best downwind direction.
It wasn’t a day for Greta, mostly because we are sailing as deep as possible and we were having a great time taking it in turns helming,
Especially surfing down the waves in 23-27 knots!
I was first to hit 13 knots, and first to hit 14, but then David got ´15 point f*ing 4!’ – and just as I handed over – humph!
It’s the big waves more than the wind that affects the speed, because if you have 2 big waves in a row you generate the momentum for a lovely surf down the other side. It does also help when the wind is usually over 23 knots.
We arrived in Póvoa de Vazim by 3 o’clock! I was expecting to be there by 6 but the combination of zooming along averaging 8 knots and Portugal being on British time rather than Spanish helped a lot.
There are 2 parts to the marina here and they put us nearer the town, which is best, but we are a long way from the office!
We are planning to stay here tomorrow as well as we are in no hurry and Captain wants to celebrate getting to Portugal with a beer or two.
