Porto - pop. 240 000

Jennifer and crew have now arrived safely at Marina da Afurada located in the outskirts of Porto on the river Doura. It took us 25 hours to cover 150 NM from Cascais, a bit longer than the distance from Lagos to Cascais (110 NM). This was our second sail night and it is quite challenging to sail in the dark. Fishing nets and local fishing boats are difficult to spot - you have to focus 100% on your duties during night watch in order to avoid unwanted encounters.

Porto is famous all over the world for port wine. All the famous Portuguese wine houses have beautifully appointed showrooms located next to River Doura. Tore and I skipped these and all other tourist traps. Instead we made a 14 km long hike along the river, stopping only for lunch (big, tasty and enough food to fill a doggy bag for our onboard dinner) and one (1) beer stop in the oldest part of Porto. Once again we travelled a few km on an historical streetcar - we are both railway enthusiasts.

Jennifer crew presentation 2

Tore from Gothenburg, Sweden is my cabin mate and also team mate while on watch duty. We are also in the same food preparation group. Luckily for me he also enjoys cooking!

Tore started sailing 40 years ago at about the same time when he joined the Swedish police force. He has done a fair bit of sailing with friends and with family in rented boats in Sweden and in the Mediterranean sea. 

After 13 years with the police force (1965-78) he resigned, handed in his badge and became a claims investigator. He continued with this work until his retirement in 2016, in the beginning working for a private company and later with his own investigation agency.

Tore and I enjoy the same type of humor, I could not have wished for a better cabin mate. Only thing I worry about is running out of jokes before our five weeks on the same boat are up...

Jennifer crew presentation 1

Ingemar from Karlstad, Sweden has been working for Sjoraddningssallskapet (Swedish Sea Rescue Society) for the past eight years. This society is responsible for 80% of all sea rescue in Sweden and receives no government funding.  The society is financed by membership fees,  donations and volunteer work.

The society operates 230 rescue vessels of which 3 are based in Karlstad on lake Vanern, the largest lake in Sweden and 3rd largest in Europe after Ladoga and Onega. On the Karlstad base you will find two boats and one hoovercraft and Ingemar is licensed to operate both types of vessels.

In 2017 Ingemars rescue team of five  was voted rescue team of the year after saving a German family from their capsized catamaran on Lake Vanern. Before his retirement Ingemar worked as an electrical engineer and consultant for major companies in Sweden.

Hoovercraft  SSRS

Lisbon - pop. 545 00

During our layover day at Cascais we had time to visit Lisbon - a 40 minute train ride away at €5 return. Staffan took the lead and escorted all crew members to the railway station. Lisbon is a beautiful city with friendly and helpful people. The layout of the city reminded me of San Francisco. Only negative aspect is too much ugly graffiti. I could only find one acceptable piece of street art, as shown below.

In Lisbon our group split up and went in four different directions. Together with my cabin and team mate Tore we explored the city on foot and mouth, by funicular and finally by jumping onboard an old fashioned streetcar for a 90 minutes long guided tour on rails.

Onboard a streetcar in Lisbon...

...with my cabin mate at the time of writing this.. a Guns & Rose's guy?

Night sailing to Cascais 2-3 May

At lunchtime yesterday (May 2) we left Lagos and headed in a Westerly direction. At Cabo S. Vicente (Europes most South-Westerly point) we headed north and met a very rough sea. After sunset it was also very cold to work on deck. It was a challenge to move around or to fall asleep (and not to be seasick).

While at sea we are working in teams of two crew members with 3 hours of duty watch followed by 6 hours of rest. My cabin mate Tore and I are in the same work team. On our way to Cascais we had the "honor" of working the "red eye shift", from 3 to 6 AM. Before that from 6 to 9 PM. Our bonus: a beautiful sunset and sunrise. At 8.30 AM we arrived Marina de Cascais.

Good morning Lagos and good bye!

Yesterday morning Staffan stepped ashore for last minute shopping for food (grilled chicken and salad) and was left behind. It was a strange feeling for him to be looking at an empty pier while holding two loaded shopping bags! Without telling him our captain had moved Jennifer 500 meters to give her a drink of diesel for her next leg. After a few exciting minutes he was able to find her and be reunited with the rest of the crew. Happy end! With all sailors on board we could head out to sea and set the course for Cascais, our next destination.