Thursday 7th October Steve, Nicole and Ella check into their villa
We moved Fuga up to the anchorage off Ferragudo and went ashore to Portimao, opposite, to find the authorities, in case we needed to register with them. Having at last found them, we purchased a map, and had a drink, before returning via the supermarket. After a cup of tea, we went in search of a chandlery in the new marina, but it was late in the day and the office had closed. There was little evidence of commercial activity there. We then returned with Fuga to our previous anchorage, as we hoped it would be quieter there. Steve, Nicole and Ella checked in by mobile, and we arranged to meet them at Ferragudo in the morning.
Steve and Nicole beat us to Ferragudo, but we were soon anchored off and dinghied ashore. We settled into one of the restaurants, starting with coffee, and then moving on to a lovely meal of fish cooked over a barbeque on the quay. We had just got in to the restaurant, when the cold front that was billed delivered heavy rain. After lunch, we had a session on the playground with Ella, before splitting up so that Ella could have her afternoon snooze.
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| Cooking lunch on a barbeque | Ella on the climbing frame |
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| Ella with Nanny sitting on a ball-ard |
We looked around Portimao but were disappointed with what we saw of the town. We did find the Pingo Doce supermarket, and returned to the dinghy with our usual heavy load. We tried to find signs of life in the marina, with a possible view to getting a lifejacket for Ella, but drew a blank.
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| Ferragudo |
We left the anchorage of Ferragudo in the morning, and sailed up the coast close inshore. We sent a text message to Steve and Nicole to say that we would be passing the lighthouse near their villa, and they came to look for us. However, as we were making better time than we had anticipated, they were not able to positively identify us as we sailed out across the bay. By the time we arrived outside Albufeira the wind was blowing a good 5, although because we had been running we were not aware. At first we could not believe that there was a marina there, (it does not appear in the pilot books or Reeds yet), but then spied some masts beyond a gap in the rocks at the back of the old fishing harbour. We were expecting some exotic coloured buildings, but again none were visible to start with. The entrance channel was however buoyed, and we tied up on the reception pontoon to be allocated a berth. The staff were particularly helpful, going back to fetch an adapter for our electrics.
Steve and Nicole appeared with Ella in the morning. They left Dave (who had flown out on Sunday) in bed. After a coffee on board we all set off back to the Villa for a couple of days. It made a complete change to be on dry land for a while, albeit with the use of a nice swimming pool, and to see Mo's family for some quality time. Steve returned us to the boat on Wednesday morning, and we had arranged for a hire car to enable us to pick up Jacqui, Rowan and Oscar from the airport. Having deposited their stuff on the boat, we all set off to the villa for a barbeque before Mo's family flew back to the UK early the next morning.
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| An evening walk by the lighthouse |
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| Ella | Ella with Oscar |
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| The new marina at Albufeira |
We used the car in the morning to do an extra large shop from a supermarket in Albufeira, before the car was collected at midday. We then left the marina and anchored off the beach outside, to give Oscar an opportunity to get his feet sandy. Afterwards, we motored across the bay to Vilamoura, arriving just in time to be allocated a berth in the marina before the office closed. We spent the following day in Vilamoura, walking and exploring. Jacqui and Rowan were able to take advantage of the baby sitting service to have a meal on their own. On Saturday, we set off for Faro. To start with we tried sailing, but the wind died and as it was uncomfortable, we resorted to the engine. On arrival inside the entrance at Cabo de Sta Maria we went up to the anchorage behind Ilha da Culatra, thinking that Oscar might like a run ashore later. In the event, we did not and we spent the evening there. The next morning we took the tide up the channel to Olhao. We were surprised to find a lot of change since the pilots were written, there being the makings of a substantial marina there. We had heard stories of isolated pontoons, but found a number of visiting yachts moored to the concrete outer pontoon. While this had no electricity or water, the inner pontoons appeared to be serviced but the security gates to these were locked. Someone we met subsequently said that the marina had been EEC funded, but this had evaporated when a sewage outfall was found to emerge from within the marina! In any case, it did provide a secure and convenient walk on berth, and we moored on the inside of the outer pontoon. We went on a quick shopping trip on arrival and found the Pingo with some help from an Irishman berthed near us. Jacqui and Rowan had suggested lunch, and we were lucky enough to stumble on a great restaurant (O Carlos, Rua Vasco da Gama) on the way in towards the town centre, where Oscar entranced a couple of young girls. After this, we took the opportunity to explore the town a little more, and later Jacqui and Rowan went off for a quiet drink without Oscar. The next morning we left Olhao, and made for the anchorage off Faro. This proved a little tricky once beyond the commercial quay where the deep channel was well buoyed. We made the mistake of paying too much attention to the computer, and not enough to Mark 1 eyeball (or indeed, the RCC pilot), for we ran into the sandbank depicted as sometimes being marked by a blue bouy.. it wasn't this time. We were later looking for a spot to anchor beyond the moorings, we suddenly and without warning ran out of water. Fuga has a bulb on the bottom of her keel, and this is distinctly more difficult to remove from the bottom when you have the misfortune to make contact with it, than say Golondrina's fin. The weather was wet, so Jacqui and Rowan remained on board while we did a recce to find out where to land next day. We were a little unsure what the access to the pontoon might be at low tide, so we set off early for the shore the following day. Mo and the baggage were on the first load, while Jacqui, Rowan and Oscar were on the second load. We had plenty of time as it turned out, so we went into the sailing club and had a meal prior to calling the taxi to take them to the airport.
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| Jacqui with Oscar | The Platers make for the airport |