From Ilha da Culatra to Vila Real I got company. Apparently, he (or she) could not be bothered with the loud rock music I was playing at that moment. Needless to say I was rewarded for my hospitality with bird droppings through the entire cockpit.
From Ilha da Culatra I sailed to Vila Real and, up the Guadiana river, to Alcoutim. The trip up river was an interesting experience after all the sailing at sea: no waves, no wind, no swell, just watching the scenery go by while sipping on a cold beer. On 6 October, I sailed back from Alcoutim to Vila Real and spent the day getting the boat ready for the crossing to the Canary Islands.
Portugal to Canary Islands
I left Vila Real in Portugal on Monday morning 8 October and arrived - safe and sound - at Isla Graciosa (Canary Islands) on Saturday evening 13 October. 6 days of non stop sailing, my longest solo trip so far.Evening 1 to 5:
Sailing downwind in cross-seas made the boat rolling heavily. Setting the spinnaker pole in these circumstances requires full concentration.
Left to right, right to left down wind...
The Islands in sight on the sixth day
And here should have been some stunning images of the island taken from the mountain I climbed yesterday, had I not dropped my camera in the 15 meters deep water..