Yesterday evening at 5:30 we anchored in the lee of Sagres point. The wind was blowing a lusty 25 knots when we came in, but the anchor dug right in and we celebrated the completion of our voyage of discovery. I suppose now we should claim these lands in the name of George Bush and introduce the inhabitants to the joys of flamenco. Well, maybe not.
It is nice to be level again and tidying up after our crossing. We celebrated breakfast with crepes filled with Azorean cream cheese and topped with Jeff's North Carolina blueberry moonshine jam.
We came from the Azores in 5 1/2 days, not at all shabby for a 41 foot boat, especially considering the light winds the first day. We don't yet have internet, but when we do, we'll put up some pictures and write more. For the time being, we are safe and content. Hope you are too.
Here is the computer screen when we were crossing the traffic zone where all the shipping in the Med comes around the corner of Portugal. It gets crowded out there. This is our AIS system showing about 14 ships. It tells us their exact speed and heading so we know if there is a danger. Cool, huh? The little red boat headed for the point is us.
And here is Cabo Sao Vicente - our first part of continental Europe.
Here is the fort at Henry the Navigator's lookout at Sagres. The square building is the chapel that is about the only part that may go back to Henry's time.
Here are the happy couple sitting on the steps of the chapel.
And here is the interior - very simple.
Here is Henry's compass rose laid out on the ground. Or then again, it might be the compass rose of anyone with some rocks and a day's hard labor...
This is a replica of a caravel - the kind of ship that Columbus used for his smaller vessels. They haul tourists around.
1 comment:
Congratulations and welcome to the mainland! Nice, fast passage for you. Glad to hear that all is well.
-Shirlee and John
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