Journey to the Med - Porto to Lisbon

by Vicki and Andi of Isicia II on 15 Jul 2006 Vicki and Andi continue their journey to the Med, on this week, to Lisbon. The Portuguese trade winds have continued to blow from the north making the trip from Porto to Lisbon a pleasant sailing experience.

There was still a significant Atlantic swell present although predominantly from aft it still makes any vessel to roll. A few sailors commented in the marinas that they are looking forward to sail in the Med where conditions are normally more settled!

On the coast you would be forgiven for thinking that fishing is the national sport of Portugal – from young girls to old men with their rods along harbour walls to the numerous fishing vessels. The flags in the water marking pots and nets make the sailing more of a slalom race and the turquoise flags are particularly hard to spot!

The combination of festivals and World Cup football in Portugal at the end of June has guaranteed a lively atmosphere wherever we stopped for the night. There were fireworks and street parties in Porto, choirs and local culinary delights in Figuera da Foz celebrating the local Sardine Festival and brass bands in Cascais. Not to forget the celebration of Portuguese football success in Germany with loud car horn concerts!

The coastline between Porto and Lisbon varies from long sandy beaches in the north to rugged and craggy rocks past the Cabo de Roca - the most western point in Europe. Berlenga Island, a nature reserve 10 miles off Peniche, and Cabo de Roca were certainly our highlights of this stretch.

As usual we were not disappointed with the wildlife from more bottlenose dolphins to abundant seabirds around Berlenga Island. We were not as lucky catching fish this week as we lost more lures on the way - I guess we will leave this to the locals!

There are not many anchorages and harbours along this coastline, so we met the same yachts each night as we all did the same hops along the coast. However we found a beautiful anchorage near Nazare surrounded by steep cliffs and overhanging rocks, probably one of the most spectacular anchorages so far.

We are now anchored off Cascais, a charming town near Lisbon, while we stock up and plan our next trip along the coast around Cabo de Sao Vicente into the Algarve and further east through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, where we are looking forward to some warmer water for scuba diving!

To find out more about holidays on Isicia II (suitable for all experience levels) visit their website at www.sailaway.eu.com or call (+44) 07904 267 561.