S/V Aphrodite

We spent a night in Sines, pronounced “cinch” which is a charming fishing village and set out for Lagos. We sailed downwind with only the Code-0 spinnaker for 5 hours until the winds built to over 20 and we reefed it. Within an hour the winds “died” to 11 knots and we put it back up again. As we rounded Cabo de Sao Vicente, the southwestern most tip of Europe, the combination of gusts off the cliff and the reflected swell built astonishingly rapid and we were soon flying at 18.6 knots. a new record speed for us. The combination was formidable and we soon lost our Code-0 in an exciting explosion of lines and fiberglass as the turning block ripped out of the deck and the bowsprit gave way. The winds were over 35 knots as we struggled to recover the sail and regain control of Aphrodite. When we finally stowed the sail it was about 8:30 and blowing very hard, so we sought shelter in Ensenada de Sagres. It was upon these cliffs that Prince Henry the Navigator held school and sent the Portuguese explorers off to discover the Azores and other lands. Even in the shelter of this beautiful cove the winds were howling above 25 knots so we will shall stay hunkered down for a day of rest and reading before continuing on to Lagos tomorrow. I have a new respect for rounding these rocky steep cliffs.