MANCA 2017 PORTUGAL ALGARVE CRUISE SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

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1 MANCA 2017 PORTUGAL ALGARVE CRUISE SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Sailing the beautiful Algarve coast of Portugal is a wonderful experience. The sailing plan was a slow casual sail with short hops to the sheltered harbors and a few anchoring nights if the weather was safe. If we felt like it we would stay and explore some of the many nearby points of interest. So we met in Lagos sailed east to: Portimao, Albufeira, Vilamoura and later to Culatra Island. Then we slowly returned west along the spectacular volcanic coast. From these safe harbors the crew could explore: Silves, Feragudo, Alvor, Faro, Olhao, Tavira and enjoy the small boat ride into the coastal caves. The excursion to Silves was also a small boat ride up the river. We also had a chance to visit some of the amazing Praias or beaches. These two months are a magical time to sail The Algarve. The sunny days are just perfect and the nights a little cooler for a good sleep on your yacht. The tourists have gone back to work so a relaxed mood returns to the coast. What makes The Algarve so special is the wonderful Portuguese people. They are so kind and helpful. In addition, the food and wines are so inexpensive and such great quality. This sailing season I have been so lucky to have friends come from all over the world to sail with me including: Tasmania, UK, USA, Brazil, Australia, Finland, Russia, Denmark, Ukraine and Canada. What an exciting, fun filled, programme from April to November. The following blog includes some additional images from the Algarve not included in the two previous 2017 blogs on beautiful Portugal Beautiful Algarve cliffs and caves roll down to the sea

2 The small boats can take you on an amazing ride into dozens of caves. Some open out into a second and third cave and beaches behind. The black clouds behind made a great contrast. It looked like rain but it never came. The coast is very dry and sunny year round. Manca safe at the Reception Dock Portimao

3 Weathered walls of Faro: Rua do Arco Bombeiros Station Faro Jan photo

4 Chapel "adorned" with skulls! A Faro gentleman in fancy dress

5 A Fado player with the unique Portuguese guitar or mandolin. Bell tower with the protection of the fabled Mr. Rooster"

6 Tiles and early design of a ship by Henry the Navigator Portimao cruise ship prepares to eat sailing yacht Sunset over Feragudo as fish boat returns

7 Cormorant on Portimao dock dries her wings Patrol boat heads out to sea keeping the coast safe. The Joseph Conrad from Poland and 15th century replica sail out of Portimao The Tasmanians head off on the beautiful Algarve Caves Tour

8 Manca and the Australian flag flying over Portimao. Nice showers at the end of the dock! The amazing gannet dives from a great height and speed to catch fish many meters below the surface View from Ariffana beach cafe La Sardinah

9 October sunset over Vilamoura Stacks and arches form much of the beautiful coastal seascape

10 View looking east to Albufeira though the umbrella pines. Some years earlier the Portuguese government re-claimed about 50 metres of the shore line to create public access and a conservation zone. Great foresight! Beautiful rock formations at Ariffana Beach An immature Atlantic gull waits beside the beach cafe. They are very large. And always hungry

11 An Atlantic Gull commands a great view from her rocky, crumbling, stack Sardines and scrumptious Portugal patatas armorgas. The potatoes are twice cooked. There are dozens of beautiful bathing coves on The Algarve. If you sail straight out of the photo you will come to The Gran Canaries in about five days

12 Weathered volcanic seascapes with deep red and ochre colors There are many rocky coastal trails to enjoy a stroll along the cliffs beside the Atlantic Ocean. One of the many beautiful rocky coves at San Rafael. It is just 10 minutes from Albufeira Marina by Tuk Tuk

13 San Rafael. You can often find your own private shade in a cave San Rafael. Two small stacks remain as the coast retreats from the relentless attach by the sea. Beautiful fall textures when the wild herbs and flowers turn from Spring to Autumn

14 There is a great choice of water activities along the coast. We were lucky to see two of the Volvo Round World yachts: Map Free and Brunel. This was The Prologue race from Lisbon to Alicante. At time of writing they must have alreadyreached Cape Town after the November 5th start at Lisbon Good thing we had a sharp lookout on starboard. At a distance, I thought this was a fish boat.

15 The Joseph Conrad replica from Poland with Feragudo Castle behind Gannet struggles to get lift off A gannet close-up is very hard to get as they are very shy

16 Sunrise on a calm dawn at Culatra lagoon View to the lighthouse Feragudo. The naval towering concrete radar tower dwarfs the 1800 s original lighthouse. View west across river to Portimao.

17 A wedding photo shoot near Ariffana. The photo shoot went on for nearly two hours with the final shot of the bride and groom stretched out on the sand with the surf breaking over them: groom on top! Your Skipper returns in the rubber ducky to Manca on anchor at Culatra.

18 Terry and a sister ship First 44.7 behind, at anchor, on Culatra Lagoon Moon rise over Feragudo

19 Moon rise over Feragudo Castle Solar powered boat head upstream to Silves River excursion Manca anchored in calm sunset - Culatra

20 Terry Feragudo on the water taxi An elaborately decorated door wa

21 Silves Spoonbill ibis flock Silves river cruise spoonbill pair Silves spoonbills, gulls and cormorants in tidal pool

22 Silves European stork pair After their summer vacation the wonderful storks have migrated back from Germany and northern Europe to settle in the warm winters and sunshine of The Algarve, Portugal. My last crew for the season, The Wandering Tasmanians, flew south to catch their early Southern Summer. By November 5 Manca was under wraps for the winter. She will wait for Skip to return in the spring of 2018 for another amazing sailing adventure. Terry, November Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.