Lagos to Vilamoura – Tuesday 23rd June 2009

If you’ve been reading this blog thinking “lucky beggars” then don’t bother reading any more because it just gets better, and I don’t want to raise your blood pressure!

We had a fab 3 days in Lagos, although with the temperature nudging up to 40 degrees at the weekend, it was too hot to do very much. We managed a couple of dinghy trips to the nearby coves where we relaxed on the beach and then explored the rocky outcrops and caves on the way back to the marina. Before we left Jersey we had heard about the Rally Portugal so we were delighted to see the yachts from the UK arriving in Lagos prior to our departure on Tuesday morning.

The sky was cloudless when we set off, calling the marina office once we were ready to depart so they could raise the bridge to allow us to pass through, then it was a quick hop down to the open sea. As we headed out, a customs boat shadowed us for a while but obviously decided we were ok, because they came alongside briefly and then waved us on. We didn’t bother getting up to full speed, and instead meandered gently along the coast, looking longingly at some of the deserted beaches which we hope to return to during the course of the week. We nosed into Carvoiera, the most picturesque resort along the coast, and promised ourselves a return visit.

By lunchtime we had arrived in Vilamoura, a modern, purpose built marina with dozens of restaurants along the quayside and teeming with life. We moored up, with the wind trying to blow us off, and then spent the afternoon giving Zaffina a good clean, inside and out. Well, we have to do some work occasionally!