Friday - 3 August 2108

We went for a run along the lovely sea front area, before breakfast. There is a concrete footpath running through the sand dunes, so you are well away from the road and close to the sea but not having to run on the sand. I am the Lark and Steve is an Owl so he finds it purgatory to run early in the day. However we ran about 5K, so not bad going.

We knew the forecast was for light airs, but were pleasantly surprised that we had enough wind to sail as we left the bay. Around lunch time the wind died and then we had to motor the rest of the way.

Nazare is a holiday town and is most famous for having the largest waves in the world. It holds the record for the largest wave ever surfed at 30 metres. This is because there is a sub- marine cavern under the edge of the bay. There have been many studies as to how this creates these huge waves.

As we came over the cavern the depth dropped from 30 metres to more than 200 metres in a very short distance, beyond which our depth sounder couldn’t read, until we were close to the harbour entrance and were back in 30 metres. Due to this geology the entrance to the harbour is always benign. The big waves form north of the harbour and the town, and are in winter.

We tucked into a small space in the marina and had a slap up dinner of the sea bass we had bought in the municipal market in Fig Foz.

Distance covered today	39	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	1011	nautical miles
Distance covered 2018	1731	nautical miles

Tricia (and Steve and Teresa)