Day 38 – Strong Headwinds

Hi Everyone, Welcome to day 38 of our voyage. As planned we departed our anchorage at Portimao at 0800 this morning and headed back to sea. The weather was pretty good until we reached Cape St Vincent then as expected as we altered course to the north we were hit by the strong northerly and are now battling our way up the west coast of Portugal.  These conditions were expected even though we had our 36hrs at anchor at Portimao trying to avoid them and to be honest we did a pretty good job but we will still get a bit more of these strong northerly winds for the next couple of days.  Writing tonight’s log is Tom & Derry who will tell you a little more about the World Voyagers adventures in Portugal and how things are going onboard since sailing this morning. Enjoy!Until tomorrow, take care.Yours AyeCaptain GavCaptains Log: 31 May 15Welcome back one and all, Doyle and Peyton touching base on this lightly variable Sunday afternoon. Today the crew have been experiencing tremors of all sorts; from that of Derry’s notorious tummy jiggles to full-blown earthquakes depending on your position on the ship. The headwind and associated swells left over from a storm system that battered the Portuguese west coast greeted Young Endeavour as we rounded the Cape of Saint Vincent at around 1400 earlier today. Various responses ensued, ranging from eager thrill seekers frolicking in the natural salty water feature (that mirrored an attraction from Wet n’ Wild), to those that were reduced to foetal positions and technicoloured yawns – luckily not at the same time.Let us now take a step into the Tardis as we transcend time back to 0800 yesterday morning… Our location: Portugal. Our purpose: exploration. Our mood: buoyant. As was previously mentioned in the most recent edition of the Captain’s Log, Mon (the resident traffic hazard – get her a high-vis top!) went ashore in need of some urgent medic attention which allowed the rest of the crew an opportunity for some feverishly impatient crew who were keen to sink their pearly whites into the utterly foreign Portuguese town of Portimao. It was certainly an unknown realm which we were stepping into but after sticking to what we know best (cafes, wifi and some preliminary research) we ventured out to the near by beaches and restaurants in search of adventure, fame and fortune. At this point the group fractured and went our separate ways, with most getting some Vitamin D and enjoying the sights and sounds along Portugal’s famous coastline. We’re happy to report that there was plenty of local wildlife for the bird-watching enthusiasts amongst the crew. Others opted for the gold service R&R treatment and escaped from the harsh sunlight to take in a film from a local theatre. And of course, we made a good fist of sampling the local delicacies of which the seafood claimed the blue ribbon, fighting off ferocious contest from the Piri Piri Chicken, Portuguese tarts and local gelato.  A group of 10 Endeavour adventurers found the allure of Portugal’s sea-caves overwhelmed budgetary constraints and followed the lead of Able Seaman Bollen to the world famous Benagil Beach. A 60 minute boat ride encompassed 20 different sea-caves of various shapes and sizes and all aboard were left awestruck by the magnificent natural wonders and skilful driving of the local guide. After a hasty tapas lunch (the mackerel was the standout), Bollen’s Battlers changed course and made for the Ponte da Piedade – a beach with plunging cliffs that has been voted the world’s most picturesque beach. Although it was a spectacular sight and well worth the van-hire fees, we’d rate some of our homegrown Aussie bays higher on the list (Green’s Pool springs to mind – for all those tuning in from the West). However, swimming through a vast natural arch and scaling cliff faces to reach a tiny, protected beach were unique experiences that will probably feature in the highlights reel for all those present.  We will now bring the readership back to the future: Sunday 31st, 0630. We were promptly informed that there was an inbound Sandstorm, courtesy of 90s trance superstar Darude, and all hands were required on deck for a series of laps in a clockwise direction for the purpose of welcoming in the new day. The majority of crew were left scratching their heads over the bizarre events that had just unfolded with some still picking up the pieces and working out which country they were in by the time the club anthem came to a sorry end. The rest of the day has been spent observing watches, with the turbulent seas disrupting our daily competitive, non-competitive rope races and the bountiful activities that Mr Tim Parr (our celebrity sail-master) had dutifully planned. Current weather reports have us anticipating another 24 hours or so of ups and downs on the high seas as we work our way into the northerly current that adorns the west coast of Portugal.  Until next time,Tom and Derry – reporting for STS YE News.Heya!! Mum my wrist is getting better each day, its just a sprain  Still having a ball with these bunch of dugans even though I currently cant climb. Hope everyone is well. Mon xx  Quick shout out to The Seals… some typically Seally activity was observed on the focsle this afternoon – frolicking about in the waves crashing over the decks. Tommy the Walrus would have been in his element. Word to your mothers, Able Seaman Doyle out. P.S. Ruckus Juice has been a big hit with the locals, as has The Good Ship Venus.”