Albufeira 3rd OctoberWe thought we would come and have a look at Albufeira (W wants a washing machine so can leave clean things on board) and also to look at possibility of leaving the boat here for the winter. It's a government funded one and the prices are an awful lot cheaper than than the likes of Lagos and Portimao, but the facilities are comparable as it is brand new.A mega tourist place. The "marina village" is all candyfloss pastel coloured ...

37°07.8'N 008°36.1 W Friday 2nd October1 of 4/5 updates! Go back---Algarve We were recommended to try a place called Alvor, just a short way along from Lagos, up a winding estuary. Typical, we went up at low tide, lots of sand dunes either side. The chart was not reliable and the area prone to silting - we passed a dredger on the way in. We grounded twice, luckily just into sand and got ourselves clear again with no problems.A good recommendation, we have ...

37°02.00'N 008°57.9 W Monday 28th SeptemberWow! Round the corner - Cabo Sao VincenteVery hot, lots of dolphins, lots of shearwaters and gannets. The approach to the Cape is spectacular and rounding it does feel like an immense milestone achieved. We are suddenly in the Algarve. The cliffs are absolutely steep sided, the water is very deep right up close. Had a look at the first cove round the point, but settled on the second cove to rest up for the night...

37°57.04'N 008°51.9 W Sunday 27th SeptemberLast stop on straight leg down - SinesAnother funny little stop - a good marina with all mod cons, stuck on the edge of a strange town that did not seem to know what it was. Birthplace of Vasco da Gama, with a wide seafront promenade, beautifully tiled and a very small old centre - everything uphill. This was surrounded by the bleakest high rise flats and urban like ghettos, albeit on a small scale.We were looking...

38°26.4'N 009°06.1 W Friday 25th SeptemberBoat Frisked!Had company of 3 Navy Frigates and one auxiliary ship en route from Cascais to a stopover in Sesimbra. A very strange stop. We did not go ashore as late and windy on arrival but understand it is a nice place with huge castelo up on a high ridge. From where we were the town did not look promising though and the wind whistled down the cliff onto us.At about 10.30pm we suddenly heard some very loud burbli...