Vilamoura to Tavira
Seaduced
John & Jane Craven
Wed 18 Aug 2010 18:33
We motored all day as the wind refused to pick up until we were about half a mile from the anchorage. We were planning to drop the anchor just inside a small bay about 20 minutes dinghy ride from the town which was further up the Ria Formosa. After a few attempts at dropping the anchor we were eventually settled, but not without some dramas! As the water was quite shallow where we were, John decided to put his snorkel on and see if we were going to be OK. He has decided that he now needs a hand-held depth sounder after seeing the guys on the boat next to us using one! John, however, lost his mask before getting in the water and due to the sandy bottom was completely unable to see it and get it back. We were moored near to a shelf which was causing a problem when we swung in one direction as it was catching the rudder, so we upped anchor again. Once settled, we left the boat to explore the area by dinghy and motored up to the town and stopped at the dinghy dock for a sundowner in the marina bar - actually a beer for John and half pint of wine each for me and Suzanne! John cooked prawns on the BBQ and we had piri-piri chicken using the very hot sauce I bought the other day - the lady selling it was definitely right, a little went a long way!
Sunset views from our boat in the anchorage at Tavira.