After a well-deserved rest after the crossing of the bay of Biscay, the five Barbados 50 yachts left La Coruna bound for Porto, in neighbouring Portugal.
Porto
Set on the northern shore of the Douro River, the old town of Porto has no docking facilities for visiting yachts and the nearest is Marina Douro, close to the river entrance.
Douro River entrance
The Douro entrance can be quite difficult at times and should be approached carefully, ideally at high water, although in summer, when the river current is quite weak, this is not a problem. However, the marina will send out a launch to escort arriving yachts through the entrance channel leading into the marina.
Maisie and Maryna II in Douro Marina
The first two boats to arrive were the catamarans Maisie and Maryna II. What promised to be an easy inshore passage in light winds, turned into a frightening experience for the crew of Maryna. While sailing at night staying cautiously offshore in depth of over 100 metres to avoid the many buoys marking fish traps and lobster pots, they were caught in a large net marked by a solitary unlit perch. The latter got entangled with their portside rudder and it took quite an effort to free themselves in the pitch black darkness and continue on their way.
Lady Rebel
The next to arrive was Lady Rebel, to be followed by Stormbreaker.
Stormbreaker is shown the way by the marina launch.
… and last but not least, White Ibis, whose crew had decided on the spur of the moment while in Falmouth to join Barbados 50.
White Ibis on the Douro River
Crew of White Ibis
Folklore festival
Our arrival coincided with a folklore festival that had brought together dance groups and musicians from Northern Portugal.
Folklore festival
Standing out among the festival participants all dressed in traditional costumes, was a young couple. The distinctive black and white attire is the traditional wedding dress of the bride and groom in the Minha Region, bordering on Galicia.
Folklore festival
The next leg of Barbados 50 starts on Saturday 20 August and is bound for Lisbon.
Barbados 50 is sponsored by Barbados Tourism Marketing, Tenerife Port Authority, Promotur Turismo Canarias and the Patronato de Turismo de Lanzarote.
