The anchorage off Ferragudo beach has plenty of room with at least 14ft of water.  The only drawback is the wash from the fishing boats as they leave and return morning noon and night.  Once you get used to that, it's ok. 

The marina is just across the river where you can get water and they have laundry facilities - large machine 16kg for 8euro including power and softner. 

The other good thing is that you can pick up free wifi from several different sources in the anchorage so if you swing about a bit you can usually pick up one or the other.   




Speaking about swinging about, S'Ours is known for weaving about so we purchased a secondhand homemade riding sail for $10 in the USA and used it for the first time here. 

What a different it has made, very pleased, she is much more settled in winds at anchor now.



Spares and yacht parts - difficult and extremely expensive here (there is almost no leisure sailing by the Portuguese at all).  The answer is to order elsewhere in Europe and have it shipped in by local shippers/removal companies (we did this for our paint, tools and other odds and ends) at a cost of £30 per 1/4 cubic meter (1m x1m x .25m).  Collected them from their depot in Alcantrihla.  Fishing boat parts, stainless steel and machining are all readily available.  We had new chain plates made here.  There are specialist tradesmen around - check in the boatyards at the fishing harbour - just ask around there.

The town has a good range of shops and supermarkets with a great Lidl just a bike ride away :).  Their bread is excellent, cheap and freshly made each day on the premises - couldn't keep Geoff away.

The train service is hourly and cheap to Faro where a bus connection to the airport is just some 200yds from the station.  I flew home to Stansted for 40euro (one way).

Ferragudo seems to be the quieter, family side whilst Portimao is the high rise hotel, nightclubbing side, so you have a choice. 


Very pleasant walks around the headland to other small secluded beaches.





We have spent a very pleasant few days here just getting a few odd jobs done.  Have finished varnishing the floor which looks very nice now.

 We have decided it is time to leave so with a good 15knt wind blowing this morning and forecast for the next day or so it is up anchor and away for faro and pastures new - quite excited.

Back in the water at last

14th May - After what seems a very long haul of much hard work and lots of frustration, the day has finally arrived to put S'Ours back in the water. 

The tractor arrived promptly at 10am and without any hitches we were out of the yard and lowered gently back into the water. 


After checking all systems we gently motored down to the anchorage just of Ferragudo beach.

We soon settled back into liveaboard mode again with a quick dip over the side and sundowners in the cockpit :)


After a couple of days we decided our shakedown cruise would be just 4 miles down the coast to Alvor.

On 16th May we left and had a very slow, gently sail, only making 3 knts at best and found an anchorage just outside the town.



Went ashore to find that the have built a wonderful boardwalk that goes from the town right down to the harbour entrance (approximately 1 mile long).  So we took the beach option first and then walked back along the boardwalk together with a few locals promenading for the evening.

Alvor is a small but rather nice town with a splendid beach and at this time of the year not too crowded.  I think we are seeing it at its best.made use of this deal of course. 

The local supermarket had a deal,  if you spent 25 euro on groceries all your meat was then half price.  I bought 5 kilo of mince and bottled the lot for later use :)


20th May and it is back to Portimao to get some laundry done in the marina and for Geoff to carry out just a couple of minor jobs that still need doing.

After a much faster sail back - 6 knts, we are once again  anchored just of Ferragudo beach where we can pick up free wifi - very handy.