On Monday 21st August we left Povoa de Vazim to continue South to Peniche, a journey of 135 miles. Wel left at 11.00 in the morning and arrived at 11.00 on Tuesday after 24 hours of sailing motoring and motor sailing in winds ranging from nothing to force 5 all from the North. The journey was made much more pleasant because, for the first time in 4 years, we got our electric autopilot working.

This meant that all we had to do was stand watch and look out for other boats and pot bouys (of which there are thousands) . The journey was in glorious sunshine on the Monday but after a spectacular sunset and then sunrise the fog came in and we arrived in Peniche with aboout 100 metres of visibility. On arrival we went to see the harbourmaster who, after seeing our passports and ships papers said "does your name really mean the bird type chicken". He then proceeded to tell us that it was his name as well (albeit in Portuguese). He then proceeded to give us an excellent berth for the boat and, when we offered to pay just said "later". Terribly un British what! It is an arrestable offence if you don't pay up in a UK marina within milli-seconds of arrival!! I like Portugal!

Peniche is the largest fishing harbour in Portugal and has a multitude of seafood restaurants of all kinds to suit all pockets. It is a walled city which has extended beyond the walls and is crowded out every weekend with daytrippers from Lisbon. The old castle sits above the harbour and has an excellent (if depressing) museum telling the story of the political prisoners of the fascist Salazar regime which was ended with a quiet coup in 1974 . Portugal has certainly moved on since then - long live democracy!

We also got friendly with a number of Brit yachties who were passing through and have, with their advice, now decided that we will winter in Lagos (in the Algarve) until February when we will head slowly for Greece and Turkey. We have booked our mooring in the Marina there and are trying to get a cheap apartment as well.

Near Peniche is the walled town of Obidos which Gina discovered in the Rough Guide. We went there on Monday and were absolutely gobsmacked by it. It still retains the original castle and walls and is contained within them. It is picture postcard beautiful We only had about two and a half hours there but are sworn to return to stay there for a night at some point.

The weather continues sunny but the evenings are colder and the North wind can make the days cooler as well.

Tomorrow we intend moving on to Cascais (the most expensive marina in Portugal - gulp) near Lisbon. This will allow us a brief exploration of Lisbon and a visit to the chart agent there to start building up our folio of Mediterranean charts and pilots.

we expect to leave there on 6th August if weather OK and be in the Algarve a few days later.