Heckler
Well-Known Member
3 mtr tide last night, came from the Guadiana back to Culatera. Trundled along nicely, SW 8kts, bit of a swell from the SE.
Got to the entrance at half tide. Deary me! big white things from the SE swell meeting the outgoing tide. The Navionics said 1.5 kts coming out. A big black rib from the maritme police came out and I called him, very dangerous if first time in! Oh dear, 20 miles to Albufeira and a night time entrance. Hung around for a few minutes and it seemed to flatten with the wind going NE. Mam says lets have a closer look, so off we went! Visions of Youtube videos flashed through my mind, there was a fishing skiff loitering. As we got closer I could see a flattish bit to port but near the rocks. I eased the boat to left of centre of the channel, dialled in 2400 revs and got 7kts on the thru water speed, the gps was showing 2kts, 5kts of tide coming out! The fishing skiff meanwhile had put on speed and went for it (there was a sneaking suspicion in my mind that he was taking an inordinate amount of interest in us!)
As we approached the narrow bit I kept her pointed towards the middle and caught a swelll coming in, I didnt dare look back! I had aligned the prop shaft this winter and she was running as smooth as silk, none of the usual grumbling from the nether regions, Lau said have we any in reserve? hmm just a little, 200 revs! She sat there solid as a rock and we got through ok, not as bad as i thought but there where lots of anglers taking pix of us!
S
Got to the entrance at half tide. Deary me! big white things from the SE swell meeting the outgoing tide. The Navionics said 1.5 kts coming out. A big black rib from the maritme police came out and I called him, very dangerous if first time in! Oh dear, 20 miles to Albufeira and a night time entrance. Hung around for a few minutes and it seemed to flatten with the wind going NE. Mam says lets have a closer look, so off we went! Visions of Youtube videos flashed through my mind, there was a fishing skiff loitering. As we got closer I could see a flattish bit to port but near the rocks. I eased the boat to left of centre of the channel, dialled in 2400 revs and got 7kts on the thru water speed, the gps was showing 2kts, 5kts of tide coming out! The fishing skiff meanwhile had put on speed and went for it (there was a sneaking suspicion in my mind that he was taking an inordinate amount of interest in us!)
As we approached the narrow bit I kept her pointed towards the middle and caught a swelll coming in, I didnt dare look back! I had aligned the prop shaft this winter and she was running as smooth as silk, none of the usual grumbling from the nether regions, Lau said have we any in reserve? hmm just a little, 200 revs! She sat there solid as a rock and we got through ok, not as bad as i thought but there where lots of anglers taking pix of us!
S
