⛵ Baleeira 🇵🇹 to Sines 🇵🇹

This was a rewarding sail along Portugal’s coast. I rounded Cabo de São Vicente in darkness, passing the impressive Gigante rock that stands guard before the cape. The night transit felt epic - this southwestern point of Europe has claimed many vessels over the centuries.

The morning brought sunny skies and gentle winds, making for pleasant sailing north. The final miles required motoring to reach the anchorage near Sines Marina.

Despite being protected by two breakwaters, the Atlantic swell still reached into the anchorage, creating a restless night. I moved into the marina for a few days to provision and found an interesting coincidence on the hard - another Wauquiez Hood 38, owned by a German sailor. We struck up an immediate conversation about our shared boat type.

Weather Conditions

• Wind: Southeast at night, shifting west during the day
• Seas: Long westerly swell up to 2 meters
• Weather: Clear and sunny after sunrise

Navigation

• Departure: Baleeira (near Sagres)
• Arrival: Sines Marina
• Distance: 63 nautical miles (about 117 kilometers)
• Duration: 15 hours

Technical Notes

• Finally completed the autopilot wind mode integration in Sines. The autopilot can now operate in either compass mode (following a set compass course) or wind mode (maintaining a constant angle to the wind). Wind mode is crucial for changing conditions, but required custom software to integrate the wind sensor with the autopilot
• The German boat from yesterday passed me again during the day

Highlights

• Successfully rounded Cabo de São Vicente - a major milestone
• Night transit past the dramatic Gigante rock formation
• Met fellow Hood 38 sailor in Sines - shared boat experiences
• First positive experience with Portuguese marina facilities

Photos

Moored in Sines Marina after rounding the cape

Another Wauquiez Hood 38 discovered on the hard - what are the odds? — Auto-generated track key: 20250408 | GPS track: 20250408.geojson