Mon 1st Feb 2021 Cascais
Nick got up early to go to the boat to try and get the crisis sorted. Joao was there, fiberglass ok, but he discovered there was still something wrong with the propshaft when it turns, propshaft removed to go to workshop, gel coat removed, engine installed to check all ok, then taken back out for mounts to be repainted with gel coat. Nick insisted the boat had to be finished this week, and back in the water. Joao took propshaft to the workshop, said problem was the flexible coupling between the propshaft flange, and the gearbox flange, a simple fix. Luis checked the boat later and said Pedro had removed gel coat, but done nothing else. We’re both absolutely shattered, understandably we both had an awful night’s sleep. Christine is giving us a 20% discount for the flat.
Tues 2nd Feb 2021 Cascais
Nick went to boat, Joao came with sorted propshaft, installed it with engine back in again, planned a few more modifications to the mounting plates, then removed the engine for Pedro to repaint the gel coat. Is coming back tomorrow to do the last, and final instalation of engine.
Wed 3rd Feb 2021 Cascais
Both had a very bad night again last night. Joao phoned, he’s coming today to install the engine. Nick went down to yard late in the afternoon, Joao installed engine, connected everything, and ran engine tests, all good, boat being launched tomorrow, Pedro will phone in morning to give us a launch time. Nick phoned Christian, if all goes well with launch tomorrow we will check out, final bill for flat will be €528 (24 days).
Thurs 4th Feb 2021 Cascais
By 11.05 Pedro had not phoned, Nick phoned him, Pedro said he had to wait on word from the Head tech guy (yard chief) about launch, Luis spoke to yard chief, Pedro is lying, yard chief said he was waiting on Pedro about launch, Luis lost his rag with Pedro. Pedro phoned Nick back and said launch would not be until 2, made the excuse it was because the epoxy glue on the lid of the water strainer crack had to dry. Pedro said boat would not be launched until the rest of his bill was paid, including a money transfer that would not have gone through to him by 2pm for the launch, so effectively stopping the launch today. Understandably Nick and l went loopy.
Fri 5th Feb 2021 Cascais
Our first day back on the boat, back in the water.
Sat 6th Feb 2021 Cascais
Curfew on again this weekend from 1pm. Nick went to Auchan, big mistake on a Saturday, think he was traumatised, said it was mobbed.
Sun 7th Feb 2021 Cascais
Went for a walk up to Boco do Inferno. They are really clamping down here now with the virus out of control. Police across from view point turning people and cars back, could see what looked like tape, maybe across the road, Lius said they were closing the road up there during curfew, looks like he was right. Headed back sharp, and a quick few mins down to our favourite beach, Santa Marta, as it wasn’t cordoned off, didn’t stay past curfew as didn’t want to risk a possible fine.
Mon 8th Feb 2021 Cascais
Joao had arranged to come, but phoned to say he was coming tomorrow. Just did some stuff on the boat, Nick checked the engine, checked for water flow, temp, stern gland drips, forward and reverse checks. I went for chocolate cake 😋😁.
Tues 9th Feb 2021 Cascais
Joao and Miguel came out in the morning to do the final work on the engine, l stayed in bed 😴. Nick paid Joao the last of his money, €700, Nick gave him an extra €100, his total bill was only €1500, very reasonable after all the work he did, unlike Pedro who took more than double that (€3,500), crook.
Wed 10th Feb 2021 Cascais
Feeling quite good today now we’re back on the boat, and all expenses have stopped running out of control.
Thurs 11th Feb 2021 Cascais
Nick paid Pedro the last of the money we owed, total came to three and a half thousand euros 😭, he is nothing but a thief 😡.
Fri 12th Feb 2021 Cascais
Had a terrible night last night with sqeaking and snatching ropes (kept getting wakened every time l started drifting off), still awake at 6am 🥱. Went around to Santa Marta beach in the afternoon, as the weather picked up, nice and sunny. Forecast for the weekend is for even better weather, blue skies and sunshine, just a pity there is still a curfew from 1pm every weekend.
Sat 13th Feb 2021 Cascais
Walk up to Boco do Inferno, beautiful warm, sunny day, still a lot of swell and the waves were spectacular. Two policemen standing at the entrance to Santa Marta beach spoke to us, asked where we lived, where we were going etc, very nice and polite, a stronger police presence here the last few weeks. Nick did an engine test run when we got back.
Sun 14th Feb 2021 Cascais
Valentines day. Think Nick managed to get the only card in Cascais, all sale of non essential good had not been allowed last couple of weeks. Did some laundry.
Mon 15th Feb 2021 Cascais
Did the usual things today, aired duvet, cleaned floors, tidied up etc, Nick working on making the location of the new elbow exhaust waterproof (enclosing it in). Went for a walk, and to the chocolate cake shop 😋😁. Infections rates, deaths, and hospital rates in Portugal still coming down, R rate below 1, good news.
Tues 16th Feb 2021 Cascais
Nick covered in the goose neck exhaust with perspex that Luis got him.
Wed 17th Feb 2021 Cascais, Thurs 18th Feb 2021
Cascais Still heeaarrrr 🥴
Fri 19th Feb 2021 Cascais Sat 20th Feb 2021
Cascais Torential rain today, a lot of flooding, went up the town as Nick ran out of coffee, he had to wade into the shop through flood water 😂😂😂.
Sun 21st Feb 2021 Cascais
A walk to Boco do Inferno again, then stopped at Santa Marta beach, watched the Lizards sunning them selves 🦎🦎🦎.
Mon 22nd Feb 2021 Cascais
😳😳😳
Tues 23rd Feb 2021 Cascais
🙄🙄🙄
Wed 24th Feb 2021 Cascais
Lovely warm sunny day. Went a walk up passed Boco do Inferno, up past the next lighthouse to Guia. Had lovely Acai bowls, an ice cream made with Acai Berries that come from the Amazon. Lovely walk back watching the sun going down.
Thurs 25th Feb 2021 Cascais
Still here in Cascais.
Fri 26th Feb 2021
Cascais!!!!!! 😳
Sat 27th Feb 2021 Cascais
Another lovely day, blue skies and sunshine. Nick aired the sails.
Sun 28th Feb 2021 Cascais
Two guys came down the pontoon to talk to us, Brendan and Richard, Richard is English, and Brendan is from Glasgow, he heard my Scottish accent. Both live here, Brendan has a flat, and Richard lives on a boat he bought. Nick went for a few beers on Brendan’s fishing boat in the evening.