S1.6 - Sailing Serenity: Four Days to Porto and the Joyful Dance of Dolphins

June 4: Nautical Decisions
Today, our ambitious 315 NM and approximately 49-hour voyage to Porto, Portugal took a detour thanks to a high-stakes game of Rock, Paper, Scissors between Ryan and Byron. Byron emerged as the unlikely champion and, in the true spirit of democracy, suggested a group vote on weather to do an overnight passage or stop to rest. Lo and behold, after almost 15 hours at sea, we found ourselves cozily anchored in O Vicedo's charming cove called Ria do Barqueiro.

O Vicedo

I did my First-ever anchor lowering via remote control while Ryan steered the ship – a perfectly orchestrated team effort.

Anchoring in Vicedo

With a glass of wine in hand and 'Ugh' (formerly known as Lucky Enough Tender) in the water, we embarked on a short joyride, exploring the bay and taking in the scenic town views.

Little did we know that the tranquility would be short-lived as the serenade of line scraping against the hull became our not-so-melodious lullaby. The decibels proved unstoppable even with earplugs, prompting Ryan's retreat to the snore room and my relocation to the salon's sofa, a surprisingly comfortable berth for an unexpected siesta.

June 5: Dolphins and 8.1 knots
Waking up to a pod of dolphins frolicking by our bow is a morning routine that never gets old. Capturing a slow-motion video, we marveled at their playful antics.  

Slow-motion symphony of an enchanting ballet of dolphins

The seas were at their calmest, prompting us to motor our way from Playa Vicedo to Fisterra. While the crew prepared for the day, I indulged in a well-deserved sleep-in until 8:30 am.

Arriving in Fisterra at sunset

Navigating along, we made our way to Fisterra, where Ryan and Byron tended to the scuba air tanks, Michelle crafted a mouthwatering dinner, and I assumed my vigilant post in the Captain's seat, scanning for potential 'bogies.' The Code D made a triumphant appearance, propelling us to 8.1 knots for an exhilarating hour before we strolled into town for a well-earned beer, sangria, ice cream, and an early bedtime.

June 6: Foggy Beginnings and Cribbage Showdown
The day kicked off with a foggy departure from the dock at 8:30 am en route to Porto.

Foggy Start

As the day unfolded, news of my 23 year APS ownership change documents arrived, prompting a mix of emotions. In a fittingly serene moment, I signed the documents and shared my sentiments with the APS Owner Group on Slack, capturing the ocean's tranquility and a pod of dolphins in the background.

When the ocean is like glass

The day continued to be calm, both emotionally and on the water, with a record-breaking Dolphin Day boasting at least 10 sightings. The missing duvet saga (mentioned in my 1st blog post) concluded with good news… it was found and could be retrieved in Ibiza.

Ryan and I engaged in our first cribbage game since leaving Phoenix. The competition was fierce, but the real excitement came with a 22-point hand plus 10-point crib for Ryan, followed immediately by my jaw-dropping 24-point hand plus 10-point crib.

The competitive spirit, unfortunately, had to take a pause as we navigated fuel challenges in Porto. Despite the cribbage pegs holding their place for a tomorrow rematch, we docked in Porto de Varzim for the night, greeted by a spontaneous fireworks show – a warm welcome to the town.

Toasting to the APS Ownership change, we agreed that dolphins, calm waters, and fireworks were the universe's way of affirming our decision. And so, we retired for the night, embracing the positive signs that our seafaring journey continued to chart a course for success.🌊🐬🎆

June 7: A Fuel Conundrum
The day began with grand plans of fueling up and indulging in a delightful breakfast ashore. However, our aspirations took an unexpected turn when Ryan, in his quest for fuel intel, encountered a language barrier of epic proportions. A friendly local, armed with basic English skills, delivered the news (or so we interpreted) that fuel was a mythical commodity in these parts.

Undeterred and armed with a reassuring 40% in our tanks (according to our instruments, still pending validation), we opted for an onboard feast instead. A hearty and delicious breakfast set the stage for our altered plan: off to Porto to retrieve our beloved FatBoys and then a mere 4.7 miles south (1 hr 10 min) to secure the elusive fuel at Porto Marina by the river mouth.

Charles handed out our wine gifts to the Privilige Marine Staff who helped build Lucky Enough.  What a great guy.  He took photos along the way of his process of getting it all put together for us and insisted on hand delivering each one as he felt it would make it more special. Thanks Charles!!

By early afternoon, we gracefully sailed into Porto de Leixões, docking at the welcoming Marina Porto Atlantico. The reunion with our cherished FatBoys was met with joy, and a quick detour to a beach bar for a refreshing beer added a layer of seaside charm to our day. The night was capped off with a cozy nightcap back on board, leaving us to ponder the whimsical adventures that lay ahead.

Stay tuned for more escapades as Lucky Enough continues to navigate the waters with gusto! 🚤🍷