During March 2022 we (Marco & Liesbeth) spent 5 lovely days aboard of the Kabaal with our friends Bob and Aleid. Although the weather forecast wasn’t really optimistic we were very satisfied with the good winds and random sunny weather (and after some raindrops you enjoy the sun even more). After checking in at Vilamoura we sailed right away to Portimão.
In Portimão we had dinner in a very relaxed Portuguese-Angolan restaurant ‘Safari’, claimed to be the oldest restaurant in town. “Banana Ceviche” and some delicious Alvarinho wines. Next day we sailed further west to Lagos, some very strong winds were expected.
So we stayed there two days, waiting for the front to pass. Lagos is a very nice town, cosy streets, nice little coffee shops, not too much touristic. We watched our Max Verstappen on the laptop and Aleid made some delicious chicken curry on the boat.
By the way, I sleep like a dog on the boat. On day 2 we had the strong winds and we went for a walk along the rugged coast and watched the huge waves.
Good decision to stay for a day😉. We played the game of trying each time to run through the openings in the rocks to the next beach. With the rising water and the waves I guess you can imagine what happened…. Wet socks…..
Next day we sailed back west to Albufeira were we had pizza at the Castelo di Norcia just up the hill beside the harbour. Next day a walk along the shore and coffee in the older town close to the beaches. Gorgeous houses decorated with shells.
Then we sailed further east to Olhão and although there wasn’t much wind, thanks to the favourable wind direction (we sailed close hauled) we could sail half of it before the good old iron sail was started (“aangeblaft”). At the entrance of the inshore waters there was a strong current, we saw 11 kts SOG. Olhão was very nice, we had dinner in Chachacha together with the parents of Aleid, Karel and Marijke. We had some nice Tahini eggplant, polenta, beef slices etc. Next day we had a tapas lunch in “Tapas e Lendas” (a tip from Marijke) with lovely octopus salad, black pork, all delicious!
We checked out of the Kabaal and stayed for a few more days ashore and explored with our rental car the Coast: Tavira, Estoi, VR San Antonio, a big hike in the Monchique area, as well as a dinner with Bob and Aleid back in Albufeira with their next guests (our friends Hans & Karen).
Thanks Bob & Aleid, and bon voyage!