Slow stumbling start. Eventually struggle into town to find the start of the funicular railway to the heights above the town. Visit ginagorous over-the-top basilica at the top of the peak. Very ornate. 200 steps back down into town. Visit old town. Quite pretty squares and churches. Pretty decent lunch in street café. Very warm with sea breeze building. Left at 1630 with a cheery wave from the bridge operator. Out at sea the evening Portuguese Northerly Trades building and its not long before we are reefed again and running wing and wing, keeping up some good hourly averages. Dark fairly early and shipping building up. Viz not great so AIS comes in useful. Commercial traffic getting heavier as we approach Porto area. Good fast eventful night sailing for Chris. Around 2200 we get a wonderful visit from a playful dolphin family. Streaking wakes of phosphorescence. They are clearly showing off to us and trying to catch our eye. Rolling tumbling and snorting and accelerating away. Their sleek muscular bodies are outlined underwater by a ghostly trail of bubbles.
Wind drops as dramatically as it arose and by 2230 we are motoring around the dark outer breakwater of Leixoes ('leashwoes') harbour. Rather than brave the intricacies of the inner harbour and marina we decide to anchor in the outer harbour off the beach in 5m. Propshaft/Prop making worrying grumbling/rubbing sounds, and so is the skipper. Hope its not too serious
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