Wednesday 12 Oct – Lisbon
Call the Hands at 0645 and away under Alcantara basin swing bridge by 0730. Motor into Tagus (Teijo) at downstream to Fort Bugio
Thursday 13 Oct – Sesimbra to Sines – the day of the sooty shearwater
Leave this pleasant port at 1100 and head south along coast towards our last west coast port, Sines. Decided to stream our very tired fishing line. Instant hit by circling big grey bird. Trying to hold him burnt my hand. He didn’t like being towed backwards at 5 knots either. Sooty Shearwaters are very big, the size of a large Christmas goose, and VERY strong. Unable to hold the line against his swim stroke. We back the boat up to him with me hanging off the Self steering gear. Don safety glasses and gloves (I’ve been attacked by these things before and had the scars to prove it). Managed to grab his feet and hoik him up while he squawked loudly and then clamped onto my foot with his huge beak. Managed to work hook free from his thick leathery webbing of one foot. Not too big a hole and no blood. Once released he looked indignant then fluffed himself up and skedaddled.
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