Figueira da Foz, our next taste of land,
We have rarely seen so much sand!
Like sardines the yachts were packed,
Ask ”Manatees”, that’s a fact!
Many a story there was to be told
Of fun with spinnakers, halyards and folds!
The sardine BBQ we gave a miss,
Poor Mervyn’s tummy in a bit of a tizz.
Next day a trip to Coimbra the university to explore,
The library gold, red and green,
The bats amazingly keep it clean.
Tales of students at their graduation,
Stripped of robes and suits ending in degradation.
Then to the medieval fayre, donkeys and syphilitic gummas to
see,
Much food being sold from small marquees.
Lunch Italian we ate,
With another Vinho Verde that was great.
Moorish Montemor Castle our next stop,
Endless panoramic views of the rice fields we got.
Dinner at the casino followed by a show,
With something for everyone from acrobats to “Chicago”!
Sunday a day of rest for most at last,
However for Mervyn it meant going up the mast.
For the Rally, Peniche was decided a no go,
The first time in a fortnight the yachts were split up and
not entirely sure where to go.......