After a day relaxing in Lagos, enjoying wandering around town, getting small repairs done and some saying goodbye to crew, the Rally Portugal participants gathered at the Waypoint Restaurant for the final prizegiving dinner hosted by event sponsor Marina de Lagos with the support of the Camera Municipal de Lagos, represented by Deputy Mayor, Jorge Serpa.

The participants have enjoyed a relaxing and very sociable two-night break in Sines. Yesterday morning, everyone got together in the glorious sunshine for a glass of chilled white port and another informal prizegiving in the grounds of the Medieval Castelo de Sines, which overlooks the marina and the white sands of the Vasco da Gama beach.

Rally Portugal saw more fine sailing conditions this morning for the start of Leg 6, with force 3-4 northeasterly winds propelling the fleet across the startline at 1100. Misty Blue made a cracking start to be first across the line, with Pearl Fisher following close behind. The ever-enthusiastic team onboard Fire Dragon made an impressive start, hoisting their purple and white cruising chute as they crossed the line.

The 75-mile journey from Nazare to Oeiras yesterday provided some of the fleet with their best sailing yet on the Rally. The 2-3m swell coming from behind, combined with gusty northerly force 4-5 winds made for excellent sailing conditions for the larger boats in the fleet, whilst some of the smaller yachts had a bumpy, less comfortable, but fairly quick sail down the coast.

Yesterday afternoon, the wind was gusting up to 30 knots in the marina at Nazare, and would have made sea conditions very uncomfortable for the journey southwards down the coast, which was planned for today.

Today the fleet were due to start Leg 4 of Rally Portugal, from Figueira da Foz to Peniche, a large fishing harbour 55 miles down the coast. However, there were concerns amongst the participants yesterday as strong winds had been predicted for today and tomorrow, making sea conditions potentially difficult.

Saturday morning saw an early start as Rally Portugal participants gathered for their day tour firstly of Figueira da Foz, and then the university city of Coimbra. After a quick look around the main highlights of Figueira, the coaches headed inland away from the hazy conditions prevailing on the coast, and for a much appreciated coffee stop where local pastries were much enjoyed by all, before continuing on to Coimbra, where the sun was shining.

Conditions on Friday proved perfect for a good sail from Povoa de Varzim to Figueira da Foz, with the lighter airs experienced during the morning filling as the day progressed, the effects of the sea breeze adding to the steady northwesterly already established. The downwind conditions didn’t suit everyone, with some yachts gybing along the rhumb line route to get better angles and maintain boat speed.

The fleet got off to a flying start from Povoa de Varzim this morning, headed to Figueira da Foz, on what is the longest of the coastal sailing legs on the rally. Despite rumours of light airs for today, the forecast proved right with a good northwesterly breeze of 12-15 knots, making for a spectacular start, in slightly hazy overcast conditions.

After a challenging and somewhat wetter than expected trip down the coast from Bayona, the participants arrived at their first stop in Portugal yesterday. There was a sociable atmosphere as the boats arrived in close succession and tied up in adjacent finger berths, gradually taking over the whole of the visitors pontoon.

After nearly a week in Bayona, the Rally Portugal fleet set off this morning towards their next stopover port of Povoa de Varzim, in Portugal. The fleet have been extremely well looked after at the Monte Real Club de Yates in Bayona, and have enjoyed superb weather since their arrival last week, with clear blue skies and warm sunshine every day.

The participants were in great spirits last night at the first Prizegiving of Rally Portugal 2010. Tables loaded with plates of tapas and glasses of local wine were laid out to greet the participants on the lawn terrace of the exclusive Monte Real Yacht Club in Bayona, which has been the home of the Rally Portugal fleet over the past week.

With all the boats now berthed safely in Bayona, the social calendar officially kicked off last night with a crew dinner in town, following welcome drinks at the yacht club.

Gathered on the lawn of the exclusive Monte Real Yacht Club, the Rally Portugal crews were served sangria, as Andrew Bishop welcomed the participants to Bayona and congratulated them all for a safe and rapid crossing of the Biscay

The arrival of the Rally Portugal yacht Fire Dragon this evening means that there are now 15 of the 21 yachts taking part now in Bayona. The boats have made a speedy arrival this year, with several yachts arriving during the night and early morning at the Rally home in Spain, the exclusive Real Monte Club de Bayona.

The first boats of the Rally Portugal fleet have now begun to arrive in Bayona this evening, following a good passage from Plymouth across the Bay of Biscay. First across the finish line was Blue Chip of Cowes, a Beneteau Oceanis 473, owned and skippered by Jeremy and Swee Symonds.

The weather gods were kind to the Rally Portugal crews this year and blew away yesterday’s rain and south-westerly winds, to bring sunshine and a comfortable west-north-west 15 knot breeze for the start today. There were 19 yachts on the start line off Plymouth Hoe as the gun went to sound the start of leg 1 of the rally and skippers pointed their yachts south-west and headed out of Plymouth Sound.

It was sunshine and smiles all around yesterday (Friday 28 May) as the skippers and crews of Rally Portugal 2010 got together for the first time on this year’s rally. The ‘ice-breaker’ welcome function included a briefing for all the crews about the rally; the social programme and some of the highlights of the passage along the Portuguese coast; followed by an informal crew supper. It was the first time that the group had met together and the room was soon filled with noisy chat and laughter as the assembled crews and various family supporters and friends mixed over dinner

The sun shone at Mayflower Marina, Plymouth this afternoon bringing a warm welcome for the participants of Rally Portugal 2010. Fourteen of the nineteen yachts joining the Rally at Plymouth are now berthed in Mayflower Marina, with the remaining five yachts due to arrive in the next couple of days.

The start of the sixteenth Rally Portugal is now less than a week away, and many participants are currrently making their way towards Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, in preparation for the start on Sunday.

If you have always wanted to cross the Bay of Biscay, but have felt unsure about tackling it on your own, then Rally Portugal could be just what you’re looking for. This annual passage departing from Plymouth, UK to Lagos in Portugal’s Algarve, visiting a total of eight ports, is organised by UK rally specialists World Cruising Club as a fun event for cruising sailors on their way from the UK to the Mediterranean.

Rally Portugal is also an attractive option for those simply looking for an enjoyable summer cruise. A number of the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) yachts also use Rally Portugal as a sociable and interesting way to head south.