Once again in convoy with Windfall and Captain Do’Too, we motored to Peniche to celebrate Skippette’s birthday with Taittinger, Douro, massive côte de boeuf and Windfall cupcakes for the candles.

The following morning it was on to Cascais (still in convoy but with Spray, a Swedish ARC participant, making up a fourth member), when for the first time in weeks we could switch off the engine and enjoy a few hours of talking to another without raised voices, albeit bracketed by dark clouds, lightning and rain, both on departure and arrival in Cascais.

The big difference was the glorious sailing conditions enjoyed for two whole hours (!) down past a headland, culminating in one reef in BF5 before the wind died beyond the promontory – somehow the northerlies staying too far offshore for our needs.

A swarm of jellyfish on the way into Cascais kept the boys entertained for the final stretch. No swimming! No change there then.