What do sailors do on there day off?  Why they go sailing of course. Being at the Doca de Rochas in Lisbon we are surrounded by vessels of all types; sleek sailing yachts, grubby hardworking tugs, and marine police boats with loud engines and big wakes.  There are also the "Head" boats that take passengers out on the Rio Tejo to see the beautiful panorama that is Lisbon from the water.

Rafael Silva is the skipper of the converted freighter that is now a three masted schooner Príncipe Perfeito operating day cruises on the Tag river. They are docked behind Amistad, just inside the swing bridge that allows cruise ship passengers to cross into the city if they choose not to tour by the big air-conditioned busses that line the dock when ever the ships are in.

We were invited to join on a day sail by the Captain and some of the Sankofa students and myself jumped at the invitation. What a way to see the skyline and not have to work.

The ship is a single screw, deep draft steel hulled craft with the pilothouse perched high above the working deck. Although there is a traditional wheel in place, steering is done by a  "Joy Stick" much like a Computer game. Getting underway was a snap and soon we were out in the river. Now to raise the sails, there were three deck hands aboard but our students jumped right in to make light work for their fellow seamen by bearing a hand in raising the sails.

There were passengers aboard; cute retired couple from Venezuela, and the Mayor of a small town in Holland in town for a conference. We chatted in Spanish and English respectively and all were in awe of the city laid out before us.

After leisurely two-hour tour we headed back through the breakwater for what would be a treat of seamanship. Since the ship has only a single screw, no bow thrusters, a tight space to maneuver and needed to turn 180 degrees before tying up to the wall, the use of some tricks of the trade were needed.

Captain Rafael came in at what I thought was too fast a pace down the center of the harbor, let go the anchor, it caught and the boat began to swing on the stationary point and with the judicious use of power and rudder the (ship name) came to rest in just the proper position to ease up to her berth against wall.
As I always say: " It's not showing off when you can really do it" 
 

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