atlantic coast - where's nice?

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atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

I plan to rumble down the coast to Gib this summer, and wd appreciate hints and tips regarding good places to stay. Can't get into small marinas and ports, and can't dry out. Can stay for days at anchor though.

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

Can't speak for the French bit but a couple of places in Spain/Portugal come to mind.

Bayona and the adjacent Isle du Ciel on the Northern Spain/Portugal border, nice sheltered anchorage in the bay off the marina/yacht club which was very friendly the two times I've been. Then Lisbon, your 23m would fit easily into some of the docks on northern bank of the River Tigris. It's a bit noisy with an adjacent roadbridge but you are adjacent to the trains to get you into the town centre and the charges are/were reasonable.

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

the spanish rias are a good starting point, great places to anchor, often off a pleasant fishing village.

further down the coast, lisbon is well worth a visit. when i was there 3 years ago there were spaces on the pontoons in doca de alcantara and they were free, right near the city centre.

lots of good spots along the algarve.

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

Certainly echo Snowleopard's comments about Lisbon and the Algarve. I had a work posting to Lisbon for three months and not only enjoyed the weather but bummed some great sailing too!!
Nick

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

Agree with Bayona being a nice place. Personally, I wouldn't go up to Lisbon due to the noise mentioned by Chris. Cascais is a nice enough spot, although the shower facilities were cr@p when I was there last year. Also, the supermarket in the marina is closed. We went to the supermarket in town, and just pushed the loaded trolley through the streets back to the boat. I wouldn't recommend Sines either. When I was there a couple of years ago, the marina office & shower block were in a portacabin, and pretty "basic" There was a lovely resturant at the top of the hill, though. Had a very nice steak in there, washed down with some good local plonk. Can't remember it's name. Lagos was a nice place as far as I remember.

If you're stopping on the way over Biscay, I thought La Rochelle was pretty good. the marina at Port des Minimes had some good resturants and bars close by.

Hope this helps

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

I have a soft spot for the Benodet - Concarneau - Morbihan area of Southern Brittany. Offshore islands to visit, good summer temps without being broiling, loads of sandy beaches, french food and wine, and a language I don't mangle too badly.

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

When you say rumble down the Atlantic coast, have'nt you got to rumble up it first before you can rumble down again or is this in a different boat altogether? Because if you intend to do this in the Leopard, there are very few marinas anywhere on the Atlantic coast of France or the Channel coast, come to that, large enough to accomodate a 23m boat. Most French marinas have pathetically small finger pontoons too small for 40 footers let alone anything of a decent size and you cant always rely on anchoring out overnight because of the likely shitty weather.
On the Atlantic coast we liked the offlshore islands off Britanny like Belle Ile, Houat/Hoedic (anchoring only), Ile d'Yeu, Ile de Re, all worth visiting if you can get your monster in. Morbihan is also well worth the effort to witness the amazing tidal flows and there are plenty of nice anchorages. Round the corner, St Malo is a favourite of ours and there's a big basin for you to dock as well


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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

Morbihan is a must-do. Anchor south of Isle Arz, big anchorage, plenty of water. Lovely island, great restaurant. Visit Belle Isle whilst you are there, Sauzon is lovely on fore and aft buoys or maybe, at your size, on the buoys outside.

La Rochelle lovely as said elsewhere, but miss out Les Minimies and try to get in the marina up past the twin towers. Les Minimes is pretty grotty.

If you can get up the River Villaine and through the sea lock (should be no problem) then visit La Roche Bernard - one of the best markets that we found on the French Atlantic coast.

Have fun - we did!

rob

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

Sada, Rias Altas.

Vigo, Rias Baiaxas

Baiona, Rias Baiaxas.

Loads of room in these.
.

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

Not wishing to get on my high horse once in a week I will have to allow you to think that the R. Tigris has moved to Portugal from the Middle East. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Re: atlantic coast - where\'s nice?

if it had been the tigris you'd have been justified in complaining about the noise of gunfire etc! in lisbon, the bridge is a bit opressive if you are in the marina immediately below it (doca de santa amaro) but in the doca de alcantara it's far enough away to blend into the background of city noise.

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