Crusing coast of Portugal

[Gentle Annie]

Hi Everybody i am a new user of this Forum,
My boat a 18 meter trawler is currently in vigo ,i want to move down the coast over the next few months
with the possibility of wintering in southern portugal .
Any suggestions of suitable marinas for stopping of and at the end would be most helpfull and appresiated.

 

[25931]

I don't have much recent experience of Algarve marinas - my boat is in Olhão pleasure boat harbour which is not a marina and full. Suggest that you post on Liveaboard Link. There are numerous free anchorages the most sheltered being the Ria Formosa.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Welcome aboard!

You'll find a starter list of places at http://jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/west-portugal , which gives links to websites of several of the listed marinas en route.

Marinas are quite a bit more expensive once you're round the cape and in the warmth of the Algarve.

 

[Spyro]

Lagos is very nice for a final destination and over wintering. I've not stayed in the marina but been to Lagos many times. lots of good bars and restaurants and a lot cheaper than the Med. Plenty of cheap flights to the UK from Faro if required. Also consider Alvor.

 

[theOrgan1st]

Once round the cape Lagos Marina is usually the faourite destination. It is comparably expensive but does have full facilities including a supermarket close by and a repair yard. The marina is restricted by a bridge which opens on request during daylight hours. A few miles further on is Alvor. This is a natural harbour but getting in and out can be tricky and the depths are minimal. Its do-able but only during the day and certainly not if the wind is southerly in any strength.

Next is Portimao. This has 2 marinas that are moderately expensive. Again its close to the town although its a bit of a climb. Lots of restaurants and full facilities. Afetr that its a bit of a run down to Albufeira/Villamoura and then Faro/Olhao.

 

[Nostrodamus]

We took several months last year coming down Portugal and the Algarve. Our view of the Algarve itself may be a little different to others as we thought it was just too British.
There are blogs and photos for the various places we saw and stayed at on our website.
www.Cygnus3.com

 

[25931]

Lagos is very nice for a final destination and over wintering. I've not stayed in the marina but been to Lagos many times. lots of good bars and restaurants and a lot cheaper than the Med. Plenty of cheap flights to the UK from Faro if required. Also consider Alvor.

Perhaps you should be told that, according to the Portuguese met. people Lagos has 47% more rain than does Faro and most of it in the winter.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Perhaps you should be told that, according to the Portuguese met. people Lagos has 47% more rain than does Faro and most of it in the winter.

And 67% more shell suits, 83% of females are tattooed, and 98% of restaurants sell English breakfasts.

 

[Spyro]

And 67% more shell suits, 83% of females are tattooed, and 98% of restaurants sell English breakfasts.

And your point is?

 

[Polux]

Along the west coast of Portugal you should not miss Viana do Castelo, lovely town, as well as Porto, Nazaré, Figueira da Foz, Cascais and Sines. Interesting places are also Peniche and Povoa do Varzim, both fishing ports with Marinas.

Take care because with bad weather there are few ports safe to enter on that coast. Don't try to enter if the authorities say the port is closed. Lots of sailors have died trying that stunt : Leixões, Peniche, Cascais and Sines are the best options with bad weather.

On the west coast the places for the winter are a lot less expensive. Figueira da Foz is a great town to have the boat on the winter. Figueira da Foz is a very pleasant place even on winter.

On the South coast Lagos, Albufeira and Faro are interesting places. Marina places, including Portimão, are expensive and in Faro there are few. Maybe the best interesting compromise in what regards price and the place in Algarve is Olhão. You can also go up river on the Guadiana (also a Marina in Vila Real de Santo António on the river mouth, but difficult to maneuver due to strong river current) till Mertola where there is a river port. Nice town but lots of boats looking for a place there.

 

[SamanthaTabs]

I lived in the Algarve for 18 years on land and 6 months in Portimao marina over one winter on our boat. If you're looking for proximity to town centres I would suggest either Lagos, Abufeira or Vilamoura.
Yes, you can have very wet winters. We had continuous rain for well over a month.
Yes, the Algarve is a popular holiday destination and as such restaurants etc cater for this. That said the people are generally very friendly and if you take the time you can easily find local restaurants who wouldn't know what a baked bean was!
English is widely spoken and very well, hardly surprising as children learn English as a second language in school from the age of six.
If I can be of any help with information regarding lovely anchorages or anything else please feel free to send me a message.

 

[chinita]

And your point is?

Detailed clinically carried out scientific research based on 24 hours in the place.

 

[chinita]

I lived in the Algarve for 18 years on land and 6 months in Portimao marina over one winter on our boat. If you're looking for proximity to town centres I would suggest either Lagos, Abufeira or Vilamoura.
Yes, you can have very wet winters. We had continuous rain for well over a month.
Yes, the Algarve is a popular holiday destination and as such restaurants etc cater for this. That said the people are generally very friendly and if you take the time you can easily find local restaurants who wouldn't know what a baked bean was!
English is widely spoken and very well, hardly surprising as children learn English as a second language in school from the age of six.
If I can be of any help with information regarding lovely anchorages or anything else please feel free to send me a message.

+1 Samantha, and well put.

 

[Gentle Annie]

Very helpfull, thank you.Gentle Annie