Nazare, Portugal.

[Halcyon Yachts]

Hi All,

I don't often come over to this side of the forum. I'm not sure I'd be welcome what with all these bricks and mortar around me!

I was hoping for some top tips about Nazare? Having sailed the Portuguese coast far more times than I can remember I have never actually stopped in Nazare, which by all accounts looks to be a very large and well sheltered harbour... I will be taking a big power boat down to the Canaries and intend to stop for some fuel and r&r.

Can anyone recommend a local restaurant or bar? Things to do or see? Good places to pick up stores?

Many thanks,

Pete

 

[Sandyman]

Hi All,

I don't often come over to this side of the forum. I'm not sure I'd be welcome what with all these bricks and mortar around me!

I was hoping for some top tips about Nazare? Having sailed the Portuguese coast far more times than I can remember I have never actually stopped in Nazare, which by all accounts looks to be a very large and well sheltered harbour... I will be taking a big power boat down to the Canaries and intend to stop for some fuel and r&r.

Can anyone recommend a local restaurant or bar? Things to do or see? Good places to pick up stores?

Many thanks,

Pete

Welcome landlubber to the 'almost' real sailors forums lol

As it happens, we a are alongside in Nazare, as I write.

The harbour offers good shelter but is small and mostly taken up with large commercial & smaller private fishing boats.
There is a small private marina to the N ( N means North. The direction which points to the North Pole ) (Sorry )
where there is an easy access 24/7 fuel birth.
The main marina to the S (South) is v small and somewhat run-down and is about 1 1/2 miles from the town.
The facilities are very basic with the usual problems of no hot water etc etc but it is clean and v cheap.
Despite what Reeds says, I doubt there is enough room for 40 berths, and............ 14 visitors, so would recommend you
make contact well in advance. There is no laundrette. There is a small cafeteria/bar with basic provisions.
For stores you would have to go into town, taxi 3.25 Euro regular bus 1.40 Euro, where there are Continente, Lidl & Pingo Doce supermercados.
There is also a very good Mercardo Municiple, in one corner of which is a cafeteria. The owner is Portuguese/Canadian, speako the English, and very helpful.
The expat community meet there Friday lunchtimes and will also help with anything you may need.
There are more bars & restaurants in the town than you can shake a stick at and most menus are in both Portuguese & English. We have just returned from lunch in the Chinese restaurant on the front, 50M from Santander bank, just superb if you like Chinese nosh. Four courses, vinho & coffee for 5 Euro.

The place suits us because,well, its our kind of place. As you're on a delivery and just stopping-over cant see any problems
but doubt it would suit for long ,your average Mobo. (They don,t like the swell from the fishing boats you know )

Looks like we're going to be in here for another couple of months now, so if I can help or advise further please just ask.

 

[charles_reed]

A long time since I was at Nazare, but at that time all the yotties used to frequent Maria do Mare, a little bar on the other side of the town from the marina.

 

[Sandyman]

A long time since I was at Nazare, but at that time all the yotties used to frequent Maria do Mare, a little bar on the other side of the town from the marina.

Its still there Charles. Not been in there myself but it looks run-down and shabby. Place for the Vinhos'

 

[chinita]

About five years since I was there; sounds like it has not changed too much.

I liked it for the same reasons as Sandy but I think, for your purposes, it might be a little lacking.

The new marina at Porto seems to be interesting.

 

[Sandyman]

Forgot to ask. What size is this mobo your driving ? (sorry I meant of course ........sailing )
Reason for asking is the pontoons here are quite small and may well not be big enough to take you.

 

[Roberto]

is Captain ... (Mike?) still there ?

an interesting character

 

[Nostrodamus]

You can stay in the private marina there which has more space, is far cheaper and nearer town. You can get in during any weather but it was not our favourite place.

If you clink on this link to our blog and photos of Nazare.

http://www.cygnus3.com/index.php?p=1_57

 

[GrahamD]

That area gets a bit of swell at times

http://magicseaweed.com/photoLab/vi...rowseSession=e45d6d0ee33851a4e0ad5e45d65ce149

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Forgot to ask. What size is this mobo your driving ? (sorry I meant of course ........sailing )
Reason for asking is the pontoons here are quite small and may well not be big enough to take you.

Hi Sandyman,

Thanks for all the info. She is 100ft long and draws 9ft (and I will definitely be driving not sailing!).

I had assumed the marina might be a bit small, but thought the fuel dock looked easy to access?

If Nazare isn't suitable then I would probably opt for Portimao instead...

All the best,

Pete

 

[Sandyman]

is Captain ... (Mike?) still there ?

an interesting character

Hi Rob, yes Mike Hadley is still here. Getting old and now non to well finding it difficult to get around.

You can stay in the private marina there which has more space, is far cheaper and nearer town. You can get in during any weather but it was not our favourite place.

Beg to differ Mark but if you are saying you can enter harbour during any weather then that's completely wrong.
Nazare like most of the harbours on this coast frequently close due to swell.

Not your favourite place.............................guess its each to their own.

 

[Sandyman]

Hi Sandyman,

Thanks for all the info. She is 100ft long and draws 9ft (and I will definitely be driving not sailing!).

I had assumed the marina might be a bit small, but thought the fuel dock looked easy to access?

If Nazare isn't suitable then I would probably opt for Portimao instead...

All the best,

Pete

Hi Pete,

Plenty of water to get to the fueling jetty but there is no where here, that I have seen, where you could berth alongside in either marina. As a bad weather bolt hole I'm sure they would accommodate you on one of the fishing jettys, but not sure you would want to park a grurt big motyboat there to long. Owner would be non to pleased I'm sure lol

Not been to Portimao for 10 years but understand there has been much development, even so, unless you know otherwise, I would check berthing possibilities there before you depart.

When are you intending to sail ?

 

[Nostrodamus]

I thought that because of the deep trench going in the swell died down. As far as I understand they brag that they have never had to close due to swell or weather

 

[GrahamM376]

Not been to Portimao for 10 years but understand there has been much development, even so, unless you know otherwise, I would check berthing possibilities there before you depart. When are you intending to sail ?

Long reception pontoon could accommodate boat twice the length and there's also a long pontoon for large boats between the two basins. Albufeira also has some big berths but I would check first.

 

[Ludd]

There is also "Mobo Heaven" ,Vilamoura ! Not a place I like,but as a refuelling ,revictualling stop and r and r for crew,would be my choice for that type/size of boat.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

There is also "Mobo Heaven" ,Vilamoura ! Not a place I like,but as a refuelling ,revictualling stop and r and r for crew,would be my choice for that type/size of boat.

True, an easy fuel dock and a large basin. But it would be an extra 300 litres of fuel to go that far round the corner!

Pete

 

[Sandyman]

I thought that because of the deep trench going in the swell died down. As far as I understand they brag that they have never had to close due to swell or weather

Not know who was doing the bragging but until this morning the harbour has been closed since last Friday.
Even to the largest fishing boats.

 

[WF36]

Not know who was doing the bragging but until this morning the harbour has been closed since last Friday.
Even to the largest fishing boats.

When do you expect to arrive in Alvor?

 

[Sandyman]

When do you expect to arrive in Alvor?

If only I knew Wife has to return to UK next week and had intended flying from Faro, but with Wx being as it has
she booked flights from Lisbon as she has deadlines & appointments she cannot miss.

 

[wklein]

Hi Rob, yes Mike Hadley is still here. Getting old and now non to well finding it difficult to get around.

Glad to hear he is still there lovely chap if a bit eccentric. It was the wild dogs there which really put me off... We stayed on the fishing quay in rough weather without a problem on a 45 footer.