Portugal - Recent info sought about Leixeos and Nazare

[Alyssa]

Currently in Povoa de Varzim and travelling south. Heard some secondhand info yesterday from a guy travelling north that Leixoes was badly polluted (again) and that Nazare was closed due to poor maintenance/pontoon problems. Has anyone got recent info that would confirm/deny the above.

 

[kalessin]

Not very recent I'm afraid (we were there last September) but FWIW Leixoes is always polluted with something. Among many other things, a dead cat was floating in the marina when we were there. The Douro in Porto (just around the corner) is possibly the most revolting river I have seen in Europe.

 

[Richard10002]

Was in Lexioes last August and the marina seemed the same, possibly better, than when I was there in 1996. Not the best in the world, but handy for a night or two.

The entrance road is much nicer than it used to be. If you cross the main road, go up the hill you come to a little square. turn left and the restaurant 1 in on the corner facing you is where I had the best steak of my life to date, (i.e. not the one on the corner, but the one next door).

 

[jimbaerselman]

Leixoes is tucked into the corner of a rather large commercial and fishing port. It's excellently sheltered - but in such a place it's always going to have a load of gunge floating around. Not much worse than some of the Thames estuary marinas and docks . . .

Buses to Porto are frequent - if that's your objective. But Povoa is also decently connected by train now - so if you want a cleaner place from which to visit Porto - stay put?

 

[TonyMS]

We visited Nazare and Leixoes in late April.

Tied to a pontoon in Nazare - no problem or sign of damage.

Anchored in Leixoes - not a place to swim, but no worse than any other industrial harbour.

Tony

 

[samwise]

Leixoes was badly polluted when we were there in July / August last year. Lots of floating litter, including dead cats. Marina staff helpful, Guardia Civil surly. At the time we were there there were no signs of restoring the diesel pump ( destroyed by a fire) so any fuel you need has to be humped from the filling station. Magnificent beach over the wall ( if you like surfing). The good thing abiut it is that you can get in in most conditions. Figuiera, Nazare and other ports down that coast can suddenly shut if the swell gets up, requiring a rapid rethink of the passage plan. There is also the liklihood of fog. Figuera is also quite expensive.

 

[orizaba]

nazare is no problem to berth pontoons etc fine,english harbourmaster named mike and the only allweather port on the coast,harbour well protected from swells we left there 4weeks ago after being there for 9 months,town is nearby and food/market cheap

 

[jimbaerselman]

[ QUOTE ]
the only allweather port on the coast,

[/ QUOTE ]
That's a bit of an exaggeration, surely? What about Leixoes? Povoa? Lisbon - Cascais or Doca d'Alcantara? Peniche?

 

[orizaba]

sorry should have explained that better as far as i am aware it is listed as a" port of refuge "and whatever the weather or how full the marina it is unlikely for a boat to be turned away,peniche can be rough in bad weather but you are correct about the others,but from my experience around there keep a close watch on navtex because ports are often shut due to swells

 

[Alyssa]

Many thanks for all your inputs.
We gave Leixoes a miss and travelled to Porto on the new metro from Povoa de Varzim. Understand from others that Leixoes was no better or worse than in recent times.
We are currently in Nazare. Absolutely no problems. Obviously was given some duff info about its closure.

 

[FAITIRA]

Please, give my best regards to Mike and Sal, hope they are both well and tell them we are in Cameret, on the way back South, I,ve Known them for many years, great pair.
Bill, Ann, & Skye(dog).
Yacht "Fai Tira".

 

[orizaba]

if you are still in nazare say hello to tony on greya and mike and sally,you will know who they are .mike orizaba

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
Figuiera, Nazare and other ports down that coast can suddenly shut if the swell gets up

[/ QUOTE ] You can always get into Nazare no matter what the swell because of a deep submarine rift that comes almost up to the harbour entrance. It kills the swell, and allows you to enter in virtually any weather.

Peniche on the other hand can be a horrible berth in strong winds / swell - better pressing on to Cascais.

Please give our regards (Nick & Kathy on 'Fairwinds' to Mike and Sally if you call in at Nazare, and don't miss the restaurant at the end of the fishmarket breakwater.

- Nick