Povoa de VARZIM

[castlevar]

For information
We have a 13mtr motor boat which we cruised from N ireland last summer to Lagos in Portugal during this trip we had only problems in one marina.
Povoa de Varzim we entered the marina at approx 1400 hrs after covering 70 miles at 7 knots big seas wind 40 knots.
We were therefore pleased to see two marina staff running down the pontoon to greet us but the pleasure was short lived when we were told to go to another marina .
There reason we were too big and also made from steel our boat is steel and exactly 13 mtrs long with no overhangs there was also plenty of room in the marina ,however as it was only 2 hrs to next marina we left.
we sent a e mail to marina manager but got no satisfaction.
marina listed as taking boats up to 15mtrs
geoff

geoff

 

[snowleopard]

lucky for you...

read of a marina in the canaries which is for residents only. foreign boat went in & was waved away, headed back out to sea & was pursued by police who arrested the crew and put them in jail for the night!

 

[rallyveteran]

We have a 13.5 m grp sloop and spent several days there in Summer 2001. They were quite recently opened then. Only reason I can think for a change of practice could be if the swell was expected to get into the harbour which is open to the SW. When we left waves were breaking across most of the entrance.

 

[castlevar]

Hi
No the reason they gave was that we were too large for the marina our boat is 4.25 beam and looks quite chunky we told both the marina staff that the boat was 13mtrs but they still insisted we were too large and told us to go to another marina
The e mail responce from the manager was the same insisting we were too large for his marina.
Therefore if you are over 13 mtrs dont risk it

geoff

 

[Sunny_Jim]

We were in Povoa de Varzim in July last year. Our boat is 10 metres long. We found it a very pleasant, well run marina with good facilities at reasonable price and friendly helpful staff. We had called up in advance to check berths - always a good tactic! There is also a sheltered harbour in which it is possible to anchor safely and either go ashore to the beach or to the marina pontoon.

There is a splendid Casino nearby with a first-rate floorshow at cheap price with excellent dinner. Local Church bell Carillon plays "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th.

The local bus to Porto (well worth a day's visit at least) takes 1 hour - local railway being converted to a swishy METRO. In Porto, don't miss the Old Railway station and the Port Lodge tours!!!

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[Sunny_Jim]

And furthermore I forgot to say that the book "Cruising Guide to Spain & Portugal" and www.manorhouses.com\ports are good sources of up to date info on these coasts. The latter's entry for Povoa de VARZIM says: "There are about 50 berths for yachts of 10 m or more with depth of at least 2.4m and 4 berths for yachts of up ro 18 m with depth of at least 3m.

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[castlevar]

hi sunny jim
yes we were looking forward to berthing there and had similar info to you never expected to be turned away this is the first time it has happened to us in over 40 years of boating.
In retrospect we should have dropped the hook and claimed port of refuge.
Next time will consider phoning first.

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