rio guadiana

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MAURICE

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Hi
I have a Moody 44 with a draft of 2.1m Does anybody know how far up the rio guadiana (this is the river between Portugal and Spain) i could get my sloop rigged boat.
I also need charts for this river paper or electronic
Thanks
Maurice
 
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Certainly as far up as Alcoutim / San Lucar. Possibly up to Pomarao with a bit of caution.

My Navionics electronic chart wasn't much use (very inaccurate), but I did find the Atlantic Spain & Portugal pilot book to be a valuable asset.

One of our favourite cruising destinations - absolutely loved it! Will probably winter up there when I am old and grey!

Whilst you're in that area do consider River Guadalquiver and the journey up to Seville. Again you shouldn't have draught problems but have a look at the air draught if you want to go to Puerto Guelves.

Enjoy!
 
>Certainly as far up as Alcoutim / San Lucar.

Agree with that but I wouldn't go further without local knowledge. We spent a week there and swam in the river daily, caught a virues and was extremely tired and could only walk a short distance very slowly for over two months - total nightmare. Jane didn't get it but I wouldn't swim there again.

By the way with the hour difference between Spain and Portugal you can get an extra hour of drinking in ;-)
 
I actually got up to Mertola, but coming down was a bit exciting - generally my boat draws 1.9m but the keel can be lifted.

I'd suggest that using the tide you'll just be able to get up to Pomerao - the last bit after you pass the old loading chutes is difficult - you could always follow Laurentio up (if he's still doing the trip). Most charts and pilots are grossly inaccurate and the tidal rise and fall are considerable, making all the difference between making it and being stuck.
 
I got past Pomerao by a few miles before touching the bottom and chickening out. Didn't have a chart. Beautiful up there, keep an eye out for azure winged magpies. Hot though.
Pomarao.jpg

Pomarao.
 
Boats with your draught have reached Mertola, about 35 miles inland.The locally produced pilot puts the limit at 2.2 metres. This involves using the last hour of a rising tide with a height of 3.2 metres at Vila Real. This is as big as the tides get in summer.
It helps to have time to study the tricky bits, by anchoring below them and looking at them at low water. It also helps if the boat is made of steel, in case you bump into a rock. If your boat isn't steel, your balls must be. The tricky bits are all in the last 5 miles, and anyone with the a chartlet and the sense to sail with the second half of a rising tide can get up to Penha d'Aguia [Eagles Rock]where there is a pontoon, about 7 miles short of Mertola, That is as far as I have been, with 1.5 metres draught.
Sketch maps of the passage may be found at the bookswap in San Lucar.
Having said all that, there is always the chance of a grounding in the river. Every tributary brings down a load of rocks and gravel in the winter spates, which form a shoal in the Guadiana. There is a shoal at Alcoutim which provides me with entertainment every year, and I have been on my beam ends within 10 miles of the river mouth, by ignoring the usual advice about sticking to the centre of the river. It is not usually serious.
 
great fun pushing away the drift wood build up on your anchor chain, to watch it get caught up on the boat down stream... oh dear.. :o
 
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