Sailing in the Algarve

rwoofer

rwoofer

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What's it like.

Thinking about moving the boat somewhere warm where we can sail it there and back easily if we don't like the faff with flying. What are the conditions like? Is there enough there to make long weekend sailing interesting? What would be a good port to base ourselves at? Would we get bored within a season eg. would we see all the places in a 2 week leisurely cruise?

Thanks in advance
 
There are about 20 possible destinations between Lagos and Cadiz, which is around 150 miles. Lots of them are boat parks, as in most of europe now, and not very attractive, but there are some nice ones.
I dont know if your statement,´-where we can sail it there and back easily´, is accurate. It is 1,000 miles both ways, and in the autumn the winds are consistently in the north on the west coast of Portugal.
Perhaps that is your idea of easy!
I think you might look at the Rias of Galicia, Half the distance, and a beautiful cruising ground.
 
Second that. Just spent the last three seasons in the Rias. Airports at Corunna. Santiago & Vigo. Excellent cruising grounds and still relatively untouched. Go prepared, very few
chandlery type facilities. Weekend breaks don't really work as which ever you do it, you generally lose two days travelling, N/W coast from Gijon to Corunna aslo v. interesting, althouggh somewhat exposed coastline. Now down in the Algarve for the first time. Parts are very touristy and expensive in high seaon - but Lotus land sailing. Looking forward to a season down there next year.
 
Thanks.

Appreciate the Northerly's for getting back. Most likely scenario would be to go via the Azores. Thinking was that any further than the Algarve, we would be looking at expensive shipping rather than sailing, hence the easier bit.

Northern Spain is appealing, but we have found that our last 3 summer cruises (Brittany down to La Rochelle) have been impacted by less than great weather, so we're determined to get some sun!! I've heard that Northern spain can be a little overcast and wet, even in summer - please correct me if this is a wrong perception.
 
Re: Sailing in N Spain

N Spain is a lovely cruising area. For parking the boat, the Rias of Galicia would suit you best; lots of places to go to, plenty of variety.

But your journey down would be wasted if you didn't sail to somewhere east (Bilbao?) then cruise the north coast westward, rewarding yourself with the Rias afterwards.

The whole area is about 5 degrees C warmer than UK year round. And yes, the north coast is wet. Galicia much less so, especially south of Finisterre.

The northerly Portuguese trades can be strong S of Finisterre, so a cruising pattern is to rush south to Vigo/Bayona, then work north hopping from ria to ria, which is easily done with day trips, especially if you leave earlier in the morning before Spain heats up . . . luckily, these northerlies are not accompanies inshore by any significant seas.

For lots more detail, check out my website. I'm revising the Spain bit at the moment, and by December it will include charts, additional harbours and more detail. And if any forum readers wish to add more information - please email me!
 
Re: Sailing in N Spain

Thanks, your website is very useful. Reading through it suggests that Galicia might be more interesting that the north coast. Is it drier as well?
 
If you want sun then the Algarve is the right place - we spent 7 weeks there last year and swmbo loved every second of it. Gentle sailing, fairly flat seas blue skys but cooler at night. Cloudy one day and rain one day (not bad in seven weeks) . As has been said boat parks exist but there are nice bits and friendly locals and fellow boaters.
we centered in Villamoura and went off both East and West from there, Feragouda (spelling?) was a lovely place, most hops are half a days sail. Not cheap though, but there are the odd places you can anchor - wee island off Faro is really back to basics and dirt cheap to live.
Fly from Bournemouth to Faro cheap off peak BA advertised 29 quid return but that's really off peak! Normally about 90 quid return.

cheers
ian
 
Re: Sailing in N Spain

I feel that the temperatures at the NW-coast of Spain are similar to the S-coast of England in summer, maybe a bit warmer, but not a lot. The temperatures are getting higher going east. Bilbao will be warmer than La Coruna. Also going south the temperatures increase as Jim Baerselman indicated. In winter the temperatures will be higher than in England. But contrary to the summer, now the temperatures decrease when going east. Last winter there was snow on the beaches around San Sebastian and I don't recall this from Coruna during the years I am living in that area.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What's it like.

Thinking about moving the boat somewhere warm where we can sail it there and back easily if we don't like the faff with flying. What are the conditions like? Is there enough there to make long weekend sailing interesting? What would be a good port to base ourselves at? Would we get bored within a season eg. would we see all the places in a 2 week leisurely cruise?

Thanks in advance

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd suggest Lagos as for us, it proved to be a good mix of old town with parties and lots of ex-pats.......plus marina is well run and about 30eu with hire car and 50 minutes from Faro airport.
Lots to see along the coast towards Spain - one could loose two weeks easy just off Faro in lagoons - and no shortage of other spots for weekend trips.
Cheers
JOHN
 
Sounds great. As much as I would like to see Northern Spain, I would much rather get some guaranteed good weather. Going back via the Azores would be an adventure as well..
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds great. As much as I would like to see Northern Spain, I would much rather get some guaranteed good weather. Going back via the Azores would be an adventure as well..

[/ QUOTE ]

Richard,

I've hesitated to post as, since arriving in Lagos, all we have done is a couple of afternoons motor sailing, just past the headland, and anchoring off the beach, so I'm not really qualified to comment yet.

What I can definitely say is that you will get warm/hot/blistering weather during most of the spring, summer and autumn. From August 29 to September 21 it was cracking the flags, apart from a couple of cloudy, (warm), days, and some sprinkles of rain one afternoon. Between 25 October and 12 november it was mostly warm or hot, with mostly sunny days, several cloudy days, and some torrential downpours, mostly shorts and T-shirt even into the late evnings. On 11 Nov we went for a motor, and the sun was burning my face.

Having spoken with a few people, it seems there are lots of pretty anchorages, several marinas with good facilities, and Gib and Morocco are only a day sail away.

On 3 or 4 ocassions over the past 15 years, my father has done summer trips to Villamoura, Bayona and Madeira, (I did madeira), and has always got home, albeit with a bit of waiting around, and a bit of beating upwind.

If it doesnt suit you, you can turn around and bimble up the Rias and the Biscay Coast, or whatever.

May even see you if you get here before June 15th.

Cheers,

Richard
 
Just the kind of encouragement that I need to show SWMBO. There is a chance of getting there before the 15th as well.

Thanks
Richard
 
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