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Marinas & Anchorage
Albufeira
A fully fledged Marina is in construction and is scheduled to
open in 2002. The entrance will be to the west side of the
coastal town of Albufeira and the mooring facilities will be
in a sheltered valley protected both from the north and south
by rising land.
The town has
over years changed from its humble fishing village look into
a immense popular holiday destination. Here you will find all
the normal day and evening facilities associated with mass
tourism but there are some shreds of its quaintness in the
older parts.
Intended Services & Equipment
400 Berths (up to 40 mts.) + Fuel + Water + Electricity +
Satellite TV + Laundry + Travel Lift for 50 Tons (7mts width)
+ Small Boat Lift + Dry Stack
Alvor
A natural lagoon created by a wide sand bar which has been
heightened by sand removed by dredging. Entrance to the lagoon
is by a narrow shallow channel which is lined on both sides by
independent moles. The depth of this channel is 2 meters but it
is recommended that any attempt to pass should be a low tide to
establish position of a sand bar within the lagoon lying between
this entrance and the mooring area in front of the village of
Alvor.
This very old
village with its glorious past destroyed in 1755 by an earthquake,
it is now more intent in catering to the tourist industry.
Happily, the village has maintained some of its own character and
is still worth visiting, especially for its range of restaurants.
Baleeira
This anchorage lies just to the east side of the town of Sagres
and in the Bay of Martinhal. It is open to the easterly winds
but sheltered to those from the north. There is a mole which
does provides limited protection from a swell when exposed to
the eastern winds coming from the direction of Gibraltar. The
harbour area is often quite congested by local fishing and
commercial vessels.
The town of Sagres
has limited facilities as its popularity tends to be more for a
day time visit and not as holiday destination. Close by is the
past location of the School of Navigation founded in the 15th
Century by “Prince Henry the Navigator”.
Faro
A Marina is in the course of construction and should be ready by
next year.
Lagos
Here you will find a “five-anchor award” Marina. The location of
this is after passing down a sufficiently wide channel reaching a
traversing footbridge which normally has to be opened for most
vessels in order to make access. The Reception Pontoon is on the
right immediately before reaching the bridge. As you pass down
this channel you will find on your starboard side a dock area
normally filled with fishing and commercial vessels. The moorages
in the Marina are subjected to a prevailing northern wind known
locally as the “nortada” and this can be uncomfortable unless you
have managed to arrange a berth facing to the north. Night time
departures requires 24 hours notice and moving to the reception
pontoon.
The town of Lagos
played an active part in creating the history of the world for
it was from this port that the “Caravelas” of Price Henry sailed
to discover parts of our present world. The town has maintained
a lot of its architectural charm and this is coupled with its
popularity with the tourists so that it is a good location of
food and entertainment.
APPROACH
Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse 37º04'.8N / 8º40'.1W (FL, 7s 50m 20
miles), yellow light house tower, conspicuous 2 palm trees either
side. Lagos is 1.5 miles North of Ponta da Piedade, 17 miles East
from Cape St. Vicente and 7 miles West of Portimão. VHF-62.
ENTRANCE
Two harbor moles which are lit Mole west 37º05'.8N / 8º39'.9W.
White tower red bands 7m, FL R 6s, 5M.
Mole East 37º05'.8N / 8º39'.9W.
White tower green bands 6m, FL Oc G l0s, 6M.
COURSE
West mole head and Church of Santo António 282º is a good transit
mean.
Harbour entrance dredged to - 4,0 m approx. at LWST.
FACILITIES
462 Berths (up to 30 mts.) + Fuel + Water + Electricity + Showers +
Laundry + Trolleys + Car Parking
Tel: 282 770 210
 Marina
( Photo /
Map )
Portimão
Comfortable choice of berths to suit the needs of most vessels up
to 30 metres. Inside the entrance moles at Praia da Rocha there is
an area to the starboard side in which to berth in front of a beach
but passing fishing vessels can cause irritating swells. Further
into the estuary on the port side there is a recently constructed
comfortable Marina. Almost opposite on the starboard side there are
a few limited moorings in front of the village of Ferragudo. There
are a further two small Pontoon Marin areas for small craft. There
is also some moorings midstream in the river in front of the
quayside of Portimão and before reaching the first of the two
bridges. Also, on the starboard side there is a commercial fishing
dock.
The beachside Praia da Rocha is a tourist designed area. Any
resemblance to its early 20th Century look has been buried under
concrete and cement. Portimão is a commercial town that once thrived
on its fish canning industry. Today, it struggles to find its
identity as the factories have gone and its commercial viability has
been lost to other locations along the coast. However, it is a very
practical mooring base as there are many facilities and most needs
can be answered.
APPROACH
Directly from south at east end of Praia da Rocha. To the east there
is the Ponta do Altar promontory with its lighthouse which also hides
the entrance is approaching from the east. VHF-62.
ENTRANCE
Once passing between two moles with an entrance width of 250 metres,
follow the alignment the front and rear lights of Ferragudo leaving
behind buoy Nº2 to port and head towards buoy Nº 4. On the portside
of this buoy is the entrance to the Marina.
FACILITIES
620 Berths (up to 30 mts.) + Fuel + Water + Electricity + Showers +
Laundry + Trolleys + Car Parking
Tel: 282 400 680
Marina
( Photo 1 /
Photo 2
/ Photo
3 / Map
)
Tavira
As there are two Islands between which all vessels have to pass and
these provide a natural barrier to the sea and the anchorage is
reasonably pleasant. A combination of a westerly wind and a strong
tide can change this scene. It is recommended that you pass further
up river and find a mooring which is away from this wind and the
swell of passing fishing vessels. At the entrance to the river there
is a jetty which is constantly in use by local ferries to the islands.
The local town is one
of the most architecturally attractive on the coast and provides a
choice of restaurants and shops which have yet to lose their local
character.
Vilamoura
The very first Marina in the Algarve. Happily, the original owners
have passed the management over to a more enlightened company. Now
there are installed many of the past missing facilities that visiting
sailors expect to find. If you are intending to make a night time
departure it is necessary to provide 24 hours notice and moor to the
reception pontoon. An extension has been constructed on the west side
of the present Marina. It is reported that this new area will have
wide berths and individual attached accommodation for the boat owners.
The immediate area
surrounding the Marina is a purpose built constructed holiday area
and you will therefore find that local prices tend to decrease as
you move away from the quayside. Here you will find some well
equipped Ships Chandlers.
ENTRANCE
Access is passing into a port entrance of 70 metres that faces
South-East and between its two breakwaters. Head northwards along
the eastern breakwater until meeting the entrance to the Marina on
the starboard side. Reception an fuel pontoons are on the portside.
FACILITIES
1030 Berths (up to 50 mts) + Fuel + Water + Electricity + Showers +
Laundry + Trolleys + Car Parking
Tel: 289 310 560
Marina
( Photo 1 /
Photo 2 /
Map )
Vila Real de Santo António
A new Marina was opened in 1998 with 380 berths all serviced with
water and electricity. The Marina is on the port side after passing
the main segment of the town. A little further up on the same side
is a commercial dock normally used by the local fishermen and ferry
boats. The Guadiana offers a tempting cruise up river to Alcoutim
where there are two pontoons. Further travel is best taken with
caution as the river channel tends to change in character. Due to
the existence of the River Guadiana and its location to the Spanish
border the authorities keep an officious control on the movement of
vessels.
The port town was
built in 1755 after its previous buildings were all destroyed in an
earthquake. It now appears neglected and its main square buildings
are beginning to show their age. Across the river is the Spanish
town of Aymonte which immediately shows the difference between the
two countries and for more personal character we recommend you
travel upriver to Alcoutim.
APPROACH
The entrance to the Marina lies approximately 1 kilometer up the
River Guadiana. To the port side of the entrance to this river is
a breakwater pointing South South-East. On the Spanish side of the
mouth is a training wall facing to the West. During high tide this
wall is often submerged. There are lights at the tip of both the
breakwater and the training wall. As there is a bar across creating
shallow draft the approach must be made by using buoys Nº1 and Nº2
located about one mile out in the direction of the West breakwater.
Head and pass close to the buoys Nº3 and Nº4 and follow the West
breakwater into the river channel.
ENTRANCE
The entrance to the Marina will be found on the portside about two
miles further North.
FACILITIES
360 Berths (up to 20 mts.) + Fuel + Water + Electricity + Showers +
Laundry + Trolleys + Car Parking
Tel: 281 541 571
Local Weather Information
Daily newspapers publish forecasts that include state of sea and
wind speed. Some of these are available with other forecasts on
the Internet. It is important to watch out for sea swell as this
factor tends to create more sailing difficulties than the wind on
the Portuguese coastline. Forecast isobar charts are available on
the Internet for up to the next six days.
A good radio service
is provided by Navtex on Monsanto Radio at Lisbon (Group II)
Forecasts are transmitted at 02.50hrs, 06.50hrs, 10.50hrs, 14.50hrs,
18.50hrs and 22.50hrs
The Sagres Radio transmits in English at 08.30hrs and at 20.35hrs
The Elixirs Station transmit by VHF on Channel 11 at 10.30hrs and
16.30hrs
The Vilamoura Station transmits by VHF on Channel 20 at 10.00hrs
Port Captains provide in their offices a forecast via Teletext
Marinas display the forecast or will obtain a necessary one upon
request.
Portuguese Authorities
Authorities in Portugal that normally concern boat owners are:
Harbourmaster (Capitania)
Marine Police (Policia de Marinha)
Customs (Fiscal de Fronteira)
The normal practice
in Marinas is for the authorities to expect you to register your
arrival immediately and they usually do not make a personal visit to
the vessel.
When arriving outside normal daylight hours the authorities will
visit your boat and obtain information they require. The next day it
will be necessary to visit the office of the Marina office and check
in.
The Lagos Marina they have their own system and you have to wait
while your documentation is handed to the authorities. Whilst, in
Vilamoura you personally deliver a copy of the document produced by
the Marina to the Marine Police and Customs Authorities at separate
desks in this same office. These two officials will then confirm the
document is in order from your passports and ships papers.
This action need only be carried out by one person who should have
their possession the following documents:
The Ships Papers
Passports of all Crew members
Proof of VAT (IVA) paid – when applicable
Certificate of Competency
Insurance Cover
Details of any intended alteration in Crew Members
We advise you to approach the authorities in the same manner in which
you would like to be treated. Visitors to Portugal are normally
treated by the authorities with consideration and politeness and if
this becomes not the case the then you will find the cause has
usually been created by your own attitude. Criticism is considered by
them as a form of disguise!
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