Berthing Options=
Anchorages; =
Marinas; Schedul=
ing
Your Visit;
Working
On Your Own Yacht
Introduction
These notes were first written=
in
response to frequent queries like, “What’s the best place to wi=
nter
in the Algarve?” and “Where can I leave my yacht?”
There is no way a single summa=
ry
can address all the questions asked – and the “right” ans=
wers
would depend on the personal likes and dislikes, preferences and priorities=
of
the individual(s) concerned. =
These
notes are our answers a=
nd
opinions, based on our
experiences gained from 10 year’s living in Portugal. They reflect our personal preferences as pensioners, local home owners
and yachtsmen - who cruise along the Algarve most of the year.
Writing this note has highlighted s=
ome
significant gaps in our knowledge and experience, and we will be working on
resolving them. If YOU can he=
lp, or
if you have a different opinion or experience, please e-mail us.=
![3D"Feb](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image002.jpg")
Anchorage=
s (West
to East)
Sagres to Lagos First, there are 3 “on-passage-refuges” east of C=
ape
St Vincent and off Sagres, but there is no real scope for landing at any of
them.
Then, at Baleira, just past Sagres, there is a small port with piers
reserved for fishing boats. T=
here
is room to anchor to the east of the piers, but this is not a recognised Po=
rt
of Entry and a new arrival will not be allowed to land. It is a good destination for a day=
trip
from Lagos but you are still likely to be checked by the police on going
ashore.
Next along the coast are the
villages of Salema, Burgau and Luz=
– all pleasant lunch stops, but with indifferent holding. Once round the corner of Ponta da
Piedade, there are some good bays to explore – with a very secure spot
just east of the breakwaters of Lagos.&nbs=
p;
This is well sheltered, apart from South or East, with easy access t=
o Marina de Lagos in case of trouble!=
Other anchorages in the Algarve
are fairly limited and would not normally be suitable for leaving a yacht
unattended. Apart from other
“lunch stops” – almost anywhere along the coast, but watch
out for the rocky bottom – there is Alvor near Lagos; Ferragudo inside
Portimão breakwater; Culatra within the Faro/Olhão estuary; a=
nd
Tavira.
Alvor is very safe and secure –
once you have negotiated the sand banks - and there are moorings available =
for
€60 per month and a local can be employed as watchman. There is usual=
ly
anchoring space for short-term visits, though it can get very crowded in the
high season. It is a lovely t=
own
– but there are no shore facilities for yachtsmen. Technical support can be had from =
Lagos
or Portimão, of course. If
visiting, we recommend you use the excellent pilotage notes by Martin North=
ey
on his web site, www.theiberianseaschool.com
![3D"Sail](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image004.jpg")
Ferragudo
is on the eastern side of Portimão harbour – now a popular Cru=
ise
Ship destination. It is very =
easy
to enter and anchoring off the village or off the beach just inside the east
breakwater is secure – though it can get crowded with moored boats. Near the harbour mouth it is expos=
ed to
any W or SW swell that happens to be around - as well as wake from fishing
boats and jet skis. There are=
no
shore facilities without visiting the marina and paying a day-rate.
![](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image006.jpg")
Culatra Island is a favourite spot within the
major Faro/Olhão estuary. It
is a very popular destination for day-trips from the two big towns and this
does mean that there are plenty of ferries to Olhão to facilitate th=
ose
serious shopping trips. =
The island is superb for swimm=
ing
and bird life, and there are some excellent bars and restaurants, as well as
two reasonable mini-markets (Spar Grocery in UK terms). Three cautions, though. 1) Beware of serious wind-over-tide
effects at the estuary entrance and bar at Cabo de Santa Maria, especially =
when
the ebb tide is running. 2) N=
ote
the existence of a substantial area of shallows, out to 0.8 miles SW of the
west mole. 3) Very unusually =
for
Portugal, dinghy theft from anchored yachts is a particular problem –=
and
the police do not seem interested in taking action – so lift it, lock=
it
or lose it!
Tavira is a very historic river-side
town, about 1.5 miles from the sea.
Inside the narrow entrance, there is a pleasant anchorage at the mou=
th
of the river and again, there is an off-shore island that is very popular w=
ith
the locals. There are frequent
water taxis to the island or the shore, where the local yacht club is based
– but I don’t know if their “race-day” toilet and
shower facilities are available at other times. (There is only one communal shower=
area,
so caution would have to be exercised, anyway.) There is a local bar and two
popular restaurants beside the club, though.
Marinas (West to East)
Lagos<=
span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-f=
amily:
"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin'> is totally safe and secure and=
it
has the full range of modern facilities.&n=
bsp;
It is free from swell, as it is virtually land-bound, and is well
up-river of the fish-dock. The
local boatyard, Sopromar, complement the marina, with first class hard-stan=
ding
and technical support – and as they have their own toilets and showers
you can live aboard.
See www.lagosnavigators.net for full details of all the L=
agos
facilities.
Portimão
has good pontoons and is safe from swell – but it is subject to wake =
from
passing fishing boats – very early in the mornings. The marina is next to the tourist =
centre
of Praia de Rocha, which can be noisy in summer. It is also a couple of miles from =
the
town centre and train station.
There is a boatyard c.1.5 miles
up-river run by Bluewater Services, with access to a VERY large hoist (350
tons!) but there are no live-aboard facilities in the yard.
![3DDSC01756.jpg](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image008.jpg")
Albufeira=
has very modern pontoon facili=
ties
- but swell can be very bad at the reception pontoon - actually dangerous i=
n SE
winds. If that occurs, call ahead on VHF to be allocated a berth and then w=
alk
back to register. =
The railway is a €7 taxi ride and it is a couple of miles
from the town centre and any serious shopping. It does have some good bars and
restaurants, but the commercial area hasn’t really taken off yet. While there are good showers and
toilets, no-one would seriously recommend it for "a quality live-onboa=
rd
experience". Also, the
"lift-out" space and technical facilities are limited and live-ab=
oard
is not possible in the yard. =
![](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image010.jpg")
Vilamoura needs a taxi ride from the
airport, at €15 or so. =
It was
the first marina in the Algarve and it is very much a golf, tourist and
motor-yacht centre. The yachts
always seem to be a bit of an extra to the bars and restaurants - they give=
the
apartment owners and visitors something to look at, in my opinion – b=
ut
it is usually fairly busy.
There are excellent toilet
facilities, and all shops etc are within the Vilamoura complex, though eith=
er
can be a fair way from your berth. There is a limited chandlery but the yar=
d is
reasonably sized. I hav=
e no
experience of their standards and do not know if living aboard is allowed.<=
o:p>
Faro requires about 45 minute’=
;s
motoring from the sea – and the channel requires care. Yachts cannot use the marina, as t=
he low
railway bridge restricts access to small motor boats.
There are moorings at very
reasonable rates (€600 to €800 per year) and anchoring is possi=
ble
off the yard, though neither is secure.&nb=
sp;
I have no personal experience of using Faro boatyard but I have heard
that their work is good and at reasonable costs. New toilet facilities have been
installed and live-aboard is possible.
Olhão shares the estuary with Faro a=
nd
also requires about 45
minute’s careful motoring – as the channel varies. Short cuts are not advised!
Don’t be misled by the g=
ood
pontoon facility next to the town centre – visitors are not allowed to
berth there, as there are NO toilets or showers. There is a boatyard east of the fi=
sh
dock – but again, I have no personal experience of it, either. If keen to visit Olhão, anc=
hor at
Culatra and catch a ferry.
Vila
Real de Santo Antonio (VRSA) is on the Gaudiana River and it is a
pleasant town with the marina right on the front street. It has good toilets and pontoons b=
ut
there are limited berths for visitors.&nbs=
p;
There is virtually no on-shore winter storage space or meaningful
boatyard. If visiting, beware=
of
strong cross-currents when the tide is ebbing.
A realistic alternative to VRS=
A is
Ayamonte, just across the river in Spain. It has recently been refurbi=
shed
and there are good reports from visitors – especially for the Chandle=
ry.
Spanish Marinas, i=
n general, could also be
considered, as the near-by ones are handy for Faro Airport. As well as Ayamonte, I have made s=
hort
visits to Isla Christina and Mazagon and they seem to be good quality and
reasonably priced. Apart from
regattas or these “flying visits”, I have no personal knowledge=
of
their quality, facilities, security, or technical support services.
Scheduling
Your Visit
![3D"Navigators](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image012.jpg")
Our own preferred procedure has
varied over the years, as our family and personal circumstances have
changed. The first thing to b=
ear in
mind is that you CAN sail all year round&n=
bsp;
and Lagos Navigators organise “Fun Sailing” events =
over
the 9-month winter-contract season – see the photo of our Boxing Day
event!
So you can get good use of your boat
– and if you are keenly competitive, there are more serious events up=
and
down the Algarve, all winter.
Autumn and spring can be really
glorious sailing weather - good breezes, no swell, perfect temperatures =
211;
and all of the facilities are lightly used.
Winter We now take the very good value 9-months contract for the wint=
er
period – 16th September to 15th June – and
the marina even reserve the same berth for us.
If you are only going to
over-winter here, the marina also has an “any-six-months” deal
which is very attractive.
Similarly, Sopromar have reduced rates for longer periods out on the=
ir
hard-standing.
During the winter time, we enj=
oy
short trips along the coast, as the mood takes and the weather allows. =
; It
does rain here sometimes, and you do still need to be a bit careful of stro=
ng
winds. There is always a bolt-hole within easy reach along the coast - but
don’t get caught out in a serious South-easterly, as that will close =
most
of the harbours.
![3D"Mole](3D"BerthingOptions.htm_files/image014.jpg")
Summer=
Once we’re into the expensive three summer months of the
“Middle & High Season” – mid June to end September - =
we
arrange a 4- to 6-week lift-out with our local boatyard, Sopromar. This gives the boat a chance to re=
ally
dry out - in the temperature of c. 25º to 30º. This is
also when we get major jobs and bottom painting etc. done.
For the rest of the summer, wh=
en
it is really hot here, we may go off on our well-earned holidays, possibly =
back
to the cooler climes of UK and the fun of grand-children. <=
/span>
Like a lot of people, we also =
mix
and match - visiting other Algarve marinas (all expensive); anchoring off at
Alvor, Ferragudo, Culatra or Tavira (free); going up the river Gaudiana (mi=
nor
costs); going down the Spanish coast (marinas a bit cheaper than Algarve); =
or
even struggling on to Gibraltar where the duty free can make it all worthwh=
ile.
Working On Your Own Yacht
While in Lagos marina, there i=
s no
restriction on owners, crew, other yachtsmen and friends working on your ya=
cht
– so long as there is no annoyance to neighbours or damage to the
facilities. Approved tradesme=
n are
also welcome – and none of those shown on our “Contacts” =
list
has had a problem.
From what I have seen and hear=
d,
most of the other Algarve marinas adopt a more stringent approach – a=
nd
the Spanish Marinas appear to be particularly strict about all work being
carried out by the marina or yard staff or tradesmen.
Sopromar are happy for owners =
and
crew to work on your own yacht – but if they have the requisite skills
in-house, outside tradesmen are not normally allowed.
I do not know the policy in ot=
her
Algarve yards.
Conclusions
It all depends on what you wan=
t to
do, of course, and it is well worth visiting the web sites and then asking =
what
else might be available – or if a special deal can be done to suit yo=
ur
own needs. Well, you can but =
try!
Only you can do the detailed research, relevant to your own
circumstances:
- =
comparing the prices with the
facilities you want;
- =
deciding the mix that gives you
the best balance; =
- =
equating<=
/span> what you want to pay, with wh=
at
you will get out of your stay here.
Having explored the Algarve, we
decided to live here and keep a small yacht in Lagos. Over the years we have developed t=
he
sort of package that suits us =
and
our life-style – and maximises the benefits of being here.
I may be biased – well, I DO =
live
here - but I would add that I am NOT an employee of Ma=
rina
de Lagos or of Sopromar.
I’m just a satisfied customer (guest!) who is not afraid to ra=
ise
constructive comments when necessary!
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