Figueira da Foz

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 14:52, 21 August 2018 by Vadp (Talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
WorldNorth AtlanticPortugalFigueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz
Port of Entry
40°08.720'N, 008°52.160'W Chart icon.png
lat=40.14533 | lon=-8.86933 | zoom=14 | y
FigFoz.jpg
Magnify-clip.png
Figueira da Foz looking west

Figueira da Foz is a coastal resort and harbour at the mouth of the River Mondego, 65 miles south of Leixoes and 45 miles north of Nazare in Portugal. It is the closest port to the historic Portuguese former capital of Coimbra 40 kilometers inland. An important centre of shipbuilding and manufacturing during the 18th and 19th centuries, the city (as it became in 1882) developed into a popular tourist destination during the 1920s and 30s and its two mile long sandy beach and renowned casino still attract legions of tourists today. In addition to accommodating a thriving fishing fleet, the port handles several thousand tonnes a year of woodpulp, paper and glass products for locally based manufacturers. Upriver of the port on the north bank in the heart of the town is a small marina which can accommodate yachts of up to 16 metres. Shelter in the river is good, but the entrance can be dangerous in strong onshore winds. With a very high swell, the port is closed altogether.

Charts

British Admiralty charts
3633
3634
3254
Portuguese charts
23201
24201
26401
Imray chart
C19

Weather

The prevailing winds along this coast are the northerly trade winds, which blow at force 4/5 most days during the summer. Occasional Atlantic depressions (thankfully rare during the summer) can bring strong onshore winds and heavy seas, in which case it would be unwise to attempt the entrance.

Also see Portugal.

Passages

See Portugal.

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Navigation

From the north, the entrance to the river, protected by two breakwaters, will be encountered about 2.5 miles after clearing Cabo Mondego. The suspension bridge upriver above the marina is conspicuous. From the south, the coniferous forests along the shore give way to the outlying suburbs of the city about a mile before the river entrance. Enter between the breakwaters on a course of 073°. The entrance is dredged to a minimum depth of 7.0 metres, but a swell builds up here in any onshore winds. Very strong onshore winds cause the swell to pile up in huge standing waves, making the entrance dangerous. Such situations are mercifully not encountered very often in summer, but it is not unusual for the harbour to be closed altogether during strong winter gales. Ideally, try to arrive at the entrance during the last two hours of a rising tide, when the river current will be largely counteracted by the tidal current. The marina entrance is about 750 metres upriver on the port side. If arriving on the ebb tide, beware of strong cross-currents which can cause eddies in the marina entrance. During spring ebb tides and especially in the winter months, it is not unknown for the currents in the river to reach as much as six knots.

Entrance

Figueira da Foz is a port of entry/exit to Portugal.

Please submit details about facilities for checking-in, location of immigration & customs, etc.

Berthing

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

  • Marina de Figueira da Foz has a total of 350 berths on finger pontoons. The maximum length that can be accommodated is around 16 metres. Maximum draft 3.0 metres. Click on link for separate Wiki page.
  • Two yacht clubs are close to the marina: Clube Mar de Coimbra (Tel: +351 914 157546) and Clube Nautico de Figueira da Foz (Tel: +351 233 428019).

Anchorages

None.

Amenities

Facilities
Water At all berths
Electricity At all berths
Toilets In the marina
Showers In the marina
Laundry In the marina
Garbage Bins in the marina
Supplies
Fuel Fuel station in the marina
Bottled gas ?
Chandlers In the marina
Services
Repairs Some repairs can be organized through the marina office
Internet WiFi in the marina
Mobile connectivity ?
Vehicle rentals ?

Provisioning

Supermarket and shops close to marina.

Eating out

Give the name of recommended restaurant, tavernas, pastry stores, etc.

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Tourism

History

Give a short history of the port.

Places to Visit

The town of Figueira da Foz is quite pleasant for a tourist resort and has one of the hugest beaches you are ever likely to see, but (unless you fancy a spin at the casino) is unlikely to take more than a morning of your time. The best day trip from Figueira is the ancient town of Coimbra, the former Portuguese capital, which can be reached via a regular train service. Coimbra is a maze of picturesque and steep streets, with lots of old Manueline houses in the old part of town. The university is one of the oldest in Europe, having been founded in 1290, and its architectural jewels include a sumptuous gilded library, a mediaeval chapel covered with azulejo tiles and a beautiful ceremonial hall. Don’t miss the impressive view from the gallery of the hall out over the River Mondego. Also worth a visit in Coimbra is the 16th century Monastery de Santa Cruz with its magnificent Manueline chapel and sacristy, with some more excellent examples of 17th century azulejo tiles.

The 13th century Coimbra University
Belltower, Coimbra University
Monastery of Santa Cruz, Coimbra


Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

References

See Portugal.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

  • We entered Figueira da Foz in a SW 4/5 and it was a bit of a sleigh-ride (exciting but not dangerous). I wouldn’t want to do it in anything above force 5/6 unless it was from due north OR unless the breakwater extension has really made a difference --Athene of Lymington

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Figueira da Foz and this page's details validated:



This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.


SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Athene of Lymington


Personal tools
advertisement
Friends of Cruisers Wiki