Marina de Figueira da Foz

From CruisersWiki

Marina de Figueira da Foz is situated at the town of the same name at the mouth of the River Mondego, 65 miles south of Leixoes and 45 miles north of Nazare in Portugal. The marina has a total of 350 berths on finger pontoons. The maximum length that can be accommodated is around 16 metres and maximum draft 3.0 metres. Currently (April 2013) work is underway to modernize and expand the marina, including a new marina office and new sanitary facilities.

Communication

Call Marina de Figueira da Foz on VHF channel 09. Marina office is open 08.30 – 18.00 (October to April) and 08.30 – 24.00 (May to September). If no response, there is an arrivals pontoon immediately inside the entrance. Tie up on arrival and report to the marina office.

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. Note: 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.

Berthing

Berthing assistance may be provided by calling in advance on VHF channel 09. Berths are bows or stern-to on finger pontoons.

Facilities

• Toilets and showers
• Yacht clubs Clube Mar de Coimbra (Tel: +351 914 157546) and Clube Nautico de Figueira da Foz (Tel: +351 233 428019)
• Shops
• Chandlery

Repairs

Repair shops. Crane (10T). Basic engine, electrical and electronic repairs.

Security

Good (access via smart card).

Marina Locatio=

The marina is a few minutes walk from the centre of town, with ample restaurants, bars and shops.

Transportation

• Buses to Porto and Lisbon
• Nearest airports at Porto and Lisbon

Price

For the latest prices see Price Listing.

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 Marina de Figueira da Foz and this page's details validated:

• April 2001 -- Athene of Lymington

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Contributors to this page
Names: Athene of Lymington