Portimao
From CruisersWiki
Portimao, Portugal
 (Click links for more information)
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 | 37°07.13′N, 08°31.60′W |
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 | [Local chartlet] |
Portimao is a large resort and popular sailing venue, situated at the mouth of the Arade river on the south coast of Portugal (the Algarve), six miles E of Lagos and 15 miles W of Albufeira. It’s main beach just W of the river entrance, Praia da Rocha, is one of the largest and most celebrated on the Algarve coast. Motor racing enthusiasts are catered for by a motor racing circuit and the waters off the town are busy for much of the year with match racing, windsurfing and power boating events. Visiting yachts have the option of berthing in the huge Marina de Portimao on the W bank of the river or anchoring off the pleasant settlement of Ferragudo on the E bank.
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Charts
Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.
- Chart Source
- Chart No
- Chart No
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Local Weather
For general weather details, see Portugal. Weather conditions on the Algarve coast are usually more benign than on the west coast and swell is less of a feature.
Sources of weather forecasting info:
Portimao is situated just east of the long beach of Praia da Rocha - an area with many buildings - and thus the entrance to the river estuary is easily identifiable. The river is entered from due S between two long moles extending from either side of the river banks. The entrance is about 250m wide. Ponta do Altar with its lighthouse of the same name is on the E side. On account of the height of the cliffs on the E side, the entrance to the port is obscured to those approaching from the east almost until the entrance to the moles.
Once the outer moles have been passed, if heading for the marina a course should be set at 020º off the line of the Ferragudo Fore and Aft beacons, leaving buoy no. 2 to port, continuing in the direction of buoy no. 4 until arriving at the marina entrance on port side. The marina is marked by two moles with beacons at each end and the reception pontoon is to starboard of the marina entrance. Reception is the round yellow building at the end of the pontoon, open 8am to 8pm. The fuel station is on the N end of the same pontoon.
Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)
Portimao is a port of entry (details needed).
Berthing options
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
- Marina de Portimao has 620 moorings for yachts up to 50 metres in depths of up to 5.0 metres. Click on link for details.
Anchorages
- Ferragudo
37°07.45′N, 08°31.42′W.
The anchorage of Ferragudo lies on the E side of the river, just under a mile from the river entrance. The anchorage consists of an inlet off the village of the same name and offers good holding, well protected from the dominant winds. However, it is very shallow and muddy at low tide.
- Portimao Harbor 37°06.84′N, 08°31.36′W.
Good holding in sand in the large harbor, off the long beach. Well protected from almost every direction, though some swell can make its way in from the SW. Many liveaboards spend many months anchored here. Go as close as possible to the cafe at the NE corner to pick up their unsecured wifi signal.
The Marina de Portimao is very close on the opposite side of the Arade river in the event of a sudden change in the weather
Yacht Repairs and Services
Marine Stores
See Marina de Portimao.
- In the marina are two small chandlers (Ondanautica and Sopramar) plus Bluewater Algarve which is a general fix-it / source-it type business.
- Sorpamar are useless at ordering stuff in. Bluewater, run by Brits, are excellent, and have a good machine shop for fabricating things. --LifePart2
Repairs/Yards
See Marina de Portimao.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
Tourism and Things to do Ashore
Tourism
List places of interest, tours, etc.
Grocery & Supply Stores
- Small supermarket behind the beach at the south end of the marina.
- Big supermarkets (Continent, Pingo Doce) in town.
- Continent will deliver to the marina if you spend over 100 Euros. Get there by bus from the Tivoli hotel roundabout just outside the marina, or else dinghy about a mile upstream and dock just outside the museum, from where you can walk to the supermarkets. -- LifePart2
Eateries
Lots of tourist restaurants along Praia do Rocha - a short walk from the marina.
Internet/WiFi
- Wifi in the marina.
- When anchored in the harbor, park yourself as close as you can to the Club Nau beach restaurant at the north end of the beach. With a wifi booster you can then hook into their free wifi at variable speeds - sometimes quite good, most of the time pretty slow, sometimes unusable. Personally, I use an unlocked European cell phone (North American won't work), with a Vodafone SIM card, and a pay as you go data connection. Seems to work pretty well. -- LifePart2
Laundry
Behind the marina reception building - 5 or 8 Euros depending on size of load
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Car rentals available above the beach and in town. About 400 Euros a week.
Garbage Disposal
Lots of bins around the marina, along Praia da Rocha, and throughout the town. No charge.
Transportation
Transportation (local and/or international)
Routes/Passages To/From
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
Links to relevant websites.
References & Publications
Publications, Guides, etc.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- October 11, 2011 --LifePart2
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Names: Athene of Lymington, LifePart2 |
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| | HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | North Atlantic | Portugal | Portimao | |
