Portimao
From CruisersWiki
Portimão Port of Entry
| |
| |
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.
Charts
See Portugal.
Weather
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:
Passages
See Portugal.
Communication
Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
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.
Entrance
Portimao iis a port of entry/exit to Portugal.
For entrance details see Portugal.
Berthing
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
Portimao Harbor
Portimao Wall
Note: 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
Amenities
Facilities | |
---|---|
Water | At the Marina de Portimao |
Electricity | At the Marina de Portimao |
Toilets | At the Marina de Portimao |
Showers | At the Marina de Portimao |
Laundry | Behind the marina reception building - 5 or 8 Euros depending on size of load |
Garbage | Lots of bins around the marina, along Praia da Rocha, and throughout the town. No charge |
Supplies | |
Fuel | At the Marina de Portimao |
Bottled gas | ? |
Chandlers | See Marina de Portimao
|
Services | |
Repairs | See Marina de Portimao |
Internet |
|
Mobile connectivity | ? |
Vehicle rentals | Car rentals available above the beach and in town. About 400 Euros a week |
Provisioning
- 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
Eating out
Lots of tourist restaurants along Praia do Rocha - a short walk from the marina.
Transportation
List transportation (local and/or international.)
Tourism
History
Give a short history of the port.
Places to Visit
A visit to Ferragudo is in fact highly recommended. Small quaint portuguese Town with some really nice restaurants that come alive at night.
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.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Portimao and this page's details validated:
- October 11, 2011 --LifePart2
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. |
Contributors to this page
|
---|
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington, LifePart2 |