WHERE TO KEEP YOUR BOAT?   To see a map of this area click here

OVER THE LAST few months I have written articles entitled ‘Buyer Beware’ and ‘Importing a boat into Portugal’. I think that it is now appropriate to look at the various options involved in where to keep a boat.

Prior to the completion of the A22 and the new toll road from Lisbon to the Algarve, location of a marina was an important factor. Driving time for just half the length of the Algarve in the summer could be as much as two hours, now with the use of the A22 you can drive the entire length of the Algarve in an hour and a half. Lisbon to the Algarve was more than three hours, now it takes just two hours.

Our choice now is dependant therefore on cruising area, marina facilities, essential services, cost of a marina berth, ambience and proximity of restaurants and supermarkets.

PORTIMAO MARINA



Portimão Marina situated in the beautiful Arade River estuary just 35 minutes drive from Faro airport, 100 metres from the well known Praia de Roche and opposite the village of Ferrragudo, was first opened for yachts and motor cruisers seven years ago when the management generously allowed boats to berth there for a nominal fee to cover the cost of water and electricity.

At that time whilst the marina and pontoons were finished and ready for use the building of the marina offices, restaurants, cafes, bars and a hotel had only just begun. Three years ago in 2004 all of this was completely finished and the marina now has a great deal to offer.

I visit the marina often both by boat and by car. When visiting by car there is an excellent free car park. Arriving by boat there is a long reception and re-fuelling pontoon with enough room for as many as 15 boats with just a short walk along the pontoon to the round reception building where you will be welcomed by marina staff. The Marine Police, Customs and Immigration also have their offices in this circular building.

The marina itself consists of a total of 620 berths; the pontoons are very well designed, having greater length and width than I have seen elsewhere. The distance between pontoons is also greater than in most other marinas, giving considerably more maneuvering room.

Visitors arriving by boat from elsewhere in the Algarve for just a lunch, dinner or coffee stop are not required to ‘check in’ at marina reception but can instead tie up their boat on the pontoon outside the Marina Hotel which is opposite the entrance to the marina. This pontoon was until February 2005 free providing you were making use of the hotels restaurant, the marina do now charge a fee for using this pontoon. Alternatively if you wish to make use of any of the other restaurants or bars in the marina you can leave your boat on the long pontoon on the south side of the marina entrance for which the marina will charge you a fee.

The Marina can berth vessels up to 40 metres long, with a maximum draft of 4 metres. Electricity is supplied to all berths with a capacity of 16, 32 & 63 amps. Arriving at the marina for more than just a lunch stop visitors should berth their boat on the reception pontoon, which is on the east side of the north basin, then walk up to the circular reception building with their boat documents and passports to check in. As soon as you arrive in the marina you will be given guidance and support by one of the several extremely helpful dockmasters who equipped with a RIB will guide you to the reception pontoon and then to your berth.
If you should feel the need to speak to the marina reception on arrival you should call ´Marina de Portimao´ on VHF channel 9.

The Marina Boatyard which covers an area of 20,000 m2 is situated in the Portimão Fishing Port, is equipped with a ´travel lift` with a lifting capacity for boats up to 50 tons and up to 6m in beam. Services available in the boatyard include: storage ashore for Yachts and Motor Cruisers, high pressure cleaning, a bilge water drain, locker rental and painting / antifouling.

There is not yet a supermarket in the marina; however there is a daily mini bus service to the Modelo Hypermarket and Portimão town centre. To book a seat on this mini bus you should visit marina reception.

On the south side of the marina there is a wide selection of restaurants, bars, cafés & shops which overlook the marina’s own palm tree shaded beach.

There are many companies & individuals in the marina who offer a wide range of services; their contact information is as follows:

Portiate Charter. Sales & charter of yachts & motor cruisers. Tel: 963 932596 or 936 018700. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Algarvesail. Yacht broker for sales of new & used yachts & motor cruisers. Agents for Hanse Yachts & Princess Motor Cruisers. Tel: 282 414749 Mob 916 003380 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Loja Galp Marina. Engine oil, chandlery & boat cleaning services. Tel: 934 812522

Joao Branco. Marine engineer. Tel: 965 035812

Marina de Portimão has been much in the news recently owing to a Volvo 70`yacht called ABN AMRO having been launched there on January 17th. ABN AMRO is training from the marina for the Volvo Round the World race (formerly the Whitbread Race).

To contact Marina de Portimão you should telephone them on 00 351 282 400680 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it The marina has an excellent web site www.marina-portimao.com