Yachtcharter Portugal

Portugal, once the end of the known world, is still one of the last stops for sailors who want to cross the Atlantic. However, the country offers various sailing areas for different types of sailors. More ambitious sailors start in Lisbon and combine a cruise along the country's west coast with a city break. The portuguese Atlantic coast is varied in its requirements and potential for experience: Shopping in Porto, surfing hotspots like in Nazaré or leisurely day trips, such as to historic Cascais. In the numerous rivers you can relax from the rough Atlantic and drive along nature reserves and vineyards. On the protected Südalgarve, families and sailing enthusiasts can enjoy the numerous beaches. With the archipelagos of the Azores or Madeira, blue-water sailors and nature lovers will also find their spots.

Climate: Mediterranean to subtropical with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees
. Winds: Levante, Nortada, depending on the region partly strong diurnal thermal winds
. Sailing season: all year round, best from March to October

Yacht charter Portugal

Follow in the footsteps of great and famous sailors with a yacht charter Portugal. The sunny vacation country in the west of the Iberian Peninsula has a lot to offer for sailors of all experience levels and for vacationers of all interests.

From cliffs to shallow sandy beaches - Portugal's mainland coastline

In the north of the country, not far from the Spanish port city of Vigo, lies Porto. In the "capital of the north," you can stroll along the Douro's southern waterfront, stop at one of the cozy cafés and be enchanted by the sight of the colorful old town (Ribeira), which winds its way up the Pena Ventos on the other bank. For sailors, Porto also holds a beautiful historic harbor. Look for the characteristic Rabelo boats, which were used to transport the famous port wine. Tiles (azulejo), typical of Portugal, also decorate nearly every church here. Experienced sailors can brave the Atlantic from Porto and sail along Portugal's west coast to Galicia in Spain, or less experienced sailors can take a leisurely stroll along the Rio Douro past wineries and beautiful landscapes and experience Europe's highest lock.

There are just under 150 nautical miles between Porto and Lisbon. Sail through the Ponte 25 de Abril in Portugal's capital, take in the architecture and flair, or unwind in the nature of the protected area just outside the city. The coast south of Lisbon shows a somewhat rougher face, which especially experienced sailors appreciate. The western Algarve up to Cabo de São Vicente offers few anchoring possibilities and between Sines and Sagres no safe harbor. For less experienced sailors the Tagus offers an inland area. There is also a nature reserve in the estuary, the Reserva Natural do Estuário do Tejo. Experience with tides should be available. Another small inland waterway is located just a bit south of Lisbon with the Rio Sado. Alternatively you can start from Cascais, north of Lisbon.

In the southern Algarve, sailing is a relaxing experience especially for families and not so experienced sailors. Several well developed harbors like Lagos and Portimão as well as numerous anchorages offer enough opportunities for stopovers. From Faro to the Spanish border, 35 nautical miles of finest, golden sandy beaches entice you to build extensive sand castles.

The Azores - evergreen islands in the midst of turquoise blue sea

Sailing around the Azores means sailing in the sunshine around evergreen islands.

A total of nine larger and several smaller islands belong to the archipelago. The area can be sailed all year round, but in the winter months there can be strong storms and in general the weather in the Azores is mostly changeable. The Azores represent a European external border. Therefore, you have to clear in and out on each island. However, since this procedure is part of the daily routine here, this is not a major inconvenience. The largest of the Azores islands is São Miguel. There is always life at the harbor and in the alleys of the capital Ponta Delgada, and cafes, restaurants and bars always offer cozy places to rest.

The island of Faial is a popular stop for cruising sailors from all over the world. In the marina of the island's capital Horta, sailors of all kinds have been meeting for a stopover for generations. A tradition has developed at the quayside for skippers to leave a painting. Stroll along the colorful paintings and perhaps immortalize yourself here. Directly at the harbor you will also find the world-famous Peter Café Sport, which has become a legendary sailor's pub since the 1960s.

A special nature experience is offered on the island of Terceira, whose capital Angra do Heroísmo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the center of the island are the Algar do Carvão, a volcanic vent about 100 meters long, which can be visited. Access is via a well-constructed staircase, so the excursion is also suitable for families.

Pure nature around Madeira

Another Portuguese sailing paradise in the North Atlantic lies about 270 nautical miles southwest of Cabo de Sao Vicente in the middle of the Atlantic: the Madeira archipelago. The islands are of volcanic origin, the coasts mostly drop steeply into the sea and the mountainous islands shine in lush green against the blue of the sea. Only two of the islands are inhabited, Madeira with its main town Funchal and the much smaller island Porto Santo. Both are especially popular with hiking enthusiasts and offer routes for beginners as well as for experienced mountain lovers with altitude differences of up to 1000 meters.

Especially for long-distance sailors, the islands are known as a stopover on the way to the Canary Islands. It is only 250 nautical miles to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria. A special highlight of the sailing area around the archipelago are the dolphins that can be seen here all year round. In the months of May to October, fin and sperm whales also migrate through the area. The archipelago of the Ilhas Desertas, which are part of Madeira, can only be visited by prior arrangement. The islands are subject to strict nature conservation regulations, as a group of the extremely rare monk seals lives here.

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