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I am often asked for advice as to where people might go for a cruise from the Algarve and usually advise that they go east and south to Cadiz and the Strait of Gibralter, with stops along the Algarve and Spanish coast on the way. When in the Strait there is much to see with Tangier, Barbate, Tarifa, Ceuta and Gibraltar just short distances from each other. Whilst I have often done this cruise myself, I have also sailed north to Lisbon, which I have enjoyed immensely.

I remember about six years ago sailing ‘Halloween’ a 66 foot wooden gaff ketch to Lisbon. We left Vilamoura late in the afternoon and sailed to Cape St Vincent with a gentle northerly wind on a beam reach, we turned towards the north at Cape St Vincent and spent that night and the following day tacking up the coast arriving at Sesimbra in the evening having covered rather more than the 130 nautical miles that we would have logged in a motor cruiser taking the direct route. We spent a very comfortable night at anchor off Sesimbra and weighed anchor at 5.30 am to complete the final 20 nautical miles to the entrance to the River Tejo. We sailed into the river at 8 am on a beautiful morning; ‘Halloween’ could not have been a more suitable vessel on which to arrive in this wonderful historic harbour, with our tan gaff rigged mainsail and mizzen plus our staysail and flying jib attached to the end of her long bowsprit we must have been a fine sight, which would account for the enthusiastic welcome that we received from people on other vessels as we sailed past.

We sailed up the river and spent several days in the marina at Alcantara. This was an excellent place to berth ‘Halloween’ and being so close to the centre of Lisbon an ideal base from which to explore the city.

Visiting Lisbon now, as an alternative to the marinas that are close to the city, there is Cascais Marina. It is now 5 years since the marina was completed and it is now well established as a stopping place for yachts and motor cruisers as they cruise along the Atlantic coast of Portugal.

Cascais and Estoril which are both walking distances from the marina are probably two of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited. There are wonderful buildings built mostly in the 18th and early 19th centuries in a breathtakingly beautiful extravagant style of romantic architecture. The train station is just 10 minutes walk from the marina, with regular trains to Lisbon just 30 minutes away.

The aerial photograph taken in August 2004 shows the marina almost full, many of the few empty berths belong to people who were away on their summer cruise. There are in fact a total of 638 berths in the marina 125 of which are intended for yachts in transit. There is a travel lift in the marina with a lifting capacity of up to 70 tons and facilities for storage ashore. Visitors to the marina arriving by boat can if they wish call the marina on VHF channel 9. Tel: 214824800. Fax: 214824860.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web Site: www.marinacascais.pt

In addition to a wide selection of restaurants and coffee bars, two banks, a newsagent and many shops selling nautical clothing, there are several companies in the marina offering a wide range of essential services; their contact numbers and the services that they have to offer are as follows:

Nauti Star run by Domingos Carvalho. Tel 213941144 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Domingos has a naval background and has been involved in yachting for 17 years. At his shop in the marina he has a wide selection of chandlery and navigational equipment. In addition to being the agent for Princess Motor Cruisers, he is also an agent for Pantaenius Insurance. He sells liferafts, offers liferaft servicing, boat cleaning, repairs and maintainance, yacht & motor cruiser deliveries by land and sea. He is also a yacht broker and can arrange yacht registration.

Planeta Azul a sailing school run by Rui & Luis Neves. Tel: 214861340 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web Site: www.planetazul.com.pt
They offer all the Portuguese navigation courses from Marinheiro to Patrao de Costa. They can also arrange boat delivery by either sea or land.

Capital Car Tel: 214865159. Sara Mesquita runs this office, they are agents for Gobbi Motor Cruisers and are brokers for used motor cruisers.

Mar Masters run by Vincent Pinheiro. Tel: 214847490 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web Site: www.marmasters.com. Vincent offers all types of boat maintenance, including repairs to wood and fiberglass, painting and polishing of topsides, antifouling and in the shop has a good selection of chandlery.

Nautiser run by Francisco Saldanha who has his main office at Palmela. Tel: 214848880 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web Site: www.nautisercentronautico.pt
Nautiser offers service, repairs, maintenance, aintifouling, winterization and storage for yachts & motor cruisers. They are agents for Sealine, Jeanneau (power & sail), Cobalt, Crownline and Regal.

Portfair run by Caldaira Pires. Tel: 214847025 Portfair are agents for Fairline Motor Cruisers, Volvo Penta, Man, Cat, Mercury, Raymarine, Nautiradar, ICOM and ICS. They carry out all types of boat maintenance including: gel coat repairs, antifouling, electrical repairs and servicing of air-conditioning.

Bavaria Yachts run by Carlos Lima. Tel: 214845655
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web Site: www.motorsail.pt
Bavaria Yachts are agents for Bavaria, Cranchi & Rodman. They also offer Motor Cruiser and Yacht Charter; their Motor Cruisers are chartered with a skipper, their Yachts either with or without a skipper. Bavaria Yachts are agents for Plastimo and have a good stock of Plastimo equipment in their shop. In addition they also offer a yacht & motor cruiser management service, maintenance, fiberglass repairs, antifouling etc.

Onshore run by Ricardo Hoy Villar. Tel: 214823314 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Onshore are Yacht Brokers for new as well as used motor cruisers and yachts. They offer maintenance and management contracts and in addition offer an antifouling, painting and fiberglass repair service. A recent addition to their premises now means that they are able to offer a complete range of engine maintenance including engine reconditioning. Onshore are agents for Yanmar.

Multyates owned by Carlos Sousa who is the well known 4 wheel drive world champion. Filomena Bom runs the office. Tel: 214823300 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web Site: www.multyates.pt
Multyates are agents for Pershing, Ferretti and Astondoa. Service and maintenance can be arranged for their clients from this Cascais office.

Clube Naval de Cascais People in both the Algarve and Lisbon often ask me as to what the opportunities are for Yacht, Keel Boat and Dinghy racing are in Portugal. Whilst there is some racing in the Algarve, the Clube Naval de Cascais, founded in 1938 has an enviable reputation for the organization of very successful regattas and world championships. Telephone enquiries should be made to 214830125. Fax: 214868712 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Finally, I don’t know of a more beautiful setting for a marina than this north shore of the entrance to the Tejo river, with Cascais and all the Estoril coast in the foreground and as a backdrop the Serra de Sintra reaching up into the sky behind.