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Excellent sailing conditions, great marinas, wonderful weather, friendly people, delicious food and a wealth of history and tradition - what's not to love about a sailing holiday in Portugal?

Portugal is an exciting new sailing area with two very distinct bases to choose from. A charter from Lisbon allows you to soak up the sights of this fascinating city before heading out to sea to explore the pristine coastline and bustling seaside towns. An area which is steeped in sailing history as many a transatlantic voyage has set sail from these ports. The open Atlantic provides some exhilarating sailing and be sure to look out for the dolphins and turtles who reside in these waters.

Please contact our team for the latest prices and offers.

Portugal Yacht Charter

  • Overview
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    Interior 33' boat

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    cabin 33' boat

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    Saloon 40' boat

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    Interior 40' boat

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    Cabin on Lagoon 39

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    Cascais

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    The Tower, Lisbon

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    25th April Bridge

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    Cascais

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    Lighthouse, Cascais

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    Parque Natural da Arrabida

    Sailing Holidays in Portugal

    • Direct flights to Lisbon and Porto
    • History, culture and beaches
    • Marvel at the beauty of Portugal
    • Level 2-3 sailing
    • Average summer temperatures of 25-28 degrees
    • Average winds force 3-5
    • A combination of anchorages and harbour moorings
    • Charters run Saturday to Saturday
  • 1 Wk Lisbon

    Suggested 1 week itinerary from Lisbon

    DAY 1 : Doca de Belem, Lisbon

    Start your week's sail at Belem Dock, a large marina with a supermarket and numerous restaurants nearby.

    DAY 2 : Oeiras (7nm)

    Leaving Lisbon you can appreciate all the surroundings including the majestic Ponte de 25 Abril bridge behind you, the River Tagus and finally the “Bugio” lighthouse which resides on an island in the estuary on the Fort of São Lourenço do Bugio. Shortly after you will arrive at Oeiras, a charming port located just next to the São Julião Fort. Go for an afternoon stroll on the seaside promenade or take a taxi to Marquês de Pombal Palace to view this 18th century palace built in the Rococo and Baroque styles.

    DAY 3 : Cascais (4nm)

    Leaving Oeiras you will pass several beautiful beaches; Carcavelos, Parede, São Pedro, São João and Cascais. All of these beaches are golden sandy beaches and fantastic for swimming. Cascais is a beautiful and traditional fishing town which was once the summer retreat of the Portuguese nobility. Now you will find a bustling holiday destination which still maintains its historic charm. Wander around the pretty town centre or visit the Castro Guimaraes Museum. From Cascais you are not far from the most westerly point of mainland Europe, Cabo da Rocha, which on a clear night provides you with a fantastic sunset!

    DAY 4 : Sines (43nm)

    Head south past Espichel Cape and down the coast towards Sines. From Comporta to Sines the coast is an unbroken strip of sand with great beaches such as Pinheirinho and Galé. Sines is one of the most important cities on the Alentejo coast and is an industrial port and a cape as well, making it a natural stopping point for visitors to the region. A traditional fishing port, it was here that Vasco da Gama, the great navigator was born. Who knows, his travels may have inspired the Festival Músicas do Mundo, the world music festival that is held here annually in early summer.

    DAY 5: Troia (27nm)

    Leaving Sines behind, enjoy a sail north and stop of at any of the beaches you missed yesterday. On your way to the new Tróia marina you are almost guaranteed to encounter dolphins who often swim around the boat, inviting you to play. Tróia is a peninsula between the Sado River and the Atlantic ocean. White sandy beaches, clear waters and excellent services ashore. Restaurants, shops, casino and bars are all at your fingertips.

    DAY 6 : Sesimbra (10nm)

    Continue past the Arrábida coast with isolated beaches and clear blue water and on towards Sesimbra, a picturesque fishing village with a cozy marina and a beautiful bay.

    DAY 7 : Doca de Belem, Lisbon (21nm)

    A final day of sailing north towards Lisbon and if you are lucky you will get a breeze from WNW that will take you directly there! Entering the River Tagus, enjoy the sail up river, discovering the old town of Lisbon from the water. Terreiro do Paço, Saint Jorge’s Castle, Parque das Nações are just some of many sights you can see. Arriving at Parque das Nações you can appreciate one of the longest suspending bridges in Europe, Vasco da Gama’s bridge. Return to Belém Marina to enjoy your final night in Lisbon.

  • Sailing Conditions

    Sailing Conditions

    Average winds Force 3-5 which are more predictable in the summer months. The ideal sailing window is May-October. Some open Atlantic sailing and longer distances.

    Sailing from Porto, you will be on calm inland waters.

    We have rated this destination a 'Level 2-3' (levels info) and you will need RYA Day Skipper or ICC qualification for bareboat charters in Portugal.

    If you are at all unsure about a destination then please get in touch and our sales team will be more than happy to make their recommendations for you.

  • Getting There

    Getting There

    Flights to Lisbon

    EasyJet have direct flights from Gatwick, Luton, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh. British Airways fly from Heathrow. TAP Air Portugal has direct flights from Manchester and Gatwick.

    Flights to Porto

    EasyJet fly from Gatwick, Luton, Bristol and Manchester. TAP Air Portugal have direct flights from Gatwick. British Airways fly direct from Gatwick.

"Booking process is always smooth and efficient. The local Maltese charter company was very good and helpful. This was the third charter with Nautilus and it won't be the last."

Malta 2016 - V.N.
Trustpilot

Sailing Qualifications

To skipper a bareboat charter or flotilla yacht, you need to hold a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For charters in Greece, you must now have the ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by at least one competent crew member over the age of 18.

The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates: RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence), RYA Coastal, RYA Yachtmaster, ASA IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) or the IYT (International Yacht Training) Passport. If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA). If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 12 years old and does not have a photo ID, then we would also strongly advise applying for an ICC or IPC. If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use this link - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.

For charters in Croatia, Malta and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.

RYA qualifications can be obtained by RYA sailing schools in the UK or alternatively choose from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece or Turkey.

For Seychelles, the local authorities require an ICC for the skipper of a bareboat or flotilla yacht charter.

For Caribbean and Tropical charters, formal qualifications are not compulsory, however, you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew. A brief sailing resume should be provided to outline your experience.

If you don't hold the relevant qualifications then why not add a skipper?

Sailing Levels

Level 1

Winds force 2-3 (4-11 Knots)combined with generally shorter distances. Good for beginner or intermediate sailors. Line-of-sight navigation but basic knowledge of charts and ability to plot your position required.

Level 2

Winds force 3-5 (7-21 Knots) with approximately 15-20nm per day. Intermediate experience required. Predominately line of sight navigation but an understanding of how to sail in open water.

Level 3

Winds force 4-6 (11-27 Knots) with mileage of approximately 20nm+ per day. Ideal for experienced skippers looking to venture out to new destinations. Day skipper standard but with experienced crew would be recommended.