Have you ever wondered what sailing in Portugal might be like? When you’re considering booking a holiday that’s a little bit different to your general fly-and-flop you’re bound to have more questions than just the standard travel, visa requirements, dining and accommodation essentials. You’re going to want to have a better understanding of the experience and gain a sense of knowing what to expect from the adventure. This is one of the reasons VentureSail Holidays sends us employees out to experience the voyages we list. Through our own experiences, we are then able to advise prospective guests with an honest account and a better personal understanding of life onboard through genuine conversations.
What can you expect from a holiday sailing in Portugal?
This September, my wife and I hopped on a short-haul flight from Bristol to Faro to join the tall ship Blue Clipper on a voyage along the Portuguese coastline. The holiday was a seven-night, eight-day sail round trip from Portimao, featuring some of the popular scenic attractions and towns along the Algarve. Sailing in Portugal and just across the border into Spain.
As with any sailing holiday, the exact route, anchorages and timings would be wind and tide dependant, but we were optimistically expecting to visit most of the proposed locations from Lagos to the west and then back east towards Cadiz. Along this stretch of coastline are the famous Benagil Caves, the beautiful town of Faro, and its white-sanded beach islands, Isla Cristina, just across the Spanish border before a longer sailing to the historically rich city of Cadiz.
After seeing Blue Clipper anchored off the coast from St Ives in Cornwall earlier in the year during her Cornwall to Scotland voyage, I was very excited to be welcomed aboard the 44m three-masted Gaff Schooner and sailing in Portugal with her. While Jen and I have some sailing experience, we have yet to ever sail on a tall ship of this size. Jen, in particular, has more experience with motor boats than sails and was excited to learn more about how the ship gets underway and manoeuvres with the wind.
Blue Clipper cuts an impressive figure on the water but is seriously spectacular from her deck. Greeted first by an enthusiastic crew, our hostess, Cat, welcomed us into the elegant and spacious saloon before our hostess, Cat, led us to the guest accommodation below deck.
Cat allocated us one of the six double ensuite cabins available. Arranged into comfortable, staggered bunks for access, we both had more than enough room to stretch out and a personal reading lamp above each of our heads. Following a brief negotiation, Jen took the top bunk with the porthole, and I got the more easily accessible and cosy lower bunk (with a caveat that I could take daytime naps on the top bunk to enjoy the view).
Neither one of us are particularly light packers, and even with two well-stocked soft luggage bags and an additional couple of backpacks, we didn’t struggle for storage space to tuck everything we might possibly need for sailing in Portugal away. A perfectly appointed desk with three European power sockets meant we could charge and plug in phones and laptops as needed. The private ensuite wetroom was a welcome feature, with ample room for a whole shower experience.
After unpacking, we gathered in the saloon to have a relaxed meet and greet with the full crew of 11 and a further 4 guests. We delivered Introductions, experience, and roles around the room while we enjoyed tea and a slice of the freshly baked Hummingbird Cake from the galley; the first taste of many exceptional culinary delights created and delivered by Cat and Chef Sam throughout the week.
The other four guests were older gentlemen with a range of sailing experience and were clearly as excited as we were about the voyage. One guest had been a previous guest aboard Blue Clipper during one of her Scotland adventures and enjoyed it so much he had returned and bought his friend to experience it too, albeit in the beautiful sunny weather provided while sailing in Portugal this time. While the other two guests were solo travellers, they had also both sailed on other boats in our fleet and were keen to see how sailing aboard Blue Clipper compared.
Learn to Sail in Portugal
Following a comprehensive safety briefing, it was quite apparent that every guest was more than happy to be guided by the crew to go where the wind and tide would allow us, trusting their knowledge and experience.
Joining the crew on deck, Skipper Chris was the epitome of calm, and delivered instructions so clearly that even my slight trepidation soon eased and what had seemed daunting about interacting with the many ropes and sails now felt far less so.
Our first sailing that afternoon took us from our mooring in Portimao east towards Lagos and with 10 impressive sails to hoist, raise, lower, and flake, we had plenty of chances to be part of the crew. I caught Jen writing the names of all the sails on the back of her hand so she could launch into action as soon as whichever sail was mentioned. The crew were enthusiastic about teaching and enabling us to be involved as much as each guest on board wanted to, considerately catering for all our various levels of seamanship.
Anchoring just off Lagos as the sun was setting timed perfectly with the delivery of our first delicious 3 course meal in the saloon. From the delicately seared tuna steak to the hearty main course.
The menu throughout the week was diverse and beautifully constructed and presented, with every course met with oohs and aahs from guests and crew alike. Everyone turned in for an early night after an exciting first day and a lively conversation providing the soundtrack to dinner.
A glorious sunrise lighting the waves and warming the orange cliffs on either side of Lagos was the ideal start to the morning where we enjoyed hot coffee on deck before heading back into the saloon for a sumptuous breakfast of fruit, porridge and smoothies. Followed by offerings of poached eggs and toast setting us up nicely for the day ahead.
The crew encouraged us to head out off the boat and onto the kayaks and paddleboards to explore the coastline during the morning. Jen and I let the other guests choose first and then quite happily took ourselves off for a paddle on the double kayak. After a couple of hours of exploration, we returned to Blue Clipper’s ladder where, with a lot of splashing and some incredible diving from the boat from both, Jen and one of the older guests enjoyed the cool sea water with a swim around the boat under the watchful eyes of the crew.
Sailing Weather in Portugal?
Setting sail again late morning we had the wind with us and were able to work together to raise most of the sails to take the most advantage to guide us west again towards Faro. With the sun shining and gentle rolling waves, we found ourselves settling around the boat on the many seating options and striking up conversations with our fellow guests and crew. The crew invited us to ask questions about anything and everything and we all took the opportunity throughout the voyage.
Personally, I loved taking the helm and having quiet instruction from Chris about navigation and keeping us on our heading using markers and the compass. Jen and I were both intrigued to learn how to read the many various instruments in the wheelhouse and plot our course using the readings. Often completing the hourly log book entries.
We took lunch under sail, another incredible dish of handmade flatbreads and Greek-inspired salads and most of us took our plates on deck to bask in the sun while we nibbled away.
The first day really set the tone for the week with a wonderful mix of guided sailing, relaxation and play. After lunch had settled, one of the deckhands showed us all how to fit our harnesses on to navigate the bowsprit. I was the most confident going out on the bowsprit so I went first and absolutely loved it. I could have stayed there all afternoon; there’s something so freeing about having nothing but net between you and the stunning blue waters running below.
Dolphins joined us as we hit mid afternoon, and afternoon tea and cake time, playing in the waves below the bow as we sailed towards our nights anchorage in Faro.
We enjoyed another delicious dinner of Basque chicken and an incredible dessert of homemade (galleymade) caramel ice-cream with chocolate and strawberries, while the lights from the shore slowly sparked to life, a scene that really amplified the feeling of peace enjoyed aboard the ship.
The following morning, post sunrise coffee and fresh breakfast we spent a few hours on the nearby island of Ilha do Faro. After dropping us off by tender, we wandered the sandy coast and quiet village taking advantage of the beach for sea swims, sketching and stretching our sealegs. We were back on board before lunch, raising the sails to give Faro a show before negotiating our way out of the narrow channel back into deeper water and setting sail eastwards again.
Another wonderful afternoon of sailing, amongst the lunch, afternoon cake and sunbathing with books on the middeck, delivered us to an anchorage in Spain.
Arriving off Isla Cristina after dark where we had another incredible meal in the saloon before the four other guests took up the offer of a rib trip into the port to experience the nightlife.
Jen and I decided to stay onboard and have some time together. Cat found a beautiful bottle of local wine and we took two glasses out beneath the stars to enjoy. Chris and Grace, Blue Clipper’s First Mate, joined us after a while and we had a really lovely evening looking up at the clear sky and learning the very basics about celestial navigation, listening to the distant live music event that was echoing out from the shore.
A super early start at 6am the next morning had us enjoying breakfast underway as we set sail for Cadiz. This full day of sailing gave everyone a day to lay back and simply enjoy being aboard Blue Clipper. Once the sails were up we were all able to find a comfortable spot to enjoy the sun and motion of the waves. Inbetween naps, reading time, chatting and sketching we were treated to a moroccan inspired lunch in the saloon including lots of cool refreshment. Grace bought up some spare ropes during the afternoon and we all had great fun learning some of various sailing knots, some more successfully than others.
We anchored up in a bay just before Cadiz, off the port of Rota where we enjoyed a fresh fish dinner and another 5 star dessert. Evening drinks in the saloon and lively conversation carried us all to a slightly later than usual bedtime, but that didn’t deter anyone from an early start in the morning to make the ferry trip across to Cadiz from Rota. We enjoyed the whole day wandering the market, the beautiful squares, and moorish streets, enjoying the gentle pace of life of this Spanish city before meeting up with the other guests for a nice cool pint before heading back to Blue Clipper just in time for dinner and an early night.
The Benagil Caves are a real highlight of the coast so it would have been a shame to miss visiting them on our way back towards Portima. With this in mind we set the sails early the next morning and once again took coffee on deck as we said goodbye to Cadiz with the sun rising behind her iconic bridges.
I spent much of that day chatting with the other guests and enjoying the peacefulness of the ship. I even finally managed to squeeze in a post-lunch nap, taking advantage of Jen’s top bunk caveat. The crew introduced us to a game of ‘Murder’ which involved everyone and saw us all strategically murdering each other all over the boat with boat-related objects to constant amusement.
Learn to Sail Portugal
We enjoyed dinner under sail and the crew took a watch system to keep the sails up overnight while we made our way along the coast. Jen was excited about sailing at night and wrapping herself up into her warmest layers joined the crew on the 1am to 4am watch, even taking the helm for a short while. I slept peacefully through the night, and was delighted to wake up bright and early to see fishing pots being cast from small boats to our starboard side and the rising sun warming the bright orange cliffs on our port side bathing the Benagil Caves in golden light. It was a beautiful way to start the day.
We had the entire day to swim from the boat, kayak through the caves and over to the beaches. While the rib was in the water keeping an eye on us, we were free to venture wherever we fancied with no time constraints. Two of the crew, also keen kayakers, joined Jen and I on the water. The other guests went to shore and explored the coastline from the cliff path across to Benagil by foot. Once everyone was back aboard for a break from the water and we all joined for lunch and tales in the saloon. After which everybody enjoyed a couple of quiet hours before making ready for our final short sail back into Portimao.
Back in Portimao all the guests stayed out of the way while the crew employed their skills to moor up in the port. The last dinner was a fantastic affair of the traditional Portuguese fish dish, Cataplana, with most of the crew joining us. Everyone chatted like old friends and swapped photos and stories and highlights. And with the crew regularly changing places we got to have great conversations with just about everyone. It was so great to hear the passion each member of the crew had for sailing and their life on Blue Clipper.
Whether we had a few hours relaxing on deck, reading books, painting, and sunbathing while sailing along the Spanish/Portuguese coastline, or actively pulling ropes and learning about what happens during a watch, every day was a beautiful blend of rest and action. For a first-time sailing aboard a tall ship, Blue Clipper really is a spectacular choice. She provides all the comfort of a nice hotel, swapping chlorine pools for fresh turquoise seas and a morning jog with a walk around the deck with freshly brewed coffee and a sunrise to marvel at. You can expect to be incredibly well-catered for all week with an exceptional menu plan, including unlimited hot and cold soft drinks and biscuits.
I’m normally a bit of a phone and gadget junkie but apart from taking hundreds of photos, it was so wonderful to put down the screens and be fully present in every moment of the voyage. This has definitely been a far more rewarding holiday experience than the generic fly and flops we’ve taken in the past. I smiled so much during the week sailing in Portugal aboard Blue Clipper that I’m still not sure which muscles were used most, my arm muscles from sweating the ropes, or the ones in my face.
