We are not marina people. Our boat is heavy. We have a small engine and no bow thruster, so maneuvering in tight spaces (ie. in and out of slips or berths) is not easy. Marinas can be expensive, hot (boat does not face into the wind), and crowded. We usually prefer to anchor. However, that’s simply not a good option for winter storage. So here we are in Marina de Lagos for the winter.
This marina could not be a better place for leaving the boat. It’s in southern Portugal where the weather is quite mild. It has a long entryway and is virtually protected from all swell and nearly all wind. Gates are secured from public access, and there’s a winter population here living aboard, so theft is generally not an issue.
Living aboard here in the marina is socially exhausting, but wonderful. It’s like living in the middle of the United Nations with so many countries represented. Everyone has boating in common, and everyone is happy to help, offer a solution, commiserate, or simply relax with a drink.
The marina is situated in the middle of town (population 90,000) and one can walk or bike to nearly everything. I shop every other day for groceries as needed, and especially relish the Saturday morning farmer’s market.
Most boats, like us, are here for 6 or 9 months waiting for the spring to sail east into the Mediterranean. Other boats are here for just a few weeks provisioning and waiting for weather windows to head west to Madeira or the Canary Islands, followed by crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. We’ve had so much fun trading information with these boats on anchorages, marinas, expectations, etc. I love learning more about where we’ll be sailing next year, and it always feels good to pass on information to someone else. And the list of friends keeps growing!
And with all the new friends we meet, we have Mads and Lotta just up the street as well. We see them every few days for dinner or drinks, and they’re always so good with information or advice about the area. And they are a perfect excuse for movie night!
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