Traveller's guide
Everything you need to know before sailing Portugal
Portugal and its archipelagos are very different sailing propositions from one another: the mainland coast offers open Atlantic conditions with real wind and swell; the Azores are an ocean-passage destination with genuine offshore requirements; Madeira is more accessible but more exposed than any Mediterranean destination. This guide covers the essentials.
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Best time to sail Portugal and its archipelagos
Each destination has its own ideal season. For the mainland coast and the Algarve, the best months are May, June and September: the Nortada — the north wind that blows hard in summer along the western Portuguese coast at 20 to 35 knots — is more moderate in these months. July and August offer the most settled weather in the Algarve but the Nortada on the western coast can be very persistent. For the Azores, the recommended season is May to October, with June, July and August as the best months: weather is more stable, winds more moderate and seas less rough. Whales are present almost year-round but species diversity is greatest in spring and summer. For Madeira, the sailing season is effectively year-round: the island's subtropical climate makes sailing possible in any month, though north winds in winter can complicate passages along the north coast.
💡The Azores are an offshore destination that requires serious meteorological planning. The weather window between Atlantic fronts can close in a matter of hours: monitoring conditions 72 hours ahead and using specialist North Atlantic forecasting services is not optional — it is essential.
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Atlantic sailing: what changes compared to the Mediterranean
The Atlantic is a very different ocean from the Mediterranean and needs to be planned as such. The three things that most surprise Mediterranean sailors are: the ocean swell — even in light winds, the Atlantic always carries a north-westerly swell of one and a half to three metres that moves the boat in ways that Mediterranean sailors are not used to; the Nortada along the Portuguese mainland coast — a northerly wind that in summer can blow for days at a time at 25 to 35 knots, making southward sailing a pleasure and northward sailing very demanding; and the offshore conditions in the Azores, where depth, currents and exposure to the North Atlantic make island-to-island passages genuine offshore sailing with all its requirements. For the Algarve route and Madeira, experience of exposed Atlantic coastal sailing is recommended. For the Azores, genuine offshore experience is strongly advisable.
💡On the Portuguese coast, sailing north to south — from Lisbon to the Algarve — in summer with the Nortada astern is magnificent sailing. Going in the opposite direction in the same months can be exhausting: always plan the route to travel with the prevailing wind, not against it.
Portugal is an EU and Schengen member state. Irish citizens, as EU nationals, need only a valid passport or national ID card — no visa required. British citizens, since Brexit, need a valid passport for entry but no visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For the mainland coast and Algarve, the main airport is Lisbon (LIS), with direct flights from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin and other UK and Irish cities throughout the year. Faro (FAO) also has good connections, especially in summer. For the Azores, Ponta Delgada (PDL) on São Miguel is the archipelago hub, with direct seasonal flights from London and Dublin. Inter-island flights within the Azores are operated by SATA Air Açores. For Madeira, Funchal (FNC) has direct flights from London, Manchester and Dublin year-round, with increased frequency in summer.
💡For the Azores, build several days of buffer around the start of the charter: Atlantic weather can shift the sailing window forward or back, and having flexibility on arrival and departure days can be the difference between a comfortable passage and a forced departure in difficult conditions.
The Portuguese Atlantic is cooler and wetter than any Mediterranean destination at a similar latitude — something British and Irish sailors will already know from home waters, but which often catches others by surprise. For the mainland coast in summer: layered clothing — the Nortada can drop the apparent temperature significantly even in August — a waterproof jacket is non-negotiable, sea boots for night watches or wet conditions and warm layers for pre-dawn watches. For the Azores: quality waterproofs are essential (the Azores have highly changeable microclimates and it can rain in any month), fleece layers, full offshore safety kit (harness, lifejacket, oilskins) and walking boots for shore excursions. For Madeira: a light jacket for evenings in north coast ports, but otherwise broadly similar to a Mediterranean destination in terms of temperature. For all destinations: high-factor sun cream, quality sunglasses and, for the Azores, sea sickness medication if you have any tendency in that direction.
💡In the Azores, horizontal rain driven by a strong wind is not unusual: keeping your waterproof in an accessible bag on deck rather than buried in the bottom of a kit bag is the difference between a quick gear change and twenty minutes of rummaging in a downpour.
