Sailing Calista15 January 2021 – 31 March 2021
We arrived in the Portimao marina on 24 September 2020. The country of Portugal was in a good shape with very little Covid and the Algarve Coast was very low risk compared to other countries in the EU. It kind of went down hill from when the Formula 1 came to town in November and after Christmas and the New Year holiday periods when the Portuguese got together with their families.
In the New Year the cases of Covid started escalating further up in the North and around Lisbon and Porto where the large populated areas were and this was putting pressure on the hospitals. Eventually Covid cases were showing up on the Algarve coast and the Government decided to implement a National Lockdown.
We had booked into the Portimao Marina over the winter months of October to end of March.
We were right at the far end of “D” pontoon in the south basin. There was an older Amel 54 for sale and was berthed on our pontoon.
We had a double berth all to ourselves and it was very private with very little foot trafffic except for the crew on Celtic Spirit on the outside of the hammerhead.
During our time spent in Portimao marina we met some lovely friends on pontoon C and D who were also staying onboard their boats over the winter. We also had visits to the Marina by three other Amel 50’s, Niobe, Be Brave and Almaviva.
Captured Be Brave arriving while flying the drone.
We were all part of one big family and “bubble” and we often got together for sundowners and celebrations.
We were also able to visit the local Hardware Stores and Chandlery to get bits and pieces for small jobs, and we drove to Albufeira for a medical appointment to have our follow up vaccination for pnuemonia. When we went to the supermarkets it was complusory to wear a mask indoors. We visited Vodafone and NOS frequently to stock up on data cards for the WIFI on Calista.
We were able to venture out for walks along the picturesque coastline.
When the conditions were ideal we would often paddleboard in the marina and sometimes out into the harbour to the otherside.
The marina is divided into two basins, north and south with the Tivoli Hotel complex in the middle between the two basins. During the Covid lockdown the hotel closed it’s doors and restaurant.
A wide path runs around the entire marina from the restaurants at the southern end to the marina office at the northern end. It was lovely walk around to the other basin and gave us good exercise. When we weren’t feeling energetic we would take the dingy to the marina office to collect our deliveries. We loved our Amazon online shopping.
It was a pretty and colourful marina with apartments along the edge of the walkways. The marina employed a Company who specialises in keeping the seagulls at bay.
The stern of Calista was facing south to the sun and we spent many hours sitting in the cockpit watching the comings and goings.
For the entire time we were in Portimao we hired a car for convenience. It was a manual Ibiza Cinza and was 6.00 euros a day with unlimited mileage.
The road into the parking area of the marina was barricaded on one side of the road to keep the general public out but partly open on the exit side, enabling the local residents, berth renters and Marina Staff on their electric golf carts still able to come and go on one side of the road.
In the weekends each day there was a curfew from 1.00pm. On a regular basis there would be a loudhaler repeating the message for everyone to stay at home.
With signage everywhere, the message was very clear “Stay At Home”.
The boardwalk running along the beach and in front of the restaurants were barricaded off. As time went on, these were pushed apart and the odd person can be seen walking along the boardwalk.
All the restaurants were closed. “O Farol” was one of our favourite restaurants.
Another one of our favourite restaurants “Senhora” operated by a lovely Dutch family with a great sense of humour.
The Tour Operator’s ticket booths all closed.
The walk out to the “Port” beacon was off limits and barricaded to discourage people walking and no fishing allowed.
When the boardwalk was open there were friendly reminders to Keep to the Right and maintain separation.
Reminders to keep a safe distance of 1.5m between others.
The timber boardwalks on the beach has been stacked up during the winter months.
More restaurants at the southern end of the Marina were all closed.
The interior terrace areas of the restaurants desserted and devoid of all tables and chairs.
Up on the high road in town public seating was off limits.
Police and GNR blitz checking people at the main Ferruguda round about. All access points were closed off by the officials. We were on our way to Sopromar, a chandlery to get some bits and pieces for the boat. This shopping is allowed, and luckly we weren’t stopped and questioned.
Despite the lockdown we have loved our time in Portimao but it is now time to start exploring new horizons again.
