Comporta Beach
Praia de Comporta · Comporta
38°22.7'N 08°46.6'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m in 2–4m on clean sand. Tight radius due to very shallow water — cannot drag far without going aground. DAY ONLY: leave before Nortada builds (depart by 12:00 at latest in summer). No overnight anchor alarm deployment recommended — this is strictly a calm-weather day stop.
About This Anchorage
Comporta is one of Portugal's most fashionable and unspoilt Atlantic beach destinations — a vast arc of fine white sand backed by pine forest and rice paddies, with the chic Comporta village a short distance inland. The anchorage is entirely a fair-weather day stop: the beach faces directly W and SW into the Atlantic, making it untenable in any swell or afternoon Nortada. Approach only in flat calm conditions, at or near high water, from the N. The village of Comporta (inland) is known for its understated luxury — a favourite of Lisbon's creative and fashionable crowd. No facilities afloat — carry all provisions. Visit for the morning calm, swim off the boat, then move on before the afternoon Nortada builds.
Protected From
E · NE
Exposed To
W · SW · NW · S
Orca Interaction Protocol — Alentejo Coast
This anchorage is within the orca interaction zone (Atlantic Portugal 36°N–38°N). If orcas approach under way: stop engine immediately, lower sails, release wheel and drift passively. Do not attempt to manoeuvre or accelerate. Report all interactions at orcas.pt and on VHF Ch. 16. The Nortada builds strongly by 12:00 — plan morning departures to minimise motoring time in interaction waters.
Setting Your Anchor
Deploy 7:1 scope minimum on the Alentejo coast — Atlantic groundswell can arrive overnight even in settled summer weather and will put significant loading on the rode. If staying overnight, use 10:1 scope for additional security.
Nortada assessment: The afternoon Nortada builds from 10:00–12:00 most summer days. If you are setting your anchor for the night, set it at peak Nortada strength to confirm it holds in the worst daytime conditions you are likely to see.
Atlantic swell assessment: Check the ipma.pt ocean swell (ondas) model before anchoring overnight. A 1m SW groundswell arriving at 03:00 will make many Alentejo anchorages uncomfortable or dangerous — know your departure conditions in advance.
Orca protocol reminder: Do not run your engine unnecessarily when in orca interaction waters. Consider anchoring for the night rather than motoring through peak interaction hours (dawn to mid-morning).
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- None
Restrictions: Day anchorage only — no overnight recommended. Very shallow approach — tide and swell assessment mandatory before entry. No facilities whatsoever on the beach.
Portuguese Cruising — Documentation
Portugal requires no transit log. EU-registered vessels: carry vessel registration documents and crew passports. Non-EU vessels: clear customs at the first Portuguese port of entry (Faro, Lagos, Portimão, Sines, Setúbal, or Cascais). VHF Ch. 16 throughout; Lisbon Radio weather broadcasts on Ch. 11 (English and Portuguese, 4x daily).
Hazards
- !SHALLOW BAR: 2–4m at HW; sand constantly shifting — confirm current depths with IHPT charts and approach cautiously
- !EXPOSED W/SW/NW: any swell above 0.5m makes the anchorage dangerous — departure trigger is non-negotiable
- !NORTADA build by 12:00 most summer afternoons — leave no later than 11:30 if planning to sail south
- !No facilities of any kind — completely self-sufficient stay required
Skipper's Tips
- →Approach from the N at HW+1 for maximum water on the bar — 2.5–3m should be achievable for most shallow-draft yachts
- →Arrive by 08:00 to enjoy the morning calm; the light on the white sand at dawn is extraordinary
- →Comporta village (4km inland) is worth the walk or bicycle ride — rice paddies, flamingos in the fields, and excellent restaurants
- →Monitor ipma.pt weather: this anchorage is only usable when the synoptic chart shows persistent high pressure over the Azores with very light overnight winds
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Comporta village (3nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August, September
June–September only, and only in extended high-pressure settled weather windows. The beach is at its best in July–August but the anchorage is most problematic in those months due to reliable afternoon Nortada. May and October: too risky for approach — Atlantic swell too frequent.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep Peacefully at Comporta Beach
The Nortada builds while you sleep — sometimes from nothing at 02:00. On the Alentejo coast, an unexpected afternoon gust or arriving Atlantic swell can set a vessel dragging before the skipper wakes. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your position through the night and fires an alert the moment you move beyond your set radius — giving you time to act before the beach finds you.
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