Praia de Leirosa
Leirosa Beach · Praia da Leirosa · Leirosa
40°04.9'N 08°52.9'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
85m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m
85m in 4–8m on excellent beach sand. All directions exposed — this is a pure fair-weather anchorage. Excellent holding in sand but immediate departure required at any deterioration. Figueira da Foz marina (7nm N) is the nearest refuge. No rescue resources or shelter nearby.
About This Anchorage
Praia de Leirosa is a wild Atlantic beach 7nm south of Figueira da Foz, backed by the Pinhal de Leiria — the great pine forest planted by King Dinis I in the 13th century to prevent coastal dune erosion and provide ship timber for Portugal's Age of Discovery fleet. The anchorage here is one of the most atmospheric on the Silver Coast — complete solitude, pines coming down almost to the dunes, and crystal Atlantic water. However, it is completely exposed to the open Atlantic and suitable only as a calm-weather lunch stop or brief overnight in a settled NE high-pressure window. No facilities whatsoever. The nearest escape is Figueira da Foz marina (7nm N).
Protected From
None — open anchorage
Exposed To
W · NW · N · S · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Open beach anchorage — settled conditions only. No facilities. This is a natural coast — no development, no services. Pinhal de Leiria (pine forest) is a national forest — no landing and lighting fires strictly prohibited.
Setting Your Anchor
In Atlantic anchorages, use a minimum 7:1 scope — the combination of tidal range (up to 3.5m on spring tides) and overnight Atlantic swell requires generous chain deployment. Before settling, assess the swell period: long-period Atlantic swell (10–16 seconds) creates a slow roll that can walk the anchor across mixed sand/rock bottoms. At Praia de Leirosa, anchor in 4–10m on sand bottom and set the alarm to 85m.
Hazards
- !OPEN ATLANTIC: No shelter from any direction — departure trigger at first sign of any swell increase or W/NW wind; immediate action required
- !Dinghy landing on this open beach involves surf — even in calm conditions, there is often residual Atlantic swell that makes landing and recovery difficult
- !No facilities and no rescue resources — completely self-sufficient required
- !Nortada builds rapidly from 10:00–11:00 in summer — morning stop only if Nortada is forecast
Skipper's Tips
- →Approach this anchorage only as part of a Silver Coast passage with an excellent settled 24h forecast and Figueira da Foz marina as a clearly planned escape route
- →The Pinhal de Leiria from the sea is a remarkable sight — the forest comes right to the dune crests; this is the landscape that built Portugal's Age of Discovery fleet
- →Best as a lunch stop on a southward passage from Figueira to Nazaré/Peniche — anchor, swim in crystal water, dinghy in for a beach walk, depart before the Nortada
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Figueira da Foz (7nm N) (7nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August only in settled high-pressure conditions. Any Atlantic low approaching from the W makes this coast completely unusable. Practical as a morning stop on a Silver Coast passage — not a planned overnight destination.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep Peacefully at Praia de Leirosa
Atlantic overnight swell and the Nortada can change conditions fast — a boat secure at anchor in the evening can be dragging by midnight. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously, alerting you the moment your anchor moves beyond 85m. Essential for Atlantic overnight anchorages where conditions change without warning.
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