Sines
Porto de Sines · Sines Marina · Enseada de Sines
37°57.1'N 08°52.4'W
Depth
4–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m in 4–10m on sand. S/SW/W exposure — any Atlantic front requires marina refuge or departure. The new southern mole provides significant improvement in shelter compared to pre-2000 conditions.
About This Anchorage
Sines is the key waypoint for boats preparing to round Cape St. Vincent southward into the Algarve — 'the obvious stop to prepare for the longish journey round Cape St. Vincent' (Manor Houses Guide). The town is the birthplace of explorer Vasco da Gama. The industrial port is substantial (oil terminal, container port) but the small yacht marina S of the industrial zone provides shelter for visiting yachts. The beach anchorage N of the marina gives sand holding in settled conditions. This is WITHIN the documented orca interaction zone — a yacht was sunk by orca interaction off Sines in July 2022. Check orcas.pt before any passage from here southward.
Protected From
N · NE · E
Exposed To
S · SW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (beach anchorage); marina berthing fees apply
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: ORCA ZONE: Check orcas.pt before departing southward. Contact marina on VHF Ch. 16. Portuguese Coast Guard (AMN) actively monitors VHF Ch. 16 in this area — drug interdiction patrols operate from Sines. Engine horsepower and vessel documentation may be checked. Mandatory contact with Port Authority for visiting yachts at a first Portuguese port of call.
Hazards
- !ORCA INTERACTION ZONE: July 2022 orca attack sank a yacht off Sines — check orcas.pt real-time map before departing S; consider approaching Cape St. Vincent via the inshore route (<1nm from coast)
- !Industrial port shipping traffic — large vessels in/out of the oil terminal at all hours; keep well clear of the main port channel
- !Breakwater damage from 1979 storm: port-hand buoy marks the end of the breakwater — underwater obstructions extend to the buoy, not the visible structure; approach from seaward of this buoy
- !S/SW/W exposure — Atlantic fronts from W make the beach anchorage untenable; marina refuge required
Skipper's Tips
- →Essential stop before Cape St. Vincent — use Sines to complete provisioning, fuel up, and review the weather forecast for the Cape rounding (minimum 36h stable window required)
- →Check the orcas.pt app for real-time interaction reports before departure S — if interactions are active near Cape St. Vincent, consider motoring close inshore (within 0.5nm of coast) where the seabed is shallow and the orcas are less active
- →VHF Ch. 16 contact with AMN Coast Guard on departure south — standard procedure; they may request documentation and vessel details
- →Vasco da Gama's birthplace is in the old town above the port — worth a brief stop for maritime history context
Facilities
Good restaurants in Sines town (hilltop — longer walk than expected from the marina). Good fresh fish market.
Nearest provisions: Sines town centre (0.8nm)
Best Months & Season
April, May, June, September, October
April–June and September–October are ideal — Nortada passage timing is most manageable. July–August: Nortada peaks at F6–7, making Cape rounding timing critical. Winter (Oct–Mar): Atlantic front risk is high; Sines marina is the safe refuge.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
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