PORTIMÃO SHOWCASES TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS

 

Throughout the stopover, Portimão went above and beyond to prove why it is dubbed as the “last safe haven on the way to the Mediterranean’’. From the moment the yachts arrived into the Marina de Portimão until they emotionally waved goodbye on Race Start day, Portimão continued to outdo itself, dedicating itself to showcasing the very best that the stunning Algarve region has to offer.

With the aim of promoting itself as key tourism destination to the Clipper Race Crew and Race Crew Supporters, Portimão put on a whole host of activities throughout the duration of the stopover, including: local food tasting experiences and wine fairs engaging numerous local businesses; crew happy hours; exclusive boat trips to Sea Caves; daily excursions to the Portimão Museum; and a special VIP trip for Skippers and Mates to the Portugal Golf Open.

On top of the agenda was a rib ride down the coast for crew and First Mates from Qingdao, Zhuhai, Seattle, Visit Sanya, China, WTC Logistics, and Punta del Este. The crew and Mates, who hail from Finland, USA, United Kingdom, France, and China, were thrilled to have an on-the-water experience of a different kind and explore the sea caves that dot the Algarve coastline.

The most popular was the Benagil sea cave, which is one of the most iconic images of Portimão. 21 year old Brit Dan Jones, the First Mate on WTC Logistics said: “This is really a beautiful part of the world. It was great getting out with David Rochate from the Marina de Portimão as he knows the coastline so well. He could show us the best spots and get us into places that boats don’t normally go. It was just a great day out.”

Special guided tours of the riverfront Portimão Museum also proved to be a huge hit with the teams. The converted 19th century São Francisco sardine and mackerel canning factory has a wide variety of archaeological and historical exhibits on display, including items from prehistoric times, through the Visigothic, Roman and Moorish periods. There is a particular focus on the 15th-18th centuries when wooden shipbuilding was a major industry in the Algarve

The feedback of Portimão from Race Crew has been exceptional - with over 80% of Race Crew saying they would recommend it to others. Whilst it was the first stopover of the 2019-20 edition of the race, Portimão will remain a favorite with the Race Crew.