Praia da Vieira
Vieira de Leiria · Praia da Vieira de Leiria · Lagoa de Ervedeira
39°53.6'N 08°54.8'W
Depth
4–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m in 4–8m on good beach sand. S/SE gives minimal protection from Nortada — primarily an open anchorage. Good sand holding but vulnerable to Atlantic swell from any W/NW direction. Calm-weather day stop or overnight in stable NE high-pressure only.
About This Anchorage
Praia da Vieira is a long sandy beach with a small fishing village at the mouth of the Lagoa de Ervedeira — a shallow coastal lagoon between Figueira da Foz (18nm N) and Nazaré (12nm S). The anchorage off the beach is a useful waypoint stop on the Silver Coast passage, offering excellent sand holding in calm conditions. The lagoon behind the beach is too shallow (< 1m) and its bar too narrow and shifting for yacht entry. The beach has a small traditional fishing community — colorful painted fishing boats (art nova style) are still used for inshore fishing. The pine forest (Pinhal de Leiria) extends behind the dunes for miles in both directions.
Protected From
S · SE
Exposed To
W · NW · N · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Open beach anchorage — settled conditions only. No facilities. Keep well clear of the shallow lagoon bar entrance (local fishing boats only).
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 da Vieira, anchor in 4–8m on sand bottom and set the alarm to 80m.
Hazards
- !Open Atlantic beach — no meaningful shelter from NW/W swell; departure at first deterioration; Figueira da Foz (18nm N) or Nazaré (12nm S, EXTREME CAUTION) are the nearest refuges
- !Dinghy landing on an open beach — surf can build rapidly even in nominally calm conditions
- !Nortada: builds from 10:00; morning stop only if Nortada is forecast
Skipper's Tips
- →Useful waypoint stop between Figueira da Foz and São Martinho do Porto — breaks up the Silver Coast passage with a swim stop in excellent sand
- →The traditional fishing boats (art nova painted) are a characteristic Silver Coast sight — worth observing from the water
- →Anchor well N of the lagoon bar entrance to avoid local fishing boat traffic
Facilities
Small seasonal restaurants in the Praia da Vieira fishing village — basic but authentic fresh fish. Landing by dinghy on the beach requires calm conditions.
Nearest provisions: Figueira da Foz (18nm N) (18nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August in settled conditions. Strictly a calm-weather passage stop — not a planned overnight anchorage. The Silver Coast between Figueira and Nazaré has no significant shelter apart from São Martinho do Porto lagoon.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep Peacefully at Praia da Vieira
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 80m. Essential for Atlantic overnight anchorages where conditions change without warning.
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