Twenty-five sailboats are expected to stop off at Portimão Marina tomorrow (July 23) as part of the fourth Lisbon-Andalusia-Ceuta-Alcoutim ‘Travessia’ (Voyage).
The initiative is organised by the National Cruise Ship Association (ANC) and Spanish association 500 Años Circunnavegación a Vela and aims to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the First Circumnavigation of the Globe initiated by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães) in 1518 and completed by Spanish explorer Juan Sebastían Elcano in 1521.
The fleet of sailboats will be stopping off at several ports and marinas across Portugal and Spain, beginning in Lisbon and ending in Alcoutim and its Spanish neighbour of Sanlucar on August 11.
During their visit to Portimão, crews will “have the opportunity to visit Portimão Museum, where they will receive a selection of local products to be enjoyed while they are at sea,” the local council said.
Portimão Mayor Isilda Gomes will also hand over a special trophy in the shape of a sardine, the town’s “symbol”, to the president of ANC, Pedro Xavier, and the president of the Spanish association, Alberto Mendel.
More information about the voyage can be found online at www.magalhaes500.pt
