Visiting Mindelo by yacht

Climate by month, Porto Grande bay and the large yachts that call at Mindelo.

Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.

Seasons

When to come

Season	Months	Daily high	Monthly rain
Peak	December to June	24.0 to 26.5 °C	0 to 3.4 mm
Shoulder	July, November	27.5 to 27.9 °C	1.3 to 2.4 mm
Off season	August to October	29.1 to 29.7 °C	12.8 to 34.5 mm

WMO normals 1991 to 2020. Daily high from the Mindelo station, rainfall from the Sal station, about 220 km from Mindelo. Season bands are our own estimate.

At anchor

Porto Grande bay

Noonsite and ENAPOR describe the bay. These notes are not a chart.

Bay shelter

Noonsite says the town is in Porto Grande Bay, which gives total protection from north-west through east to south, and partial protection from south round to west.

Size and depth

ENAPOR describes a semicircular bay with a 2 km radius. Its waters reach depths of 11 to 30 m.

Entry

Noonsite, quoting Marina Mindelo, says to keep to the north of the bay after the big rock, Ilhéu dos Pássaros. Noonsite adds to keep about 100 m off the commercial pier and calls a night entry difficult.

Noonsite, Mindelo page, updated January 2025. ENAPOR, Porto Grande page.

Large yachts

YACHT magazine reported in June 2026 that the 54 m ketch Chronos, a charter vessel, waited at the cruise terminal pier in Mindelo. It says the marina is the only one in the archipelago.

Rallies

A fleet of 22 boats on the Viking Explorers Rally stopped at Marina Mindelo in January 2025, according to Sail-World. The ARC+ Rally also stops here.

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