Harbor as Haven

• The harbor is well protected from wave action but provides little protection from winds, especially those from the south or west. Vessels with large sail areas require tug assistance to be held against Pier 1 during strong west wind events. Strong southeast (Levante) winds tend to pin ships to the main pier (Pier 1). One recorded incident reports a tender being forced to remain at berth for 3 days during a strong Levante (40 kts).

• The anchorages are fully exposed to open ocean waves with only shoaling effects to dampen deep water sea or swell. Wave heights at anchorages run 70 to 90% of deep water wave heights when waves are from the south clockwise through west-northwest.

• The strongest winter frontal systems, which in general approach from the northwest, are significantly weakened as they pass over the land area of Portugal to the northwest of Rota. Levante winds which are strongest in summer arrive in the Rota area as southeasterlies. The maximum fetch length to the southwest across the Bay of Cadiz is 6 nmi, therefore sea heights in the bay are limited to 3 to 4 ft in even the strongest Levantes.