Portugal's summer is defined by one meteorological phenomenon: the nortada. This steady north to north-west trade wind, driven by the Azores high-pressure system and channelled along the Atlantic coast by the shape of the Iberian peninsula, blows with remarkable consistency from June through August. It makes the Sesimbra ridge one of the most reliably soarable coastal sites in southern Europe — and it makes a summer paragliding week here genuinely different from anything available in the Alps, the Pyrenees, or the British coastal sites.
What the Nortada Actually Is
The nortada is not a local sea breeze, a thermal wind, or a katabatic flow. It is a large-scale synoptic wind driven by the pressure gradient between the Azores anticyclone to the west and the thermal low that develops over the Iberian interior every summer. This makes it unusually consistent: where sea breezes cycle on 4–6 hour timescales, the nortada can blow steadily for 3–5 days at a time.
At Sesimbra, the ridge faces south-west — exactly the correct aspect to intercept the north to north-west nortada as it wraps around the end of the Setúbal Peninsula. The result is clean, laminar ridge lift from early morning to late afternoon on most days from mid-June to late August.
07:00: Light morning conditions, sometimes below nortada strength — the best window for early launches and bottom-turn practice. 10:00–14:00: Nortada establishes at 20–35 km/h, ridge lift consistent at 100–250 m above the cliff top. 14:00–17:00: Typically the strongest period — experienced pilots extend range, newer pilots move to sheltered launches. After 17:00: Wind often eases slightly, giving a calmer evening window for lighter gliders and lighter pilots.
What You Can and Cannot Do in Summer
What the nortada is perfect for
- Building soaring hours — the ridge lift is consistent and long; a 3–4 hour soaring session is routine on good nortada days
- Practising active flying — the clean maritime air and consistent lift conditions allow controlled practice of weight-shift, brake technique and glider feel
- Ridge runs — long ridge runs toward Cabo Espichel on 15+ km routes, one of the longest coastal routes in Portugal
- Beginners building confidence — predictable conditions, no thermal surprises, clear visual references from the coast
- Photography and video — the blue Atlantic backdrop and consistent altitude make summer the best season for aerial footage
What the nortada limits
XC thermal flying is largely suppressed in summer. The nortada brings cold maritime air that stabilises the atmosphere and prevents the deep convection needed for XC thermals to develop inland. Pilots who come primarily for cross-country flying should plan an autumn visit instead. Summer is the soaring season; autumn is the XC season.
Site Selection on Strong Days
When the nortada is strong — above 35 km/h sustained — Behrooz rotates the group to alternative launches with different aspects and altitudes. Cabo Espichel's plateau provides more room before the cliff edge and is often usable when Sesimbra's lower launches are too strong. The inland sites behind the ridge give lee conditions that allow shorter sessions for pilots who have reached their limit for the day.
Knowing which site to use on a given strength of nortada is not something to figure out alone. That local knowledge — built over hundreds of days on these sites — is precisely what guides like Behrooz's coastal soaring week provide.
The Morning Window
Experienced pilots visiting in summer quickly learn that the early morning window — between 07:00 and 09:30, before the nortada reaches its full strength — is often the most rewarding flying of the day. The air is calm, the visibility is exceptional (the nortada brings the clearest skies of the year), and there is enough lift from the overnight-charged ridge to soar comfortably at heights that feel impossible once the full nortada establishes. Bring an alarm clock.
Summer Logistics
Summer is peak season at Sesimbra — accommodation books up, restaurants fill, the beach is crowded. Book accommodation at least 8 weeks ahead. July and August have the highest temperatures (28–34°C inland; a much more comfortable 22–26°C on the coast, cooled by the nortada itself). Carry more water than you think you need.
Flights to Lisbon are plentiful in summer; prices are highest in July–August. If your travel dates are flexible, June and mid-September offer lower prices, less crowding, and — at the margins — more interesting mixed conditions.
To book a summer week, message Behrooz on WhatsApp. Summer weeks book out early — contact him as soon as you have dates confirmed.