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37°57′N 08°52′W

Flag H: “I have a pilot on board.”

Sines

61st European Maritime Pilots’ Football Tournament

Badge of the 61st European Maritime Pilots’ Football Tournament, Sines, Portugal, 2027: the red and white flag H in a ring of stars, framed by laurels.

Welcome to Sines. Two days of football on the Alentejo coast, for pilots, their families and friends.

Register a teamShop
Aerial view of the bay of Sines, with fishing boats moored below the town.

Tournament weekend

AP Sines rate closes 30 November 2026

Book by 30.11.2026

SINES spelled in International Code of Signals flags

01The ground

Estádio Municipal de Sines

Aerial view of the pitch at Estádio Municipal de Sines.

Two pitches, less than a 15-minute walk from the main hotels. Dedicated transport is provided for the tournament.

Home of Vasco da Gama AC · est. 1966

Capacity
2,000
Pitches
2
Walk from the hotels
under 15 min
Transport
Dedicated tournament transport

02Sines

Where Vasco da Gama was born

Sines is the birthplace of the navigator Vasco da Gama.And the largest port in Portugal.

years of APS, the Port of Sines Authority
50
1977–2027
of all cargo in Portugal is handled by the port
52%
Aerial view of the walls of Sines Castle and the parish church.
Grilled sardines with potatoes and a pot of shrimp stew on a terrace table overlooking the harbour of Sines.

Off the pitch: the food of the Alentejo coast, long beaches, and Cante Alentejano, the traditional singing of the region.

03Programme

What happens when

Two lines run through the weekend: one for the teams, one for families and companions. They meet at the beach on the first evening and at the castle on the second.

  • Tournament track
  • Family track
  • Times to be confirmed
Waves breaking on a sandy beach on the Alentejo coast.

Day 1 · Saturday 19 June

19.06.2027

  1. Morning Tournament track

    VII Corrida e Caminhada do Porto de Sines

    A 10 km run and walk through the port area. It opens the weekend.

  2. Afternoon Tournament track

    Tournament draw

    The official tournament draw, attended by team representatives.

  3. Evening Both tracks

    Beach sunset party

    Live DJ, local street food and a playground for the kids. Both tracks meet here.

    Tracks join

Day 2 · Sunday 20 June

20.06.2027

Tracks split

  1. During the day Tournament track

    EMPA football matches

    The tournament itself, at Estádio Municipal de Sines.

  2. During the day Family track

    Kalux Surf Clinic

    Surf lessons for all levels, from beginner to advanced, at Praia de São Torpes.

    A group of adults and children in red Kalux tops and wetsuits, standing on the beach in front of a row of upright surfboards.

  3. During the day Family track

    Badoca Safari Park + Vila do Gin

    Over 200 animals, including giraffes, zebras and tigers, plus birds-of-prey presentations.

    Vila do Gin is the world’s first gin theme park, in Santiago do Cacém, Alentejo, a 15-hectare estate that combines award-winning artisanal gin production with outdoor activities for the whole family. For adults: guided tours of the artisanal distillery with traditional copper stills, masterclasses on how to prepare the perfect gin and tonic, and tasting rooms in the Alentejo cork oak forest (montado). For kids: a farm school where children meet and feed farm animals (Alentejo black pigs, donkeys, dwarf goats), the Gin Safari (a tractor ride across the estate) and a large playground.

    Giraffes beside a safari vehicle at Badoca Safari Park.

  4. Evening Both tracks

    Trophy ceremony and gala dinner

    A formal seated dinner inside Castelo de Sines. Live DJ and the presentation of the 62nd EMPA event.

    Tracks join

04Stay

Where to stay

Two hotels in Sines hold special rates for the tournament. Rates are per room per night, with breakfast included. Book early: the deadlines differ.

Check-in
Fri 18.06.2027
Check-out
Mon 21.06.2027
Usual stay
3 nights
Twin room at AP Sines: two beds with white linen and a blue throw, a desk and chair, and a window overlooking the sea and a marina.

4-star hotel · 136 rooms

AP Sines – Costa Alentejana

In the centre of Sines, above the bay. Latitude 37 restaurant and bar, a spa with indoor pool, an outdoor pool and a gym.

AP Sines · tournament rate

Book by 30.11.2026

Tournament rates at AP Sines – Costa Alentejana
RoomPer night
Single€130/ night
Double€140/ night
Twin€140/ night

Per room per night, breakfast included.

Book on the hotel website(opens in a new tab)Book by email

Bookings are made directly with the hotel.

Use promotional code EMPA2027PT directly on the hotel website or via email at [email protected] (special tournament rates valid until 30 November 2026).

The facade of Sines Sea View Hotel.

4-star hotel

Sines Sea View Hotel

Facing the Atlantic. Volta do Mar restaurant, a rooftop bar, the Seelyte spa with sauna, jacuzzi and Turkish bath, and a congress centre.

Sea View · tournament rate

Book by 04.05.2027

Tournament rates at Sines Sea View Hotel
RoomPer night
Single€95/ night
Double€115/ night
Twin€125/ night

Per room per night, breakfast included.

Book on the hotel website(opens in a new tab)

Bookings are made directly with the hotel.

When booking, please mention the promotional code EMPA 2027, or contact the hotel via email at [email protected].

05Getting there

Lisbon to Sines

Fly to Lisbon. From the airport, drive to Sines, or take a taxi into the city and a direct bus from there.

Departures

Lisbon Airport (LIS)To Sines

Departures · Lisbon Airport (LIS) · To Sines
ModeRouteDistanceTimeCost
CarRent a car at the airport, then drive the A2 to the IC33.about 160 km1h30–1h45Rental rates vary
BusDirect FlixBus from Sete Rios or Oriente to Sines. The stations are about 15 min by taxi from the airport.about 1h45€10–€17

Registration

How to sign up

  1. 01

    Register a team

    One form per team. Then add every player and companion.

  2. 02

    Participants & companions

    Players, officials, adult companions and children aged 0–12, with event bookings and allergies.

  3. 03

    Book a hotel

    Special tournament rates at two hotels, a short walk from the stadium.

  4. 04

    Become a partner

    Support the tournament and meet maritime pilots from across Europe.

06Shop

Official merchandise

Under construction

Tournament merchandise is coming soon.

07Partners

Put your name in the programme

The tournament brings together maritime pilots from across Europe, with their families and companions. We are looking for partners from towage, shipping agencies, port services and the wider maritime industry.

Partners will be listed here once confirmed.

Sponsors and supporters

Host Sponsor

  • Porto de Sines

Main sponsor

To be announced

Sponsor

To be announced

Supporter

To be announced

08Contact

Talk to the organising committee

Questions about registration, hotels, the programme or merchandise? Write or call the organising committee.

Email
[email protected]
Contact person
Miguel Vieira de Castro (APIBARRA / EMPA)
Location
Sines, Portugal37°57′N 08°52′W