We arrived at La Coruna at 21:00 yesterday and secured an excellent berth immediately in front of the Real Club Nautico Coruna, which for those who have not been here is one of Spain’s leading yacht clubs and a very smart operation.

As we found on Friday night, when we managed to convince the uniformed doorman that we were proper yachties and should be allowed in, the facilities are extremely good and food and wines extremely reasonable, especially when compared to France.  Two double Gin and Tonics, in the interest of economic research you understand, 6 Euros.  Dinner for two, with a bottle of wine and coffee, 32 Euros.  And all of this in London Club type surroundings.

The day was spent sorting out marina registration and purchasing a USB dongle for the PC so that for the month that we are in Spain we can get a decent internet connection.  Experience so far has told us that marina WiFi is not to relied upon.  This rather stretched Elizabeth’s rapidly improving Spanish.  We were however rescued by a charming Spanish lady who spoke very good English and translated for us.

The evening saw us back in the yacht club, firstly as the result of an invitation from a neighbouring yacht who is a member of the Club and wished to offer us hospitality an then by great happenchance with David and Annie Chatterton who are in La Corunna on their boat Resting Goose.  We have met David and Annie at our mutual friends, Peter and Lizzie Clements and at various functions at the West Mersea Yacht Club of which David was Commodore at the time of their celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.  The evening was definitely on Spanish time and we bailed out the wrong side of 01:00!  The Club still appeared to be serving dinner to a fascinating crowd of very well behaved youngsters.

Whilst we were asleep we acquired a large new neighbour in the shape of Fred Olsen Lines ship “Black Watch” – “Second Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland” just would not sound the same.