After 3 days relaxing at Coruna, where we enjoyed Terry and Carol’s company, restocked the fridge and caught up with the laundry, it was time to move. In light winds we motor-sailed 40 miles south west to the next ria along the coast. We spent a pleasant night at anchor just off a deserted, white, sandy beach near the small harbour at Corme.

Next morning, it was grey and damp, with visibility of less than half a mile, which meant we paid close attention to the radar and the GPS as we continued along the very rugged coastline towards our next planned stop at Camarinas, where we hoped to do our shopping before the weekend .

When we visited Camarinas in 2005, we were very lucky to be in town during the Festival of St Carmen.An icon of the Saint is paraded through the streets accompanied by dancers and bands before it is carried out to sea by the fishing fleet so that the fishing grounds can be blessed.

Imagine our surprise and delight when, approaching the harbour this year, out of the mist coming towards us we saw a whole flotilla of highly decorated fishing boats packed with revellers, sirens blaring and signal rockets exploding overhead.... again we had managed to arrive for the start of this year’s festival.

The town was buzzing and very noisy, with a huge funfair, street concerts, live music, parades and processions. Most of the entertainment starts after midnight and continues through the night to dawn..... thank goodness for earplugs! We were moored in the marina right under the biggest firework display either of us has ever seen. We had to hose down the boat next morning as the decks were completely covered by the debris and smuts from the fireworks.

On Sunday morning, we saw up close for ourselves the statue of St Carmen as she was paraded through the streets on her way to mass in the local church. She is the patron saint of sailors and fishermen lost at sea; around the feet of the statue are very lurid representations of drowning mariners as they are devoured by violent waves.

Because of the festival, all the shops are closed and so we will have to stay until Monday. We will continue south round Cape Finisterre and spend a night at anchor in the adjacent ria at Sardineiro.