42:39.00N 08:49.40W Passage details from 5-8 August

Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Wed 8 Aug 2007 22:56
5th to 8th August: Two and a half days in Ria de Muros lazing about and only moving to find better shelter from the occasionally strong Nly breeze, and for warmer bathing. Ours is usually the only yacht at anchor off these beaches at night and during the day there are only a few others which seems extraordinary given that it is height of the summer holiday season. On the beaches however, activity is more gregarious though usually not until late afternoon /early evening. There`s a great deal of strutting about in skimpy apparel - women out number men almost 3:1 - and not much interest in bathing. Here Britannia, well 2 old Shropshire fogies anyway, definitely rules the waves. 
 
Adjustment to Spanish hours has taken its toll on the retired (jubilados) Ingles. To be turned away from restaurants when digestive juices are overflowing only to learn that service will commence after normal bed time would challenge even those of more regular habit. 
 
7th August - From Ria de Muros to Ria de Arousa: only 7 miles as the crow flies; thus an expected gentle trip, perhaps with a lunch stop and bathe en route, and in time for early evening drinkie poos on anchor at the head of the Ria. Not quite; instead, 49 blustery miles via the "scenic" route outside of all charted hazards; two reefs upwind and downwind; anchor drags before any thought of bathing or gin & tonic; and it`s 7.45pm before reaching a better anchorage -  off a beach near Rianxo at the head of Ria de Arousa.
 
Although the anchorage was otherwise deserted overnight, all around us became a hive of noisy activity the following morning as we were surrounded by over 30 small motor boats and energetic cockle fishermen. It seems that everyone in coastal Spain has a boat and fishing gear.
 
Rianxo was little more than a sleepy small fishing harbour and village when we were here 7 years ago but is now being vigorously overbuilt into a tourist resort - a large new marina is nearing completion -  though retaining much of its previous best in contrast with much elsewhere along this coast.It seems that the whole of Galicia has become a gigantic building site; lets hope it doesn`t end up like Mediterranean Spain.
 
We are excitedly awaiting tomorrow`s arrival of crew reinforcements with midshipmen (grandchildren) Bea and Arthur together with their parents. Sandcastles at last - serious seafaring.