42:46.56N 09:03.1W August 1-4: Passage details Sada (Ria de Betanzos) to Ria de Moros
Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Sun 5 Aug 2007 11:27
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31 August - Return to Galicia: courtesy of
Ryanair from Liverpool. Overweight baggage containing a replacement stainless
steel stanchion gate, DC to AC inverter, replacement masthead wind unit,
and various other electronic devices created a little concern and some
later amusement during Xray screening at "check in".
Fantastic visibility during flight treated us
to detailed panoramic views of previous cruising grounds and
long stretches of coastline eg: the whole of Lyme Bay to east of the Isle
of Wight;the whole of the Cherbourg peninsula,
the Channel Islands and adjacent French coast; Roscoff to
Lezardrieux; Chanel du Four to Penmarche Point - apologies to
bored none sailors.Hazards, tidal races and overfalls, and
previous anchorages were all there to
behold.
The previous 6 weeks had been anxious as Gaudeo`s
berth in Sada marina was not ideal in that it was exposed to the NE and a 1.5M
fetch across the Ria. Even on the windless day when we had returned to the UK
there had been a surge through the harbour entrance. Fortunately the only NE
wind had been on the day before our return to Galicia causing minimal chafe on
mooring lines.
After eating ashore, we found the security gate to
the pontoons closed but fortified by the best of the local Albarino wine and
reliving delinquent traits of earlier
years your blogger regarded a cat burglar`s leap as a
mere extension of the evening`s enjoyment.
With the forecast of strong wind later on in
the week, the opportunity had to be taken next day to motor 43M
along the Costo del Morte and around Cabo Villano to the beautiful Ria de
Camarinas with its numerous solitary and well protected
anchorages.The town, once a centre of Galician nationalism
/ guerrilla exploits and more genteel traditional industry of
lace making, was rather run down at our previous visit 7 years ago but is
now a thriving fishing port and aspiring tourist area having received a
considerable EEC boost towards infra structure. Out on the anchorage Prue took
her first swim in Spanish waters while I climbed the mast (the 5th time this
year!), this time to replace malfunctioning
wind instruments.
3 August - Breezy and not ideal for more swimming
and better for completing the passage around Cape Finisterre. Did not count on
one and a half hours of near gale force wind after we put our nose
out side the Ria - probably a land effect; in any case our course was down wind.
Once in the lee of Cabo Finisterre there was no wind! And we anchored for the
night off a lovely sandy beach just behind the Cape at Ens de Sardiniero
for another refreshing swim and for JQ to carry out a reassuring
underwater survey of Gaudeo.
4 August - Move on towards the Rias Baixas, first
to Ria de Muros and to another beautiful beach (Ensenada de San Fransisco)
- the water temperature has increased and is now almost ideal. Its becoming
fairly tough for us now with: sun burn; energetic bathing; force feeding on
fish and crustacea; rehydration only with Albarino and Godella wines. Prue`s
mind today even forlornly turned to reminences of sailing in Scotland
until I reminded her that not a single meal of our last 3 week sailing
holiday on the West Coast was taken in the
cockpit!
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