Across the Portuguese border to Viano de Castelo
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Tue 10 Aug 2010 09:38
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Our position is 41:41.61N 08:49.33W
Sunday 8 August 2010
After a night spent roistering ashore (actually
just watching the fireworks and eating ice cream in 23 degrees at 1am) the crew
were in no hurry to get up the next morning. However it had to be done and
while a shore party went to see if there was anywhere to buy supplies on a
Sunday the boat party packed up the dinghy and did other useful jobs in
preparation for departure. Ashore there was a slight distraction of some rowing
races in the next harbour (source of the loud speaker excitement the previous
day) but fruit, vegetables, bread, and postcards were purchased and we were
able to depart Baiona by 12 (Portuguese time) for the 6hr passage to Viana de
Castelo, motoring in the absence of the usual afternoon breeze.
The passage was completely uneventful and windless,
enlivened only by dodging the many fishing buoys on the relatively inshore route
selected and changing the courtesy flag for the Portuguese one. However Portugal
greeted us with cloud - not what we are used to after a fortnight of clear blue
skies and hot sun. We arrived at our destination by 6pm and were able to enter
the marina without waiting for the foot bridge to open, as we discovered later
that the hot weather of the previous day had over heated it and resulted in
failure (fortunately for us in the open position, but unfortunately for us
requiring a long walk round to the marina office!). Moored up fore and aft,
requiring nimble leaping over the bow with the bow warp and collection from the
pontoon of an extremely dirty aft warp, beside a Swedish boat that had been
anchored next to us in Islas Cies. The marina is next door to a double-decker
road and rail bridge designed by Gustav Eiffel (of tower
fame)
It would seem that the very friendly man in the
office never sleeps as the office seems to be open all the time except when he
is eating. He spoke excellent English - a welcome change from Spain. We will
stay here for a day to catch up on laundry and work. The town seems lively and
there were a range of stalls selling craft items to enjoy on the walk back from
the office.
 View across the local harbour at Bayona to the
fortifications which surround the headland to the harbour. The boat in the
foreground was officiating at the rowing races.
 This is a rubbish photo but it marks the boundary
between Spain & Portugal and also shows how calm the conditions were. (The
skipper slept through all the excitement of the change of country!)
 Visitors pontoon in the marina at Viano de Castelo
- Moorglade at this end with the old sunshade up. In spite of the cloud the sun
was hot and the humidity high. The rest of the marina is behind
us.
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