BAYONA

Approach to Bayona. Weather has changed again. This is the tail end of the front of the next depression to hit poor Britain. Bayona is guarded by a fort and has a charming old town.

MAGICAL ISLAND ISLAS CIES

The magical island of Islas Cies is off Bayona in Ria Vigo. Spent 2 wonderful days at anchor here in beautiful weather. Other British yachts had to leave as they did not have a permit. We were ashore and said we were from Llanelli and they let us stay. The island is a nature reserve and had eucalyptus forests. Lovely sunrise and sunsets. Do we really need to go to the Caribbean?

ROYAL CLUB NAUTICO SANXENXO

Very smart yacht club in Sanxenxo. In fact this is typical of most yacht clubs in Spain. Smart dress derigeur. A slight difference from River Towy Yacht Club!

FOUND THE SUN AT LAST.

Celebrating our arrival at Sanxenxo in Ria Pontevedra. At last we have found the Sun. Very much a holiday resort. The Torquay of Spain! Spent a lot of time on the beach. Stocking up on provisions in local market. Mainly fish.

MUROS FOR FESTIVAL OF SAN XUAN

The village of Muros was celebrating festival of San Xuan with fire crackers, bonfires and discos well into the small hours. There was even an old boat show for old crew! And more grain silos. Note the colonaded pavements of the town. Bonfires were lit everywhere that night.

ROUND FINISTERRE AT LAST.

Rounded Cabo Finisterre (end of the world thank you Tom) under calm seas and blue skies surrounded by dolphins.

RIAS OF GALICIA.

Ria de Camarinas typical of Galicia. Grain silos are found everywhere. Wind farms everywhere. Greens will be pleased to note this. Cabo Villano light just visible. A family of otters lived in the marina at Camarinas!! They came out to feed their young at night. Wonderful.

BEACHES OF GALICIA.

Typical white sandy beach of Galicia. Why haven`t the Brits discovered this yet? Spot Stargazer at anchor off the beach at Laxe.

ON PASSAGE SOUTH.

Gale bound at anchor in Laxe for 4 days. Good holding fortunately. Got ashore once to amazing white sandy beach (pictures to follow). Hard motor sail in heavy seas around to Camarinos. Picked up fishing pot bouy around prop and firmly anchored to sea be for a while but rope cutter did the job fortunately. Now safe in marina enjoying fresh fish and gambas. Hope to make it round Cape Finisterre on Saturday. Weather seems to be improving now that the depression hav passed. Adios.

THE RAIN IN SPAIN FALLS MAINLY IN GALICIA.

Oh dear. Might as well be in Cefn Sidan.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MARINER IN ESPANA.

Buenos Dias!
Storm bound in La Coruna. Get up, have breakfast, go to fish market, beer in Piaza, beach in afternoon, tea on boat, more beer in Piaza, supper on board with vino blanco. Oh dear what to do tomorrow? Moving down the coast on Saturday if the next depression passes north.

MILFORD HAVEN TO LA CORUNA.

Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela where we gave thanks for our safe passage. Public transport very good.

The Tower of Hercules has been a lighthouse since Roman times. 235 steps to the top and we climbed them.

La Coruna has some lovely beaches but the Atlantic is cold.

La Coruna. City of glass.

Safely berthed in Darsena marina La Coruna. A good night`s sleep was enjoyed.

Land fall La Coruna after 5 days at sea. Visibility poor. Thank God for GPS and waypoints.

Biscay was not always kind to us. Swell developing and fog arriving. Cold, lonely and bleak.

Tow Gen and `Ferdy` the wind steering doing their jobs. What great crew members they are.

First mate off watch. Skipper takes the dog watch. 0200 - 0500!!!

The skipper helms across Biscay. Biscay was kind to us.

Farewell to Milford Haven as we pass through the lock for the last time. Many thanks to Dave of Windjammer for delivering our card by motorcycle and preventing me from ramming the lock.

MADE IT

Successful crossing of Biscay. Left 0830 Monday and arrived La Coruna Friday 1300. Good sailing but had a lot of fog. Enjoying fine weather, fish, wine, beaches... Plan to stay for afew days before working our way down to Baiona. Even caught the annual naturist cycle ride today. I am now blind!!!

Severing the Umbilical Cord

Sunday 3rd June 2007. Moving onto boat today. Reasonable weather break next week with a ridge of high pressure and northerly air flow. Plan to leave Monday 4th June on freeflow through lock at 0830Hrs BST. 4 day passage should see us in La Coruna by end of week. Adios.