Anchorages Atlantic coast - France/Spain/Portugal

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petefrob

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We have picked up our Lagoon 450 in Les Sables d'Olonne and then sailed to La Rochelle, where we will stay for the next seven days. At the moment we are berthing in Port de Plaisance, marina in La Rochelle.

We don't have any fixed plans yet, except that we will sail to Gibraltar and then to head further south.

We are keen to avoid touristy marinas and would prefer anchorages.
Does anyone could help with locating good overnight anchorages?

Any info on anchorages (and any other useful tips) along French/Spanish and Portuguese Atlantic coasts would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Pete and Vess
 
Plenty of anchorages and fishing harbours in N Spain, with little tourism. Plenty of anchorages around the Rias, too, but more marinas there. Tourism is mainly Spanish, and very active in the peak six weeks from mid July. Fireworks, fiestas, quayside bands til 4 in the morning. You name it.

For a quick picture of what the area is like, look at this N Spain page, then try the Rias of Galicia page. Places safe to enter in any conditions are typed in Green - if there's a swell running, you'll need those.

It's a great cruising area, if a little wet at times!
 
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Ria de Vigo ,Port hand side going in from the north leaving the Cies to starboard sail up the Ria till you come to Cangas,good open bay sheltered from the North,easy distance to Cangas or land on beach,ferries to Vigo.
 
Thank you very much for your reply. The first hand knowledge and experience is always the most beneficial. We are definitely be benefiting from yours. Pete & Vess
 
While there are many good anchorages on the north and north-west coast of Spain, there are remarkably few on the west coast of Portugal.

In many of the small harbours they insist yachts use the marina (which, north of Lisbon, are reasonably priced). Some of the anchorages that are occasionally recommended, such as Caminha, Vilo do Conde, Sao Marlinho, are in my opinion marginal, either shallow or only suitable in very calm conditions. The only places I've anchored on that coast and been happy to go ashore are inside the harbour at Leixoes (Porto), Cascais, and Seixal.
 
AndrewB said:
While there are many good anchorages on the north and north-west coast of Spain, there are remarkably few on the west coast of Portugal.

In many of the small harbours they insist yachts use the marina (which, north of Lisbon, are reasonably priced). Some of the anchorages that are occasionally recommended, such as Caminha, Vilo do Conde, Sao Marlinho, are in my opinion marginal, either shallow or only suitable in very calm conditions. The only places I've anchored on that coast and been happy to go ashore are inside the harbour at Leixoes (Porto), Cascais, and Seixal.
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Another very good anchorage is just off Sāo Jacínto, which is on the Port side as you go up the river towards Aveiro.
 
Thanks

Just wish to say BIG THANKU to all of you who gave your time and a knowledge to reply to us.

Cheers,
Pete & Vess
 
Hi, we left La Rochelle on 12 March and are currently in La Coruna Spain. We are making our way down to Gib then into Med. We anchored at various places along the way: Bilbao, Ribadeo, Vivero, Cudeillero (the best one and nice little town and good shelter). We picked up a mooring bouy at Laredo but were charged 25 euro's for this (felt we were a little ripped off as most marinas with electricity and water were not this expensive). All the anchorages were fine but each will depend on the weather at the time. We stopped in Luarca and had to tie up to a bouy and a wall but we rocked something horrible. Personally I wouldnt recommend this place as an anchorage but it is a lovely little town. Can send you more info as we move on if you like.
 
Arigatou said:
Hi, we left La Rochelle on 12 March and are currently in La Coruna Spain. We are making our way down to Gib then into Med. We anchored at various places along the way: Bilbao, Ribadeo, Vivero, Cudeillero (the best one and nice little town and good shelter). We picked up a mooring bouy at Laredo but were charged 25 euro's for this (felt we were a little ripped off as most marinas with electricity and water were not this expensive). All the anchorages were fine but each will depend on the weather at the time. We stopped in Luarca and had to tie up to a bouy and a wall but we rocked something horrible. Personally I wouldnt recommend this place as an anchorage but it is a lovely little town. Can send you more info as we move on if you like.
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Sorry, need to edit. Cudeillero should read Cedeira!! Personally I would skip Cuidellero too. You have to tie up on the wall if you can get space. Rocks appears at low tide that are not marked on the chart. Cudeillero also has a very tight entrance and in a swell is not recommended.
 
Don't miss Camarinos, Finisterre( walk to the lighthouse), Muros, Ria de Vigo (Right up under the motorway bridge,besisde an island whose name for the moment escapes me! Ah,San Simon!
 
nice anchorage at bayona/or marina.and peniche is allright too(book says hassle with fv wash just spent 2 weeks there didnt notice it)80 euros a week all in for 12.5 m if you use marina or anchor weather permitting.if you do go there i can recommend a trip to obidos a walled fort/town on hill with local cherry brandy on tap really really nice place. im heading back north and the weather has been lousey for at least a month must turn nice soon
 
Gijon is easy to get into but very, very expensive and the visitors pontoons roll a lot. There are no visitors there for more than a night one they learn the price.
Viverio is an easy sandy anchorage and if things get bad there is a marina that is cheap and very friendly. We came in for a couple of nights and stayed three weeks..mainly due to weather but we do love the friendly non touristy place.
Laving tomorrow for Cederia.... The weather is looking settled for a few days so we will anchor there for a while.
 
I'm heading back north and the weather has been lousey for at least a month must turn nice soon[/QUOTE]

Ex Fcsts telling of southerlies later this week from low out west.

But swell could get up so be careful.
 
At the moment we are anchoring at Celeiro. No place to tie up the dinghy. We went by dinghy to Viveiro yesterday. No problems to leave the dinghy there - Marina people are very friendly. Not like in Bilbao, where they refused to sell us water from the new marina (we were anchoring in Getxo).
Gijon marina was certainly expansive (94EU for a night)!
Tomorrow we are off to A Caruna.
 
Wow, we just had a hailstones (anchoring Celeiro/Viveiro)! Just tiny ones - more a heavy rain. It will nicely wash the boat.
 
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