Good stop offs on route to Med?

We covered quite a few ports between Plymouth and the Algarve in 2005. If you want to see some pictures and brief descriptions of the harbours we visited (warts and all) then check out our website. Our draft is 2.4m when loaded so you should be okay in any of the harbours mentioned.

It's all down to personal taste but it might give you an idea of where you might want to go. Agree that Bayona is lovely, entrance to Fig Da Foz can be interesting and enjoyed Sines. Probably our favourite spot on this leg was Culatra but more of a place to chill out for a week or six rather than stop for one night while on passage.

Hope the website is useful.
 
We didn't bother with France as it was to far in the wrong direction for us. We did consider it for a while but the thought of getting trapped in the 'Bay' with a W or NW wind and then have to creep along the Spanish coast didn't do much for us.

In the end we just plumbed for the easiest N to S crossing. For us that was Crosshaven to La Coruna. 505 miles, 36 hours in a NW 7-8, 24 hours becalmed (literally stoped dead in the water, bobing around with the sails away to stop them flogging), and 5 days pontoon to pontoon.
We had Fin Whales, 100's of Common Dolphin would do it again, and recomend it even if just for the experience.

What ever way you decide to go, enjoy it, and take your time.
 
My website compares all the cruising areas you're likely to pass en route, listing the "must sees" and the "avoids", also highlighting points of interest or challenges. Channel islands? Wonderful location for brushing up your tidal and pilotage skills! N Brittany coast? Rock dodger's paradise! S Brittany - cafe culture and good food. N Spain? Swell place, very few sailboats. Portugal? Coast of passage, but visit Porto and Lisbon. S Atlantic Iberia? The first of the land of sun, but cold water. Gib? Yuk.

Well, just my opinions . . . full reasons on the site . . .
 
Hi Alan, why do you say "dont fuel from the yacht club" ?

They had issues with water in fuel a year ago and before, but fyi now have a brand new tank installed, they now take cards also !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif .. no problems atl all now. Yo can also get fuel in Oza, but even more difficult a manouver than the old club in LC.. a disco 55 would have to use high water (as most boats do here).

Dont miss coruna if you can, it really is a superb spot.

Joe n Jayne
 
why do you say "dont fuel from the yacht club" ?
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Your info is more up to date than mine then.

Their tanks, I was told by their YC bosun, when I saw you in 2006, were below water level, hence problem with contamination. He advised going just around the corner 'about 10 miles', can't remember the name of the marina - could it be Sada? (had a v.good street market in town), where we eventually fuelled up - also supermarket close by & good bars/eateries etc in town.

Even with new tanks, wouldn't be easy for a large-ish yacht to get into, but Sada(?) was fairly straight forward.

Only puzzling experience on way to Sada, was being boarded by Spanish Customs, who had been berthed within 50 metres of us in La Coruna for about 2 days & who followed us around the coast for about an hour before boarding. But, very courteous guys & the copy they gave us of the boat/crew details, in Spanish, was very useful when booking into the marina, since they wanted the same info.
 
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