Made a big decision last night

[LaurenceK]

Decided where to go for our summer cruise.

We have a very flexible 2 - 3 months (bit more if needed) and short listed W coast of Ireland or Croatia and leave the boat there or Finland and leave the boat there.

So last night we chose... Spain.

Thought we might cruise the Spanish Rias. Close enough to get back home again and South enough to be sure of getting some sun.

Don't know the area at all and wondered if anyone might have a word or two of advice

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[LadyInBed]

>>short listed W coast of Ireland or Croatia and leave the boat there or Finland<<
>>chose... Spain<< !!!

What happened to the short list?


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[LaurenceK]

My good lady offered to help make the decision .......

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[Rowana]

<< My good lady offered to help make the decision ....... >>

Enough said ! !

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[Steve_Bentley]

December PBO has an article on Spanish Rias with a few tips you may find useful, but you'll need to be quick at the Jan issue is iminent. Think the second part is in the Jan issue. Happy sailing!

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[LaurenceK]

Thats brilliant - thank you.

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[john_morris_uk]

RCC South Biscay Pilotage is quite good on the area.

Its a great place to cruise - completely different to the Channel/French experience and the weather is usually nice as well!

Watch out for the swell, and fog is very likely towards the western end in summer.

One thing I couldn't get over when I was first there was the fact that you are into 3000 metres of water a few miles off the coast in some places... Continental shelf - what shelf?

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[pragmatist]

Ooh dear - sounds like anchoring could be a tad tricky !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is a sailor who now believes it will _always_ rain

 

[snowleopard]

anchoring in the rias isn't too bad though some spots have a lot of weed so don't use a danforth.

do make sure you do the correct thing as regards spanish customs etc. fill in their forms at every port. we were boarded in the dark while at anchor off muros. we were up to date with the paperwork so they were friendly but i wouldn't like to get the wrong side of them. bear in mind they used to be franco's guardia civil.

good cruising ground, particularly enjoyed la coruna and sanxenxo as well as the quieter places.

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[claymore]

Sounds about right
Hows things Lawrence?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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http://www.whoi.edu/services/facilities/CLAYMORE/

 

[Sea Devil]

I came along them last year from Finnesterre to the French boarder. Absolutly the best cruising ground between the Channel and Gibraltar in my opinion - not just the Rias the harbours, ports and anchorages. Beautiful spanish towns and villages - It was such a wonderful surprise - will certainly go back.

I used RCC South Biscay Pilotage and about 5 charts (spanish) as I had intended jumping from Vigo to La Rochelle in one hit - then changed my mind. A few of the entrances were a bit dodgy at low water and you possibly need to work the tides like anywhere up here but just great.

Lots of places to leave the boat if you decide to fly back cos of time...



<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time please visit my web site -
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>

 

[chrisb]

happy to share my experience.pm me if you want to do this and i will send you my phone number. chris

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[jasu74]

What happened to Finland? Just curious (I'm a Finnish citizen)/forums/images/icons/wink.gif.

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[LaurenceK]

after Northern Norway last year my lady rebelled adn demanded sun and more sun. Pity cos I really fancied Finland

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[LaurenceK]

Things are bl***y marvellous. Stupidly bought second boat and am now a broken man but cant bring myself to sell TIDOS

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[Sailfree]

What forms should you fill in. We sailed from Cap Bretten to Santander stopping at a few ports and didn't fill in one form OK so we were lucky what forms should we have asked for and kept up to date. (Sorry did fill in one form in Santander marina where we stayed for 4 days as harbour was untenable due to F8+ winds)

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[jasu74]

I have to say that I understand. Allthou last summer was very rainy. The Swedish and Finnish archipelago is worth of visiting but I understand if some prefers to cruse in med.

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