Marinas in Vigo

DrBob

DrBob

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www.ronautica.co.uk
We are slowly drifting through the Gallician Rias but need to pick up some crew in Vigo at the end of the month. Which is the best marina to use? The pilot book (and all the blog sites) talk of 4. Two to the south - a long way from town. The RCN marina - congested but near town and the new one to the north but a long way from town.

RCN sounds the best option but I have heard that it is often full and you get turned away. Any recent experiences?

The new one sounds like we can always get in there but the latest info from blog sites - from April 07 - said the showers were dirty and it was 15mins walk to the main road. Any one been there since then and has it improved? Are there any bars/restaurants near that would tempt us to stay more than just one night? I'm using the RCC pilot book that seems a bit light on detail on this one as it was being built as the book was published.

While I am at it, has anyone spent any time beyond the Rande suspension bridge, north of Vigo? The pilot book shows a number of anchorages but it looks a bit shallow - we draw 2m.

Dr Bob
 
Have been into RCN a couple of times (last was 4 yrs ago so things will have changed I guess). Yes, busy, but they managed to fit me in for a night. Why not get a cab or bus from Bayona - usually plenty of space there?
 
Yup there in 2005, not overwhelmed by any welcoming committee, in fact, sat on the arrival berth for about +4 hours before anybody turned up. I remeber this being particularly difficult because getting out of the compound was not easy. But have to say they fitted us in (squeezed would be a better word) without a cross word - or barely any word come to think of it. Never been but I think you would be better at Bayona.
 
Yes, we've anchored above the Rande Bridge two or three times. Yes, it's shallowish (we draw 1.6 cruising loaded) but there's up to 5 metres over quite a reasonable area.

We usually tend to nose up towards the island and anchor around there. Wonderful peace and quiet, as we never go anywhere near marinas except for fuel, water and over-wintering.

Having mentioned the peace and quiet, the last time we were there, and sitting out in the cockpit with a mid-evening snifter, a dreadful wailing suddenly belted out across the water from the nearby hills.

It was clearly some woman's idea of opera 'singing' at some venue hidden from us, but it was truly appalling!! It dragged on for about an hour before she stopped, or perhaps someone thoughtfully choked her!

That single instance aside, if you'd like to get away from the rat-race and other boats for a day or three, it's a good choice. We've never been there with more than two other boats anchored!

Though it's obviously useless for town or picking up crew, do have a look, you might be tempted!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
John/Phil
thanks for the info. Bayona does look a good option although a longer taxi journey for our crew - although they are paying! I was planning to go to Bayona after Vigo and then down to Lisbon to drop them off 10 days later.

Dr Bob
 
Thanks Jerryat,

we've got another 3 weeks before we need to pick up crew so looking for the best places to go - and over to the island you mentioned looked very appealing - just the depth looked a bit tight. I think we may try it.

Can you remember what the winds were like? We've been in the Ria de Muros and Ria de Arosa for almost 4 weeks and every day the wind starts in the north (or NE), goes round to the west or south west and then at 6pm goes NE at 15-20knts regardless of the forecast. By 11pm it dies to nothing. Are we likely to get similar above the Rande bridge? The forecasts seem useless.

Thanks for the help. This forum is a fountain of knowledge. Shame the seach engine isnt as good as it was.

Dr Bob
 
Try Moana or Cangas across from Vigo and crew can catch the hourly fast ferry 2 euros. You could nip across for them it only takes 20 mins. We are back out in 3 weeks, will look out for you.
 
I was there in June last year. RCN Vigo gets my vote.

Terrific location adjacent to the town centre. A bit fiddly getting in and out and the facilities are a bit tired but the location makes it worthwhile IMHO. While I was there they were selling debentures to fund a refurbishment.

Some photos and notes here.
 
We stayed in Marina Davila Sport in Vigo at start of May. Staff there were very friendly and helpful to us as we arrived having just blown out the mainsail. The downside is that its the wrong end of an very large industrial estate and even when you get to civilisation you are still a couple of miles from the town centre. However if you take the tender across its about 5 min to the centre of town.

http://www.turgalicia.es/sit/ficha_datos.asp?ctre=nautico&crec=28413&cidi=I
 
Hi DrBob,

Just to correct any misleading info on my part, I don't think you will be able to reach the island before the depth stops you, but you can nose fairly close - ideal for a short dinghy trip, though we didn't do that.

Had a quick check back through the logbooks and the wind for two of our visits, and have not recorded anymore than 12 knots during the day generally from NE'ish though I suspect it is much affected by the terrain there.

Virtually calm at night both times, so maybe we were lucky! Hope you are too! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just take it nice and gently when you're a reasonable distance above the bridge and nearing the end of fish traps (I think they are) and then nose about to find a depth you're happy with. Be aware that our last visit there was about seven years ago, so there may be variations to the above, though I doubt they would be great!
 
I stayed in RCN in 2005. No problem getting a place and its a very convenient location, but like Jonjon did find them a bit offhand. The cost was reasonable though.
 
Thanks for all the advice Guys.

It's great to know that there is all this knowledge (immediately?) available at a few touches of the fingers (especially now we have this super duper wifi adapter that seems to get to places that wifi adapters have never got to before (except in Caraminal!).

I'm sure I'll be back with another one before we leave the Rias.
 
Hi DrBob,
I'm in Cascais at the moment. I didn't go into Vigo but went straight to Bayona, sounds like you have time to nose around. The situation in Bayona ref marinas is that they are both expensive & off-hand. I have no personal experience of this, but another English boat at anchor couldn't even persuade them (either of them) to sell them fuel unless they were in for the night, as for using the bar.....forget it.
Anchoring in Bayona is fine, East of the new marina. You can either land the dingy in the fishing harbour, near the Pinta replica, or go to the sea wall immediately before the new marina. There are potable water taps along the promenade and the water tastes just fine.
Going south, Povoa de Varzim was a delight, cheap & friendly. A return ticket on the metro into Porto, including a travel-pass was 5 euros. The laundry is not good in Povoa (domestic machines, about five years old) but there is a laundry on the sea-front in Bayona.
Further south, I stopped at Nazare, which frankly was a dump. Twice the price of Povoa and rickety pontoons to boot. it's only saving grace is that fuel is easy to get. The fuel pontoon is on the north side of the harbour, across from the marina. You need to go into the garage and pay for how much you want before taking it, however they do accept credit cards and most people speak enough english.
As I said, I'm in Cascais at the moment. The marina is an absolute rip-off. They quoted 16 euros to park your dingy for a day (although you can use the showers, laundry etc) and 7 euros (both prices plus tax) for six hours. My chum in a 45 footer was quoted 46 euros per night (I think plus tax).Being in a 38ft cat, I didn't even bother to ask the price. Despite what is says in the cruising guide, customs etc are only interested in processing you if you are staying in the marina, and seem to be rarely in attendance. We were advised by the marina staff (who seemed embarrassed when they quoted the prices)to maybe call the maritime police on VHF9, but we asked around the anchorage and nobody had bothered. In fact a Swedish boat had been here over a week, the maritime police launch came out, nosed around the anchorage to see who was there and went back to base. He said he was on deck and waved....they waved back! Holding in the bay is excellent (touch wood) and you can land the dingy (for free) at the jetty where the small fishing boats are, there is also water there.
On the subject of Portuguese officials, all very friendly. The marina in Povoa handled all the paperwork and we didn't need to check out. The English marine manager in Nazare escorted me round the building to immigration and customs, but again no need to check out, despite what the book says. That info comes straight from the horses mouth, incidentally. Both immigration & customs at Nazare. Cascais I've already mentioned. 200 litres of diesel cost me 275 euros at Nazare,
Enjoy.
 
Troutbridge
Thanks for the great up to date info. All good stuff. SHMBO will be interested in the laundry info. Getting quite impatient as the last decent washer was in Portosin.

All info taken on board - and a shame about Nazare as it is one of our definite stops given the distances.

We are currently in San Vicente (Punta negras) (great place)half way between Ria de Arosa and Ria de Pontevedra heading for Sanxenxo tomorrow and likely Bayona by the 28th to pick up crew for the haul down the coast.

Let us know what Sines is like if you stop there as that is likely in our plans. PM me with info or email (address is on our blog site). Thanks again and if we dont hook up (looks like you are going a bit faster than us) have a good trip across the pond and beyond.
 
Recommend Bayonne, much pleasanter and only a stones throw from Isla de Cies which is a must - try the cafe owners home made coffee liqueur, it's lethal - he's the scruffy one!
 
Wouldn't agree that Nazare is a "dump".
We were there for 6 days at the end of June last year. Very helpful staff (Mike and Sue Hadley), an interesting town, albeit a bit of a 'bucket and spade' tourist resort. The marina was fine, reasonably sheltered...and the pontoons were fine when we were there. There was a washing machine there, but no drier.
Excellent place for exploring inland with easy bus connections to Obidos, Batalha and Alcobaca (all three well worth a visit)
 
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