North Spain

[beneteau_305_553]

I am thinking of taking the boat to North Spain for a few weeks in the summer. Needs to be near an airport with cheap flights.
Bilbao?
Any suggestions welcome

Richard

<hr width=100% size=1>Richard

 

[Ripper]

North Spain Beautiful. Bilbao Airport well served. Very good marina in Las Arenas - entrance to the river leading up to Bilbao.

Good sailing. Not too many yachts so be prepared to hunt for berths in little fishing harbours. Some not really that accessiblt. Others very good.

Try Lequeitio to the east, Castro & Santander to the west and a host of other delightdul ports. If you like beaches those of northern spain are the very best! Soft white sand. If you like culture the Guggenheim is a must. Bilbao is an old industrial city which has been transformed over the last few years - but still a lot of the old industrial past exists which adds to the interest.

The Basques like the English - Bilbao full of shops which sell English goods - who helped develop the industrial might. Bilbao AC Football Club was established by the English.

Give it a try - you'll love it.

And if you want to leave your boat there for the winter the Marine I mentioned is very sheltered. Flight for £60 Round trip in the winter with BA!

The season is a whole lot longer with t shirt weather even on christmas day on many years - but be prepared for RAIN!!! They get a lot - but not so much in the summer. Not called the "Green" coast for nothing

Enjoy!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Mike

 

[Ripper]

Forgot to mention - not much in the way of chandlery which is all geared for the beautifully cared for fishing fleets

<hr width=100% size=1>Mike

 

[Ocean Hound]

Try www.tonymontgomerysmith.btinternet.com a useful website for N Spain. He has given me quite a few tips as we are off in the same direction this season
Rgds
Edward

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[Ocean Hound]

correction - btinternet.co.uk

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[tony_brighton]

La Corunna has a small airport but there is a bigger one nearby at Santiago that I think serves the UK. Flights to N.Spain dont seem anywhere near as cheap as S.Spain.

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[Chris_Robb]

As other posters have said - you will have to compete with the fishing fleet in harbour - for instance Loqueito (spelling?) will be full if the fleet is in, and you will have to anchor in the bay. There is shelter but you will find with nearly all of these north coast ports that the swell is can very uncomfortable at anchor, and it is sometime is not easy to find relief from it.

Also do not underestimate the danger of the swell when entering some of the harbours. Take note of the pilot books.

Bilboa is the only airport served by the cheapies. (easy Jet). Santiago serves the Rias - which in my mind are far better cruising grounds but the problem is the lack of cheap flights. You can get £100 return on Iberia - but unlikey at short notice - but a one way will cost £400! so you will have to resort to throwing away the return part of the ticket! Alternative is train or one-way hire car to Bilbao.

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[mikesharp]

I agree that the NW area is the best cruising ground. Had trouble getting resonable fares via A Corunna or Santiago but have used Madrid and then taken the train to A Corunna or Santiago (same train) which is an interesting journey across the high plains and not very expensive.

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[[3889]]

I found Bilboa itself a bit grim but lovely fishing ports on north coast with plenty of space in early September when I was there. Try Guetaria and Zumaia (Marina)http://www.zumaia.net/ about 40 mls east and Santona (limited draught) and SanVincent de la Barquera 40 and 65 mls West

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[JohnRose]

We are heading to Northern Spain and Portugal ourselves wih our 305 this spring. What are your timings ?

John

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[beneteau_305_553]

Spain

Thanks for all the replies

It looks like departing Lowestoft 30 June. Boulogne 1 July Collecting crew #3 (son #4 age 20 )from southampton 2 July(Glastonbury first (22-25 June) ), Cherborg 3 July, Bilbao 9 July or Bermeo? I fly home 12 July

My sons #3 and 4 get 6 weeks on board !

Fly back 14 Aug

Sons #3 and 4 then leave and I get 1 week on my boat with my wife then cruise back arrive Lowestoft 30 Aug approx



<hr width=100% size=1>Richard<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by beneteau_305_553 on 02/04/2004 21:44 (server time).</FONT></P>