northern spain cruising grounds galacia

[captaindan]

As any one have any experience of boating in this area I know the weather is not as hot as the med and its shorter period but it looks like very good cruising ground just wondered if anyone has boat there or had a boat there and any recomendations or pitfalls of boating in this area

thanks

Dan

 

[jimbaerselman]

A good starting point would be to read through http://www.jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/galicia

Quite windy at times when the NE trades are blowing.

 

[Polux]

You can find some more information here:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f17/rias-of-galicia-119947-2.html

Beautiful places, not too many boats, great food and not very expensive, the weather is nice (not too hot, not too cold) and the only real set back is water temperature that will be between 16 and 19º, far away from the 23/26º of the Med.

 

[TQA]

As any one have any experience of boating in this area I know the weather is not as hot as the med and its shorter period but it looks like very good cruising ground just wondered if anyone has boat there or had a boat there and any recomendations or pitfalls of boating in this area

thanks

Dan

Lovely cruising grounds with plenty of space to anchor in some spots. It was some years ago now but eating out was not expensive and local wines were very affordable.

I was on my way to the Canaries so did not spend long in any ria/port but wished I had had the time.

 

[captaindan]

Yes ive read that and found it a site full of very helpfull information

A good starting point would be to read through http://www.jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/galicia

Quite windy at times when the NE trades are blowing.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

A good starting point would be to read through http://www.jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/galicia

+1

Pete

 

[drawp]

I spent a summer in the Rias on my way to Greece. I still think it was the most enjoyable part of the trip.

 

[AndrewB]

A gorgeous cruising ground that I've visited many times, no 10 on my list of the top 37 cruising grounds world wide. From Gijon in the north to Bayona in the south. Easy cruising in the rias, though quite demanding in between them particularly on the west coast.

Plenty of excellent stops, anchorages and a few marinas. I would recommend in particular: Ribadeo, Bares (Ria del Barquero), La Coruna, Mugia (Ria de Camarinas) on the north coast; Muros (visit Santiago de Compostela from here), Ria de Arosa generally, Isla Salvora (though it may now be private), Isla Ons, Combarro (Ria de Pontevedra), Isla Cies, Vigo on the west coast.

Weatherwise, think Scilly Islands. Noticeably warmer than England but not hot, rather wet, and prone to sudden dense fogs particularly round Cape Finisterre. Not a bit like Mediterranean Spain.

 

[GrahamM376]

A good starting point would be to read through http://www.jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/galicia

Quite windy at times when the NE trades are blowing.

We're planning on revisiting this summer and, as existing charts are out of date, have just bought new Imray C48. Surprised to see that although stated to be correct to August 2013, Muros marina isn't marked, although on your list. Not having been there for 8 years, I wonder what else is new which may not be charted - anyone know of any recent new marinas or problem areas?

 

[AndrewB]

We're planning on revisiting this summer and, as existing charts are out of date, have just bought new Imray C48. Surprised to see that although stated to be correct to August 2013, Muros marina isn't marked, although on your list. Not having been there for 8 years, I wonder what else is new which may not be charted - anyone know of any recent new marinas or problem areas?

Is there now a marina at Muros? There wasn't when I last visited. There is however a marina not far away at Portosin on the opposite side of the Ria de Muros where I once left my boat for a couple of weeks: pleasant enough but not inspiring.

(PS Err thanks, GrahamM376 (below), remember it now, for some reason we couldn't get in. I think it may have been in the throws of construction with local fishing boats higgledy-piggledy. We tied up to entrance for a bit, very uncomfortable, before going outside to anchor.)

 

[jimbaerselman]

We're planning on revisiting this summer and, as existing charts are out of date, have just bought new Imray C48. Surprised to see that although stated to be correct to August 2013, Muros marina isn't marked, although on your list. Not having been there for 8 years, I wonder what else is new which may not be charted - anyone know of any recent new marinas or problem areas?

Further east you'll see three new marinas suitable for a bad weather approaches; Gijon, Laredo, and a third marina in Bilbao. Further south you'll see new marinas and yards in Porto and Lisboa.

Source of most of these updates is this forum, the live-aboard forum, and comments added by site members. So, to be one step ahead, log into my site, and you'll see comments which haven't been incorporated yet. Galicia is up to date, but I don't mention all the long established marinas there. Subscribers to the site can add their own observations . . . there's a comment link at the bottom of each page.

 

[GrahamM376]

Is there now a marina at Muros? There wasn't when I last visited. There is however a marina not far away at Portosin on the opposite side of the Ria de Muros where I once left my boat for a couple of weeks: pleasant enough but not inspiring.

Zoom in on this - http://www.marinamap.com/en/marina-location.shtml?id=1892

 

[Polux]

A gorgeous cruising ground that I've visited many times, no 10 on my list of the top 37 cruising grounds world wide. From Gijon in the north to Bayona in the south. Easy cruising in the rias, though quite demanding in between them particularly on the west coast.

Plenty of excellent stops, anchorages and a few marinas. I would recommend in particular: Ribadeo, Bares (Ria del Barquero), La Coruna, Mugia (Ria de Camarinas) on the north coast; Muros (visit Santiago de Compostela from here), Ria de Arosa generally, Isla Salvora (though it may now be private), Isla Ons, Combarro (Ria de Pontevedra), Isla Cies, Vigo on the west coast.

Weatherwise, think Scilly Islands. Noticeably warmer than England but not hot, rather wet, and prone to sudden dense fogs particularly round Cape Finisterre. Not a bit like Mediterranean Spain.

To those nice places I would Join Ares and Ria de Betanzos on the North, Cee near cape Finisterra, Bueu on the Pontevedra Ria, for anchor and with a small port/marina and a visit to Pontevedra (not accessible by boat, unless the dinghy is used) that is more interesting than Vigo. Also Baiona is very interesting with a good marina and several anchorages. The Islands should not be missed, as it was pointed, but now they are natural parks and you need a permit that is easy to obtain by internet for 3 days, here:
http://www.iatlanticas.es/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=200077&lang=en

From Baiona at one day sailing South I would say it would be a shame to miss Viana do Castelo, already in Portugal, a lovely town with a good and not expensive marina.

 

[Mistroma]

Rushing to catch flight to London and then to Santiag e Compostela tomorrow so not much time to answer.

We spent last 2 seaons in Galicia (well 1.5) and wintered near Vigo. Very enjoyable and we usually spent 10-14 days between marina visits. There are a couple of expensive marinas you might want to avoid. PM me with approx. time & route, I'll se if I can email information on anchorages, Wifi, shopping etc. This will be useful but you can just arrive an explore without any problems.

You can find some pictures for 2012, 2013 here: http://www.mistroma1.webspace.virginmedia.com/Cruises.html

I'm afraid that I didn't write up details such as marina charges, wifi etc.

 

[Ardelloeixe]

Here: http://www.asnauga.com/index.php?option=com_puertos&Itemid=2&lang=en are all the nautical clubs in Galicia.
The web page is the nautical club´s asociation. The marinas are not included.

Chers

 

[LadyInBed]

Went down to Galicia for the first time last summer, wrote about it here: http://montymariner.co.uk/destination-galicia/
My surprise find was on my way back, I went East a bit along the coast, and found Avilis. It's not in Galicia but a wonderful hideyhole up a 2nm basin past the most ugly industrial complex you could imagine to a peaceful, beautiful town. The marina is cheap, run by the port police, 10min walk to the bus stn then a 20min ride to the airport to pick up / drop off visitors and safe if you need to leave your boat to make a UK trip.
I loved Galicia, I kept out of marinas for the most part and anchored, it's not hard to find an anchorage quite close to a marina to go into and leave dingy to visit town, in most places the locals had bypassed gate locks!
At times the wind blew quite strong down round the coast, so if you are unlucky it can be a hard slog back, so the good advice is to go South quickly and do short hops back enjoying the sheltered rias.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Zoom in on this - http://www.marinamap.com/en/marina-location.shtml?id=1892

Interstingly, google hasn't caught up with the marina yet. What you see on that map is the old port - full up. Just to the east of it is where the marina is - behind a big wave break running from the longest quay end towards the west.

 

[ign]

+1 for Galicia. We have spent the last two summers there, wintering in Punta Lagoa near Vigo. All of the Rias offer nice towns to visit and plenty of anchorages. Water is cold, but less so than Uk while weather has been significantly better.