Spanish Biscay - 22m transit berth

[Magnum]

I have started planning our passage to the med next year and have decided one of the legs should be La Rochelle to somewhere suitable in Spanish Biscay. Last time I crossed Biscay it was in one hit sailing, so I have no knowledge of that coastline.

I'd like to keep this leg to around 200NM or less if possible.

Very roughly Bilbao is 160NM, Santander is 180NM and Gijon is 235NM. Has anyone any experience of these ports, specifically their ability to berth a 22m boat in a decent commercial marina? Or are there any alternatives?

 

[sarabande]

From what I remember, the RCMS in Santander does not have big enough berthing, but if your club has reciprocal guest facilities, then their team will be able to find you one.

RCMS is extraordinarily hospitable.....

 

[djefabs]

Hi Magnum. When I bought Ocean Tigress home from Villamoura we put into Gijon which had plenty of room and was a large commercial Marina (April 2006) with all facilities and an airport close by. We then crossed directly to La Rochelle which I'm sure you know is a huge marina again with all facilities. La Rochelle at the time had very slow refuelling facilities but I'm sure that would have improved.

 

[IDAMAY]

We (16.9m) were in two of your three ports this last summer. I think it is possible that you might find a berth in Santander (Marina Deportivo de Santander). There are some longer finger berths close by the Marina Office although many of them seemed to be occupied. As Sarabande says, the staff there are terrific and you would be assured of a warm welcome. If they can't find something for you, there is a very new marina at Laredo, just east of Santander. It is a bit soulless but definitely has berths large enough for you and was half empty last July.

I think you are too large for the town marina at Gijon but you may find a berth at Marina Yates. This is a little way from the centre of things.

We didn't visit Bilbao this year but were in Getxo Marina some years ago. From memory I think there were some pretty big motor boats there.

When you get there, you will find plenty of large berths in A Coruna and a very helpful and friendly staff, one of whom is Irish.

All the marinas we visited along that coast were most welcoming and most spoke reasonably good English. We took to getting marinas to phone ahead for us which they were very willing to do.

Bon Voyage.

Richard.

 

[Nigelpickin]

I have started planning our passage to the med next year and have decided one of the legs should be La Rochelle to somewhere suitable in Spanish Biscay. Last time I crossed Biscay it was in one hit sailing, so I have no knowledge of that coastline.

I'd like to keep this leg to around 200NM or less if possible.

Very roughly Bilbao is 160NM, Santander is 180NM and Gijon is 235NM. Has anyone any experience of these ports, specifically their ability to berth a 22m boat in a decent commercial marina? Or are there any alternatives?

Loredo is worth looking at, huge berths and not a bad run ashore. the marina is very 'available' and also very well protected by the huge sea wall.

Other than transport to and from the airport, I would pick Loredo above the others mentioned. The bay and lagoon are really rather nice and the town is very acccessable.

Agree with Rich, Gijon will be tricky in such a big boat, the pontoons are pretty flimsy...Santander is ok, definitely saw some 70' plus boats moored there.

You will fit in to the visitors berth at Ribadeo, a lovely little spot for a stop over before A Coruna.

Look forward to reading your passage plan!

 

[Hurricane]

Have you read my report on here on our delivery.
We only did daytime passages so there are several in that report - Gijon was one - good range from Benodet if you want to cross Biscay in one hit so from La Rochelle it should be very do-able.

I made sure that we had experience on board - DJEFABS came with us and, as he said above, he knows most of the ports now.
The only problem was the inaccuracy of the Navionics chats - Gijon had a whole new port that wasn't charted.
Afterwards, I complained to Navionics because they had sold me an upgrade saying that they had "flown the coast".
Im sure they will have that bit properly charted now.
IIRC Good fuel in Gijon but worth reading my report.
EDIT
Here's the link http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...Delivery-UK-to-Spain-Loads-of-Pics-and-Videos
The report lists fuel delivery loads and distance travelled.
I should think that your new P68 will burn about the same as the older heavier P67.