27th July to 3rd August – A Coruna and on into the Ria de Muros
Posted at 2:47 PM, Saturday, August 1, 2009
Had a relaxing four day stop over parked up alongside Sunboy enjoying the brand new marina and Coruna as July came to a sunny hot end.
The facilities in the new marina are all shiny and new. Lots of stainless steel and teak. With young marinaros and the girls in the office all seeming happy to help with anything. Plus freebie wifi. All good.
Coruna as a city and port is steeped in history. Its natural harbour was the landing place used by early Atlantic facing peoples who travelled southward in centuries past, and they say this is the connection that linked Galicia with the Celtic culture.
The place was further developed by successive races. Even the Phoenicians and later the Romans are recorded as creating trading posts here. In fact the big landmark lighthouse out on the headland is built around the original Roman version.
Sue and I got the bikes out and used them to explore the coastline. Truly stunning from shore side, and some great secluded beaches. Plus the water felt warm!
The new marina is right alongside the old town so we used its narrow alleys some days just to get out of the sun, on other we explored the shops. The alleys invariably led to wide squares surrounded by tall elegant granite buildings with many having intricate galleried balconies.
Clearly the locals are just like Spanish peoples everywhere, loving to promenade especially as the sun goes down. For me it seemed a nice mix of Palma de Mallorca and Cadiz. A lovely place.
We enjoyed a great ‘Welcome to Spain and let’s get ready to Say Goodbye’ cockpit party with Sunboy. Here’s (L to R) Nikki and Layni and Debs.
Here’s Al and Nikki’s boyfriend Luke.
Al and Debs formally advised they had established the Wobbly Yacht Club and presented me with a flag of the Southern Cross after nominating me Honorary Charter Commodore – and thanked us for our company on this stage in their big trip back to Australia.
Al said the only rules he thought should apply to our new club were that all members need be Australian, and each must donate a case of half decent wine to the current commodore. I think we can allow honorary Aussies also.
For maybe four cases.
Later than night we all staggered ashore to find an old fashioned tapas bar. Spoilt for choice in the old town. Can’t remember the name of the one we finally chose but suffice to say it was all great food and compared with Brittany absolutely super value.
The adults had a cleanser or two on our way back to the boats whilst the younger ones went ahead. Good night out, we'll miss Al and Debs a lot. Great company.
Coruna is equally an all round good place I’m surprised we’ve not found it before. So well laid out for exercise outdoors and so much to explore. Whilst there Sue was able to stretch out and do some power walking. Al and I enjoyed hunting to find a really old fashioned chandlers and getting them to sort me a new engine room blower (which I was pleased to fit before we moved on to even hotter locations).
It was a shame to leave but we did, being waved off by Al and Debs with our new flag flying early Friday morning. Sunboy has all the time in the world to stay and explore inland and Coruna is a ideal place to do that from. We on the other hand need to press on south for Lagos.
Sailed up and out of the Ria de Coruna in glorious sunshine, but just two hours later as we slid westward towards the corner so as to head down the Atlantic Glician coast, a cold front blasted in at 25 knots. True to form inside a further 30 minutes the wind and rain came right round onto our nose, so it was engine on once more as we bashed and crashed onward, covering the 80 miles to our planned destination in Ria de Muros.
Remember thinking we might as well buy a power boat if this keeps up.
The rock is called Controlo de Cabo Finisterre. We went outside it.
The weather eased back fortunately for the last few hours and as we freed up and considered hoisting saisl, the sun came back. Chasing a French trimaran that had come over the horizon (yes - we caught and overtook her) we then sailed up towards our destination in the Ria de Muros. It’s those moments where with beer in hand, sun on your back, a competitor behind you, and strong winds whooshing you along at 9 or more knots, you wonder who even thought about a power boat!
We fetched up off the Club Nautica Marina in Portosin around 7 pm.
It is a small club but they were very helpful and welcoming. The marinaro directed us to a hammerhead off their clubhouse, and we decided not to even bother going further than the club bar and restaurant that evening.
Enjoyed a good value and high quality dinner overlooking the marina and had great pleasure to link up with some fellow OCC sailors and share some cleansing ales. Oops. It's the wee hours.
We were aiming to move on south today (Saturday) but having been told Portosin is staging its annual Blessing of the Sardine Fleet Party this evening and onto tomorrow, we're not. We’re instead staying to take part in the festival with our new found pals of Moira, Peter and Bill.
Portonsin is very small, and definitely not what you’d call a pretty town.
But it has a certain appeal for us, being so basic and non touristy. The locals are very proud of their small fishing fleet and so they should. Here are some dressed in flags ready to carry out the local priest to bless the waters off the town tomorrow morning.
Today (and the wet weather is still with us) they are prepping a big band stage and setting up a market and funfair in the small port square just along from the marina. So we’re all on to Bills boat for grilled Sardines and beer before wandering in to join the locals sometime later tonight.
Catch you soon.
Sue and John xx