Ría de Ares
Redes
30/04/07 15:56
On saturday and sunday I went through all the cabin storage lockers, of which there are 16, sorting the contents restowing in the light of a years experience. The salt air is extremely hostile and even where I have sealed items in airtight containers with a silica gel sachet corrosion has occurred.
Later on sunday evening I went for a walk into Ares and watched some of the FC Barcelona football game in two different cafes/bars.
The weather forecast on Monday morning is for W winds F5-6. No good for my next stage to Laxé where much of the trip is on a westerly heading. I decided to spend the night at anchor off Redes, which is sheltered from westerlies, and see how the weather looked on tuesday.
Before leaving I have to visit the Centro de Salud. At around 10:30 it is quite busy but patient turnover is quite fast. There are at least 6 consulting rooms but not all are for doctors. Two are for nurses and there is one especially for children. After about 20 minutes I was called in by the nurse. My fingers are healing quickly. The dressings were changed and I was out in about 7 minutes.
I stopped to buy some bread and had a coffee. Then it was off to the library to check e-mails. There is a programme funded partially by the EU to bring free internet access to libraries in small communities. There are two computers available but wi-fi access is available and can be used on one's own computer.
Back at the marina I settled up and left at 13:40. It is only about 2 miles round to Redes and by 14:20 we were anchored just outside the fixed moorings off the village.
As evening approached it became apparent that the wind was more S to SW than W which meant that the anchorage was exposed directly to the wind over a fetch of several miles. At that point the wind speed was under 10 knots. Not really a problem but not ideal.
Later in the evening the wind strengthened, gusting over 20kn with frequent rain squalls. The boat was bouncing about and veering around the anchor chain but the new Rocna anchor did not budge. I cat napped during the night, regularly checking the position.
Approaching Redes anchorage.
Punta Modias
At anchor off Redes village.
Later on sunday evening I went for a walk into Ares and watched some of the FC Barcelona football game in two different cafes/bars.
The weather forecast on Monday morning is for W winds F5-6. No good for my next stage to Laxé where much of the trip is on a westerly heading. I decided to spend the night at anchor off Redes, which is sheltered from westerlies, and see how the weather looked on tuesday.
Before leaving I have to visit the Centro de Salud. At around 10:30 it is quite busy but patient turnover is quite fast. There are at least 6 consulting rooms but not all are for doctors. Two are for nurses and there is one especially for children. After about 20 minutes I was called in by the nurse. My fingers are healing quickly. The dressings were changed and I was out in about 7 minutes.
I stopped to buy some bread and had a coffee. Then it was off to the library to check e-mails. There is a programme funded partially by the EU to bring free internet access to libraries in small communities. There are two computers available but wi-fi access is available and can be used on one's own computer.
Back at the marina I settled up and left at 13:40. It is only about 2 miles round to Redes and by 14:20 we were anchored just outside the fixed moorings off the village.
As evening approached it became apparent that the wind was more S to SW than W which meant that the anchorage was exposed directly to the wind over a fetch of several miles. At that point the wind speed was under 10 knots. Not really a problem but not ideal.
Later in the evening the wind strengthened, gusting over 20kn with frequent rain squalls. The boat was bouncing about and veering around the anchor chain but the new Rocna anchor did not budge. I cat napped during the night, regularly checking the position.
Approaching Redes anchorage.
Punta Modias
At anchor off Redes village.
Ares
27/04/07 15:39
Another cloudy day but it's not raining.
I decide to deploy the Brompton and cycle along to Redes to see what the approaches look like. The main road is away from the beach but it is only about 4.5 kilometres before a left turning takes one down a hill and into the tiny port of Redes. A very pretty place it is too. No sign of any modern developments although I notice several homes being refurbished. Unlike Ares some effort seems to have been made to to preserve traditional architecture.
Redes
The chart indicates a large fish farm near Redes but looking down from Punta Modias I can see no sign of it. There is one to the west but this is clearly marked. Jose-Ramon's copy of El Litoral De Galicia - Rías Altas indicated that it was OK to anchor off Redes.
I might give it a try tomorrow.
View of Redes moorings from Punta Modias.
On the way back I take a variety of back roads which allow access to the shore at various points. This is a very attractive Ría.
More photos here.
When I get back to the boat I change the bandaids on my fingers. I don't like the look of them and decide to visit the Centro de Salud. What an impressive place. I am barely through the door when a nurse spots my fingers and beckons me into a consulting room. She has a look and before going any further asks me to give my European Health Insurance Card to the receptionist.
Good news! The damage to my fingers is not too serious. The nurse cleans up the cuts and holes and bandages three fingers. She then gives me a tetanus jab. I am told to return on monday and instructed not to use the fingers or get them wet. Looks like sailing is ruled out for a few days. Ah well. It's nice here.
The whole process took about 20 minutes with zero waiting time and was handled entirely by the duty nurse. Very, very impressive.
Back at the marina I am told that I can stay at my berth until tuesday.
I decide to deploy the Brompton and cycle along to Redes to see what the approaches look like. The main road is away from the beach but it is only about 4.5 kilometres before a left turning takes one down a hill and into the tiny port of Redes. A very pretty place it is too. No sign of any modern developments although I notice several homes being refurbished. Unlike Ares some effort seems to have been made to to preserve traditional architecture.
Redes
The chart indicates a large fish farm near Redes but looking down from Punta Modias I can see no sign of it. There is one to the west but this is clearly marked. Jose-Ramon's copy of El Litoral De Galicia - Rías Altas indicated that it was OK to anchor off Redes.
I might give it a try tomorrow.
View of Redes moorings from Punta Modias.
On the way back I take a variety of back roads which allow access to the shore at various points. This is a very attractive Ría.
More photos here.
When I get back to the boat I change the bandaids on my fingers. I don't like the look of them and decide to visit the Centro de Salud. What an impressive place. I am barely through the door when a nurse spots my fingers and beckons me into a consulting room. She has a look and before going any further asks me to give my European Health Insurance Card to the receptionist.
Good news! The damage to my fingers is not too serious. The nurse cleans up the cuts and holes and bandages three fingers. She then gives me a tetanus jab. I am told to return on monday and instructed not to use the fingers or get them wet. Looks like sailing is ruled out for a few days. Ah well. It's nice here.
The whole process took about 20 minutes with zero waiting time and was handled entirely by the duty nurse. Very, very impressive.
Back at the marina I am told that I can stay at my berth until tuesday.
Ares
26/04/07 15:03
By 08:00 when I get up the wind has died completely and it is flat calm though overcast and threatening showers.
View NE from anchorage at Ares.
While at anchor I can potter about sorting out stowage. The boat and her kit need to be fully switched over from port mode to sea mode.
A new marina has been built at Ares which the chart and pilot books do not show. It is shown on our electronic Navionics chart and in the almanac. I decide to go in and have a look. They only have two nights available.
I spend the rest of the afternoon sorting and stowing and weigh anchor at 16:20 with 22 knot northerly wind. As the anchor comes clear of the bottom Kiriwina is blown downwind fairly trapidly and in my haste to get the anchor stowed I experience a fingers clear of the windlass malfunction which left 3 fingers on my left hand looking a tad rojo.
With my left hand wrapped in a towel we proceed to the berth and helped by the boatswain we are are all fast by 16:40.
The office staff are very helpful and after filling out the usual long form I pay €19:48 for two nights. The marina was built by Portos de Galicia in 2003 and is managed by Club Náutico Ría de Ares. It is in the process of being expanded with a substantial number of new berths being added.
Rather than broach my first aid kit I decide to walk into Ares and buy some bandaids. Ares sits on the edge of a bay ringed by a very long beach. The town is very old but has recently undergone something of a building boom which continues. Some of the new buildings lack sympathy with their neighbours. There are several bar/cafes facing the beach with other shops and services in the streets further back from the beach. The library has free internet access.
View NE from anchorage at Ares.
While at anchor I can potter about sorting out stowage. The boat and her kit need to be fully switched over from port mode to sea mode.
A new marina has been built at Ares which the chart and pilot books do not show. It is shown on our electronic Navionics chart and in the almanac. I decide to go in and have a look. They only have two nights available.
I spend the rest of the afternoon sorting and stowing and weigh anchor at 16:20 with 22 knot northerly wind. As the anchor comes clear of the bottom Kiriwina is blown downwind fairly trapidly and in my haste to get the anchor stowed I experience a fingers clear of the windlass malfunction which left 3 fingers on my left hand looking a tad rojo.
With my left hand wrapped in a towel we proceed to the berth and helped by the boatswain we are are all fast by 16:40.
The office staff are very helpful and after filling out the usual long form I pay €19:48 for two nights. The marina was built by Portos de Galicia in 2003 and is managed by Club Náutico Ría de Ares. It is in the process of being expanded with a substantial number of new berths being added.
Rather than broach my first aid kit I decide to walk into Ares and buy some bandaids. Ares sits on the edge of a bay ringed by a very long beach. The town is very old but has recently undergone something of a building boom which continues. Some of the new buildings lack sympathy with their neighbours. There are several bar/cafes facing the beach with other shops and services in the streets further back from the beach. The library has free internet access.
Depart La Coruña
25/04/07 18:25
Typical! After so much good weather it had to rain on the day I want to leave.
It clears by mid morning which allows me to finish servicing the port foresail winch. Then I settle up with the marina and say goodby to Miguel and thank him and his colleagues for their help during my stay in La Coruña.
I need some provisions and get the bus to the supermarket and a taxi back. The engine starts first time and I leave it running while the fresh water tanks are filled. Once this is done we are ready to go.
At 16:10 we leave beth 501 at Darsena Deportiva for the last time. A few minutes later Carmen phones to say goodbye. She is watching me with her family from their apartment which overlooks the harbour. I can see them waving. Thanks Carmen.
As we round the breakwater and proceed north the weather is not too bad. Northish F3-4 and a big swell. We will motor all the way as sailing is out of the question with this wind.
We are going to spend a couple of days in the Ria de Ares before heading south. The passage today only involves about 4-5 miles exposed to the open sea before we round A Marola and proceed into the sheltered waters of the Rias Ares and Betzanos.
I ponder whether to go to Ares or Redes. The pilot books and charts are inconsistent on the approaches to Redes so Ares it is. At 18:40 we anchor in 3.2m of water between the marina breakwater and playa de raso. The wind is from the north and the Rocna sets quickly. I veer 20m of chain.
During the evening water depth increases to 4.6m and the wind strengthens. I check our position regularly but we do not move, the anchor is well set.
It clears by mid morning which allows me to finish servicing the port foresail winch. Then I settle up with the marina and say goodby to Miguel and thank him and his colleagues for their help during my stay in La Coruña.
I need some provisions and get the bus to the supermarket and a taxi back. The engine starts first time and I leave it running while the fresh water tanks are filled. Once this is done we are ready to go.
At 16:10 we leave beth 501 at Darsena Deportiva for the last time. A few minutes later Carmen phones to say goodbye. She is watching me with her family from their apartment which overlooks the harbour. I can see them waving. Thanks Carmen.
As we round the breakwater and proceed north the weather is not too bad. Northish F3-4 and a big swell. We will motor all the way as sailing is out of the question with this wind.
We are going to spend a couple of days in the Ria de Ares before heading south. The passage today only involves about 4-5 miles exposed to the open sea before we round A Marola and proceed into the sheltered waters of the Rias Ares and Betzanos.
I ponder whether to go to Ares or Redes. The pilot books and charts are inconsistent on the approaches to Redes so Ares it is. At 18:40 we anchor in 3.2m of water between the marina breakwater and playa de raso. The wind is from the north and the Rocna sets quickly. I veer 20m of chain.
During the evening water depth increases to 4.6m and the wind strengthens. I check our position regularly but we do not move, the anchor is well set.