Ria de Pontevedra
Combarro to Sanxenxo
30/May/2007 18:07
Quite a bouncy night last night and I didn't get all that much sleep. We were anchored in water ranging in depth from 2.5 to 4.8 metres with winds from the SW up to F5 with a longish fetch.
No problems but I didn't want to spend another night off Combarro. We seem to be in a Navtex blackspot an so are not getting our normal weather forecasts. The morning radio forecast for Finisterre is predicting SW 5-7 so I decided to go back to Sanxenxo.
We weigh anchor at 11:00 and are all fast in a visitor berth at Sanxenxo marina at 13:45. I had expected this to be an expensive marina but high season starts on Friday so the daily cost now is €9.34. On Friday it will triple.
No problems but I didn't want to spend another night off Combarro. We seem to be in a Navtex blackspot an so are not getting our normal weather forecasts. The morning radio forecast for Finisterre is predicting SW 5-7 so I decided to go back to Sanxenxo.
We weigh anchor at 11:00 and are all fast in a visitor berth at Sanxenxo marina at 13:45. I had expected this to be an expensive marina but high season starts on Friday so the daily cost now is €9.34. On Friday it will triple.
Sanxenxno to Combarro
29/May/2007 10:36
Woke up at 05:00 with the boat bouncing in short choppy seas blown up by and overnight F4-5 southwesterly. Checked the position and our anchor was holding just fine but it was not a good place to be with that wind.
After getting Kiriwini aboard we weighed anchor at 07:00. I had decided to move up the Ria to Aguete which was well spoken of in both pilot books.
Unfortunately when we got there at 09:00 the pontoons were derelict and clearly not in use. After 15 minutes we left and set off for Combarro where we anchored at 10:25 in rainy unsettled weather.
Lighthouse on Isla Tambo, Ria de Pontavedra.
Combarro Village with low lying cloud.
For much of the day it continued to rain with variable gusting winds. At around 19:00 the rain stopped and I was able to row ashore for a look around Combarro. It is a small fishing village which is something of a tourist attraction because of a small labyrinthine section of traditional Galician stone fisherman's houses.
Waterfront in Combarro with a lot of Horreos. These are found all over Galicia, usually stone built and used to store agricultural produce. They are built on stilts and the discs or mushrooms between the Horreo and the stilts are to stop rats getting inside.
It is very pretty and many of the houses have been restored, others are being restored and the rest probably will be. How long they will remain houses for local fisherman remains to be seen. A small marina is being built with a development of modern apartments near the harbour. Already at least 8 of the old houses have become t-shirt/souvenir shops and I noticed at least 5 newly restored houses for rent.
Would benefit from some modernisation...
After getting Kiriwini aboard we weighed anchor at 07:00. I had decided to move up the Ria to Aguete which was well spoken of in both pilot books.
Unfortunately when we got there at 09:00 the pontoons were derelict and clearly not in use. After 15 minutes we left and set off for Combarro where we anchored at 10:25 in rainy unsettled weather.
Lighthouse on Isla Tambo, Ria de Pontavedra.
Combarro Village with low lying cloud.
For much of the day it continued to rain with variable gusting winds. At around 19:00 the rain stopped and I was able to row ashore for a look around Combarro. It is a small fishing village which is something of a tourist attraction because of a small labyrinthine section of traditional Galician stone fisherman's houses.
Waterfront in Combarro with a lot of Horreos. These are found all over Galicia, usually stone built and used to store agricultural produce. They are built on stilts and the discs or mushrooms between the Horreo and the stilts are to stop rats getting inside.
It is very pretty and many of the houses have been restored, others are being restored and the rest probably will be. How long they will remain houses for local fisherman remains to be seen. A small marina is being built with a development of modern apartments near the harbour. Already at least 8 of the old houses have become t-shirt/souvenir shops and I noticed at least 5 newly restored houses for rent.
Would benefit from some modernisation...
Puerto Piedras Negras to Sanxenxo via Isla de Ons
28/May/2007 17:39
After breakfast we left Puero Piedras Negras at 10:35 bound for Isla de Ons. There was not much wind and we sailed slowly south gradually gaining speed as the morning wore on.
At 12:10 we passed the northern end of Isla Ons and anchored off Playa de Melide at 12:50. What a lovely spot.
At anchor off Playa de Melide, Isla de Ons
I rowed ashore in Kiriwini. The beach was deserted apart from one couple at the far end. The water was clear, the sand soft and warm underfoot just lovely.
A path led up and away from the beach through a forest of gum trees. It could easily have been in Australia.
The east coast is less harsh and far more verdant with woods of pine or eucaluptus
Looking south along the east coast with the only jetty in the distance.
The west coast is exposed to the full wrath of the atlantic. No beaches or trees here, just harsh jagged rocks and stumpy bushes.
A sailors memorial, typical of many on this coast. This one was to Anxo who was lost at sea aged only 22.
Vegetation found on the west coast. These plants are about 2-3 feet tall and are a little inland of the coast.
Those closer to the cliffs are only around 6" tall.
The lighthouse at the island's summit. A new slate paved road was being built to it leading up from the jetty.
There was also a helicopter pad and two banks of solar panels to provide some of the power.
I got blisters after walking most of the way round Isla de Ons. A really enjoyable stop.
We weighed anchor at 16:55 and sailed over to Playa de Silgar just west of the large marina at Sanxenxo where we anchored at 19:05.
Sculpture on a rock off Playa de Silgar
Sanxenxo is a largish visually challenged holiday town with a huge modern marina. I rowed ashore landing on the gently shelving Playa de Silgar for a walk around.
A Canadian yacht built in 1980 by it's owner who has been wandering around the world ever since. we were later to moor at the same dock.
Late evening, Playa de Silgar. It wasn't so tranquil the following morning.
At 12:10 we passed the northern end of Isla Ons and anchored off Playa de Melide at 12:50. What a lovely spot.
At anchor off Playa de Melide, Isla de Ons
I rowed ashore in Kiriwini. The beach was deserted apart from one couple at the far end. The water was clear, the sand soft and warm underfoot just lovely.
A path led up and away from the beach through a forest of gum trees. It could easily have been in Australia.
The east coast is less harsh and far more verdant with woods of pine or eucaluptus
Looking south along the east coast with the only jetty in the distance.
The west coast is exposed to the full wrath of the atlantic. No beaches or trees here, just harsh jagged rocks and stumpy bushes.
A sailors memorial, typical of many on this coast. This one was to Anxo who was lost at sea aged only 22.
Vegetation found on the west coast. These plants are about 2-3 feet tall and are a little inland of the coast.
Those closer to the cliffs are only around 6" tall.
The lighthouse at the island's summit. A new slate paved road was being built to it leading up from the jetty.
There was also a helicopter pad and two banks of solar panels to provide some of the power.
I got blisters after walking most of the way round Isla de Ons. A really enjoyable stop.
We weighed anchor at 16:55 and sailed over to Playa de Silgar just west of the large marina at Sanxenxo where we anchored at 19:05.
Sculpture on a rock off Playa de Silgar
Sanxenxo is a largish visually challenged holiday town with a huge modern marina. I rowed ashore landing on the gently shelving Playa de Silgar for a walk around.
A Canadian yacht built in 1980 by it's owner who has been wandering around the world ever since. we were later to moor at the same dock.
Late evening, Playa de Silgar. It wasn't so tranquil the following morning.