Galicia before the rally

We arrived in Galicia over a week ahead of the start of the Rally Bayona and so we started to explore the area a bit more on our own.  Our first stop was the anchorage of Isla de San Martin, the southernmost of the spectacular Islas Cies. A place we already knew and a good anchorage in southerly and westerly winds. All the anchorages at the Cies are very popular with the local cruisers and on weekends it gets quite busy but never tight on space. We enjoyed two nights at the first anchorage and then just moved across the canal to the next anchorage in the south of Isla del Faro, the middle island with a prominently situated lighthouse on top of a 180m hill. Incredible views from there, often with theater style fog patches enhancing the scenery.

Then we thought we have a look into the Ria de Vigo, the southernmost of the deep fjord like inlets that are so characteristic for Galicia. The first bay, Ensenada de Barra, seemed another popular anchorage, again beautiful and with a mile long beach populated by beach combing nudists.

Eventually on for some shopping to Cangas, right across from Vigo. There is a small marina, but we weren't sure we would get a place and so we anchored and explored by dinghy. Barely ashore, we recognized Peter Haden, also OCC, who we had first met on the previous Rally Bayona. Peter is an expert on the area here and helped us right away with getting a place in the marina and many other helpful hints. Exchanging stories over a few glasses of Albarinho wine with Peter and other OCC members, two days went by quickly.

With still a few days before  the rally start in Bayona, there was a good opportunity to look deeper into the Ria Pontevedra, the next inlet to the north. Especially so, as this Ria isn't really on the track of the rally. We went in the whole length where at the end there is a little round island called Tambo behind which there is an excellent anchorage. The island itself is off limits and belongs to the Navy. There isn't really anything military going on on the island, at least as far as we could tell, but a patrol boat comes by twice a day to make sure nobody is landing there. The rumor is, that the military is keeping the island because around it are the best razor-blade shells of Galicia and they want them for themselves. 

Wether true or not, the place is still fine as one can easily go by dinghy into Pontevedra or only a short dash north, to Combarro, a renovated old fishing village. Nice looking, but a bit of a tourist trap and with a very expensive and not particularly friendly marina. Our long dinghy trip into and through Pontevedra was nice, but as we did it at low tide, there wasn't any place where we could land without burying our feet knee-deep into mud.

In a nice write-up, another OCC member described the Tambo anchorage as 'sticky', because you tend to stay there for several days without any particular reason. We too liked it and sent two nights there. For us the stickiness inly showed when we tried to retrieve our anchor: Our anchor and some 40 meters of chain came up covered with extremely sticky mud.

After another quick overnight stop at the Cies, we finally went into Bayona and the Monte Real Yacht Club, to join the rally and to await our son Felix and friend Floortje, who were rolling in with their old VW camper van.