Rolling in Ribadeo
We were up early for the 43nm trip to Ribadeo, somewhat sleep deprived from our bumpy night in Cudillero! We departed at 07.00 with a little more than half tide again and the exit was straightforward. During a morning of light winds and a fair sea state we took it in turns to get some sleep in the bank. We were in for a long slog – for the first 6 hours averaging under 4 kts with our feeble propeller!
Cudillero – beautiful but bumpy!
Apart from the pictures, this post is of most interest to the sailors among you. We had heard that Vudillero was beautiful, but had been warned (through Crusing Association resources, as well as by Angel of Aviles) that the entrance was tight, and tricky/dangerous with a big swell – and that the mooring balls are not well laid out or designed.
2 Asturias Road Trips
Whilst waiting in Aviles for an opportunity to head West we hired a car and took the opportunity to visit rugged Asturias; in part a vast wilderness, home to wolves, vultures, mountain cats and the last population of brown bears in Western Europe. In this mountainous area the Roman advance across the Iberian peninsula was slowed, and it required Emperor Augustus and 70,000 legionnaires to conquer the region.
Aviles – countryside, culture and coal dust..
We left Gijon with the promise of a grey windless day and a 23nm motor to a large harbour that barely gets a mention in the Reeds Almanac because the harbour is a bit of an industrial hell hole. The following photographs will not contradict that view, but would the town of Aviles make up for the harbour as we had read in more than one blog? We hoped so.
Spilling Sidre in Gijon!
First – for the sailors following us – there is no sailing activity in this episode – but we will give detail of Puerto Deportivo Gijon, in the heart of the city (we didn’t visit Marina Yates Gijon, a long walk out at the commercial harbour). The marina facilities were very good, and included washing and drying facilities (from memory 8 euros for wash and dry). The marina is not cheap at around 39 euros a night, however for Cruising Association members there is a 30% discount.
Crossing the Bay of Biscay
………and sailing most of the way without getting beaten up!!!
Our passage plan for crossing to Gijon showed a total distance of 243nm (280 land miles). A first waypoint was set after 33nm from Les Sables, just East of the Rochebonne Plateau with a least depth of 4 metres. Waypoint 2 was at the entrance of Gijon harbour, some 208nm farther on, and just 2nm from the marina.
Les Sables D’Olonne
Preparations for Biscay interrupted by a wedding!
As we arrived at Les Sables D’Olonne we picked up leading lights very easily – two flashing lights, clearly visible during daylight. As we entered between the breakwaters (to either side) we erred towards starboard, where the dredged channel runs, keeping a close watch on all the traffic coming and going.
Back Out To Sea
We were invited to a wedding in Bergerac on 12th May and ideally wanted to be in Les Sables D’Olonne by that time and hire a car. If adverse weather had prevented that then we would have headed back to Redon and gone from there. However once the wedding is over we will be looking for a window to cross Biscay, and Les Sables D’Olonne is a good place to wait and set off from.
Down River to Arzal
Val and I have undertaken numerous sizeable DIY projects over the years and to the bemusement of our friends we actually enjoy getting our hands dirty. We had antifouled Calypso at the end of last season (using a product that can be left out of the water for 9 months without losing its effectiveness) and were in need of work – so we offered to help Adam and Lynne antifoul and polish Charisma. After 2 nights at Redon we headed downstream towards Charisma’s appointment at the Foleux boatyard.
Up River To Redon
On leaving Arzal we immediately headed up river, beyond La Roche Bernard, and anchored in a spot recommended by Adam and Lynne Bispham who had anchored Charisma there – just short of Port Foleux, in 6 metres of water and on a short stretch of river between 2 bends, surrounded by trees and wooded meadow, on a beautiful hot summer’s day (remember this was the 21st April, most unseasonal!)