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We headed out of Vilagarcia to head North to Ria de Muros y Noia and farther North to Finisterra, which we didn’t feel we had explored properly on our way South las year.
To break up the journey, and to see what Ribeira is like, we called in there on the way, motoring the 10 nm from Vilagarcia against a very light NW breeze.
We could have anchored off the beach to the East of the marina. Several yachts were in the anchorage, seen in this photograph.
However we wanted to see what the town and the marina were like and only wanted to stay the one night.
We radioed ahead and the marinero responded and met us on a newly replaced visitor pontoon.
The East side of the pontoon is for alongside berthing and that is where we were put by a very friendly and helpful marinero.
To the West are “slime lines”. The marinero said that in quiet periods he puts boats alongside on both sides, but the slime lines are used when it gets busy.
We went through the check in formalities and it was confirmed that with the discount “passeporte” the usual 20 euro cost was reduced to 17.
The showers and toilets were clean and ample. The marina is run by a “Club Nautico”. There is a bar downstairs, closed tonight (Monday) but the restaurant/bar would be open (that closes Tuesday). The upstairs bar and restaurant was a very nice space, with extensive glazing looking out over the marina and an outside balcony with seating. Unfortunately we were party’ed out and after walking into the town retired to bed early!
Ribeira is a working town and fishing port. There is a reasonable sized centre with many shops, a large supermarket near the marina and a reasonable chandlery. Whilst the town is not pretty, this is a good place to stock up, fill tanks and wash the boat. It would be a good (and low cost) place to sit out high winds.
And a good place to visit the atmospheric clubhouse. We liked the marina and wouldn’t rule out visiting again, but we left early the next morning and hence this is a short post!
Although maybe there is time for a confessional. As we left the pontoon the next morning Paul realised (as he revved the engine from tickover) that the engine note was wrong and immediately circled around, docked and shut down the engine.
He then remembered, before going to investigate, that he hadn’t reopened the engine cooling water intake after cleaning out the raw water filter.
So we now have a new protocol on Calypso – whenever the engine seacock is closed then the engine battery key will be removed and placed with the logbook!
Fortunately we have a “Speedseal Life” cover on the raw water pump, which protects the impeller from short periods of dry running – and the engine had been run for 3- 4 minutes only and no damage was done.
We hope!!
Distance traveled since leaving Xufre – 192 nm