Galicia & Portugal, Leg 1 - Vigo to Porto, 26 April - 4 May 2024 (9 days)

This will be a mix of offshore and coastal sailing. The trip will be focused on cruising and training. In total, we should log up to 370 nautical miles and 60h in tidal waters.

Anticipated route:

Vigo - Sam Adrian de Cobres - Cangas - Cies Island - Combarro - Ons Island - Pobra do Caramiñal - Salvora Island - Baiona - Nazaré - Porto (Leixões)

We will be maintaining a watch system to ensure everyone is well rested and meals are prepared on time and maintenance is undertaken when necessary.

Elan Impression 45 ("Alcamaro")

Follow the boat on Marine Traffic (MMSI: 225995117).

She is a well-maintained boat, lifted out regularly to check hull, keel and prop. She is well equiped and prepared for ocean sailing. We will inspect the boat thoroughly before the voyage to ensure that every bit of equipment is absolutely ship-shaped.

General info:

• Year: 2015
• CE design category: A – Ocean
• Type: sailing
• Hull: monohull
• Length (LOA): 13.85 m (45 ft)
• Waterline length (LWL): 11.44 m (37.53 ft)
• Hull speed: 8.21kt
• Berths (Bunks): 8+2
• Cabins: 4
• WC / Shower: 2
• Beam: 4.18 m
• Draught: 1.9 m
• Air draft: 19.5 m
• Engine: 55 HP VolvoPenta D2-55F
• Fuel capacity: 215 L (Diesel)
• Water capacity: 560 L
• Displacement: 11.3 t
• Single spade rudder
• 2 composite steering wheels
• Sails: furling mainsail 46.79 m2, Furling genoa 52.47 m2
• Bow thruster
• Plastimo drogue

Equipment:

• Autopilot
• Bimini
• Swimming platform
• Dinghy
• Refrigerator
• Stove
• Sprayhood
• Radio/CD/MP3
• Socket 12V
• DSC VHF radio
• Handheld VHF DSC radio
• EPIRB
• Radar reflector
• Chart plotter with GPS and digital chartography charts
• Sextant Astra IIIB Deluxe
• PredictWind Offshore app
• Complete set of pilot books, almanacs and charts
• Pillows, bedlinen and towels for each crew member

Average weather conditions:

• Vigo
• Porto

Air and Sea temperature

The weather is generally a very mild in May. The average temperature during the day should be around 19° C, with a minimum of 12° C and a maximum of 24° C. The average sea temperature in Rias is of 16° C.

Wind and sea state

The average wind speed that area in April/May is 5 Bft.

The sailing season is usually from April to October when the North Atlantic low-pressure systems pass more to the north. The wind varies mainly from the west to north directions and rarely reaches the force of a gale.

At first glance, Galicia has an exposed Atlantic coast with a continental plate running close to the shoreline. However, we will sail a lot around the Rias (fjords) which are protected from the Atlantic waves by the islands that are part of the Maritime Natural Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia. The charm is to enter these fjord landscapes and discover this unique navigation area.

The route is divided into several passages with some night sailing. You will receive a certificate of passage to prove your sea time for sailing licenses. You will be an active member of the crew, and we will provide practical training on board to ensure safety and improve your sailing skills.

We give a great amount of responsibility to each crew member in running the ship so that you can gain a good experience and learn new skills as much or as little as you want. The skipper is an instructor and will find it difficult not to teach or coach anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest.

RYA qualifying passages

If you are an aspiring Skipper or Yachtmaster, it will be an excellent opportunity to gain bluewater miles, practice navigation, pilotage and COLREG skills so that you can be more confident and comfortable when taking a boat out to sea on your own.

The opportunity will also be there to act as a skipper (with guidance if needed from the skipper) for your RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifying 60M passages.

Main topics that you can learn or brush up:

• Maneuvering under sails & engine: berthing, hoisting and lowering sails, reefing, tacking, gybing, sail trim
• Safety: use of liferaft, lifejacket, EPIRB, PLB, AIS beacons, managing emergencies
• Equipment: use of Autopilot and VHF
• Weather forecasts and weather routing
• Ocean & coastal navigation: digital and traditional (including basics of astronavigation if of interest)
• Night navigation
• Pilotage and passage planning
• COLREGs
• Storm tactics and use of a drogue
• Life on board: organization of watches, nutrition, sleep management

Joining day - Vigo

We will spend the first day preparing and victualling the yacht, going over the safety routines and practices, getting up to speed with the boat and learning or refreshing all the basic sailing skills before we embark on the journey. Once we slip the lines there will be plenty of occasions to practice tacking, gybing, reefing, boat handling under the engine and all the other key skills we must have.

Vigo

Rande Bridge in Ria de Vigo

Vigo is one of the most famous cities sheltered from the ocean by the Cíes islands. Vigo's estuary opens to the north at Cape Home and to the south at Cape Silleiro. This is an estuary of treasures, because here, in the marvellous inlet of San Simón, there are dozens of sunken galleons loaded with gold from the Americas. Also, the estuary is home to some of Galicia's best beaches.

Galicia is dominated by bays similar to fjords called Rias (estuaries) that enter the land, at the end of which a river flows. In some places, they reach up to 12 nautical miles in the interior of the land and each offers a wonderful and protected navigation area. There are also a handful of islands that are also worthwhile destinations. They are part of the Maritime Terrestrial Natural Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia.

Rias have small fishing villages with simple harbours and good marinas nestled in a landscape of high wooded mountains and beautiful sandy beaches. And, of course, there is also gastronomy: Galicia is known well beyond the country's borders for its cuisine with tasty tapas, which are offered everywhere you visit.

Sam Adrian de Cobres - Cangas (16 NM)

From Vigo, we will first head towards the interior of the estuary of Vigo to enjoy our first day of navigation and to get hold of the boat. We will sail towards the "Strait of Rande" to pass under the bridge. The area is known for the famous naval battle of 1702 which was also the inspiration for Jules Verne's imagination who attributed the sunken galleons to the origin of the Nautilus treasures in his book "20,000 Leagues of Submarine Voyage". We can stop by the small port of San Adrián of Cobres located in "San Simón Bay" to have lunch.

Sam Adrian de Cobres

Cangas

In the afternoon, we will sail to Cangas, a small and friendly marina alongside an attractive fishing town.

Cies Island - Combarro (24 NM)

The Archipelago of the Cíes Islands (National Park) is of spectacular beauty. It is one of the most beautiful places in Spain. If the weather permits we will anchor and take a dinghy ashore to walk along its impressive trails.

Cíes Islands (National Park)

Combarro

Next, we leave the Vigo estuary to cross the cliffs of the "Costa de la Vela" until we reach the Ria Pontevedra. We will sail to Combarro, a typical Galician village with narrow streets, houses and stone granaries with many bars and restaurants.

Ons Island - Pobra do Caramiñal (Ria Arousa) (28 NM)

Arousa estuary is of immense beauty, full of mussel rafts and islets. We will try to make a stop on the Ons Island (National Park). You can hike to its lighthouse to see beautiful views.

Ons Island

Ria Arousa

In the afternoon we will sail to a well-preserved Pobra do Caramiñal fishing village. The town is vibrant and there are evening street markets.

Salvora Island - Baiona (36 NM)

We will try to make a stop on the island of Salvora (National Park) where we will anchor in its crystal water cove to take a walk to its lighthouse or visit the castle.

Cape Finisterre

Baiona

The Baiona town is attractive and thriving as a tourist resort, with well-protected beaches and a secure place in history as Columbus' first mainland landfall in 1493 after returning from the New World. This is commemorated by a replica of the Pinta permanently berthed in the harbour. Medieval walls surround the harbour and there are pleasant walks in the pine forest.

Nazare (160 NM)

Nazare is one of the finest beach towns in Portugal. These days, Nazaré's major attractions are the waves and surfing, thanks to the "Nazaré Canyon", a submarine geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of perfect giant waves. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometres along the coast, reaching a depth of 5000 metres.

Nazare town

Nazaré Lighthouse

Nazaré beach, with its mild climate and natural beauty, has one of the most ancient traditions connected to fishing in Portugal. It's not uncommon to encounter fishmongers who still wear the traditional seven skirts.

Finishing day - Porto (Leixões) (100 NM)

From Nazare we will sail to Porto. We will stop in Leixões which is conveniently located very close to the Porto Airport and the city. The center of Porto is 45 minutes away with the 500 bus along the Douro River.

Porto old town

Ponte Dom Luís Bridge

It was in the Porto that Portugal was founded in the 12th century and the Portuguese became a people and a nation. The region is crossed by the River Douro which enters Portugal between the ravines and mountains of the interior to flow through the entire World Heritage landscape where the Port and Douro wines are produced. It is from here that the wine is sent to the lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia.