A Coruna to Ria de Camarinas

Hi everyone,

Yesterday we sailed westward towards Cape Finisterre.  We're now anchored in a quiet Ria 16nm NNE from the cape.

En Route

We departed in company with Norwegian yacht Ellinor whose young crew we met in Marina Nautico in A Coruna.  They too are on their way to the Med.  Their boat is a Contrast 33.  We followed them out of the marina and we sailed westward together.  It's always fun to 'pace one's self' against a similar vessel!

Here's our track and graphs...

Zen Again Track

Arrival Track

Passage Graphs

Here are the vital stats for the passage…

    • Distances/Speeds

        • Route Distance = 52nm

        • Logged Distance = 49nm (log under-reading is improving)

        • GPS Distance = 55nm

        • Duration = 10 hours

        • Average speed over ground = 5.5 kt

        • Minimum boat speed = 3.5 kt

        • Maximum boat speed = 8 kt

    • Weather

        • Minimum wind speed = 8 kt

        • Average wind speed = 15 kt

        • Maximum wind speed = gusts to 29 kt

        • Apparent wind angle range = 40 to 150

        • Seas up to 1m NE

        • Swell up to 2m NW

        • Broken cloud gradually clearing, scattered showers

    • Engine

        • Total = < 1 hour

On departure we were close-hauled sailing out of A Coruna.  We bore away onto a beam reach as we passed the Tower of Hercules lighthouse.  We had a light NE wind with a left-over NE sea and a NW swell.  Lumpy.  The wind was just about enough, at 10 knots apparent, to drive us through the slop at 4 knots.

Norwegian Yacht Ellinor

Early Morning Start

Passing the Tower of Hercules

We sailed west under full sail including the staysail.  By midday the wind was increasing as a large dark cloud crept up behind us.  We put a reef in, fully furled the staysail and partly furled the yankee.  The increased wind really helped us along and the wind backed to the N which helped us keep to our route.  The shower ended up passing behind so we didn't get wet.

We shook out the reef in the main when the wind veered to NNE and lightened off.  From there we broad reached WSW until we could gybe south past Cabo Villano and into the Ria.  We motored past the Camarinas sea wall, northwards to the anchorage off Playa Lingundia.  We anchored in 6m to allow for the 3.5m drop in tide.  Only one other yacht here.

View north while entering Ria

Arrival Celebration!

We enjoyed a glass of wine while watching the local dinghy fleet racing in the bay.  We expect to spend two nights here on anchor.  Tis a nice spot.