A Coruna to the Rias
23 September 2020
Donna Cariss
We left A Coruna for a anchourage at Islas Sisargas really just to save on time the next day. It was 20 miles away, then it was 67 miles to the second of four Rias, Ria de Arousa. This one seemed to tick all the boxes for Tiger Tim and i. It wasnt all plane sailing as Cabo Finisterre is renouned for fog, and we was not disapionted. Also on route the VHF radio anounced that Orca were in the area and should not be approched, later we found out why. The Orca had attacked four boats in the area damaging rudders and injuring people. (search the internet. Its really scary). We anchoured in the first bay with shelter from the Atlantic swelland got our heads down. The next day we went to Porto O Xufre for fuel, we had noticed some vibration on the helm and once the fuel was purchased i had to reverse of the wall and the vibration turned to thumping i would have to investigate. Then we had to go back a little way to tha most beautiful anchourage Punta do Cabalo. Once anchoured i put on my mask and snorkle and jumped over the side and immediatley i saw the problem, a birds nest of monofiliment rope and netting around the prop. After 4 or 5 dives with a knife it was sorted. After sorting the boat we went ashore to the lighthouse bar for a few G and Ts then to the bar next door owned by Salvor and Suzan who made use very welcome. The next day we got the bikes out and cycled back to the town for procisions and obviously a couple of beers, then once back we folded the bikes and returned them to the boat. The afternoon was filled by swimming and messing about with boats as men do. Then we went back to the bar for our last night there. Salvor and Suzan made us unbelevably welcome with a large plate of muscles from his farm and a bottle of wine all on the house. All their family was there who wanted us to mix in with them, unbelivebly friendy, cant thank them enough, real ambassadors of their country. We also met the Plastic Terminator who kiyaks out to the island and pics up the rubbish (plastic_terminator) please check him out what a great guy, hes on instagram. The morning after we left for the fourth Ria, Ria de Vigo whilst watch out for the Orca, we saw none of them but we did have a pod of dolphins with us for 10 mins. See photos. We anchoured at the first bay on the north Punta Robaleira in a thunderstorm but once cleared you could have been anywhere, unbelivable beauty, i could have spent a season just in the four Rias. We spent 2 nights there and the first morning took the dingy into town 2 bays away for provisions. On the way we motored through a large pod of resident dolphins, whom played around the dingy and treated us to the same treatment on the way back, unbeliveble. It was soon time to head sou head southand leave this wounderfull place, heading for Porto and Lisbon