Once again it was wall to wall blue sky. We left Cangas around 11 ish and motored for the first hour as there was no wind. We had hoped to go over to Isla de Cies and anchor but we had heard from 3 sources that a permit was now required to anchor there and it would take a few days minimum to get one. One source was a couple from Portugal who were insistent that you could get fined and then on reading a mid year update to the RCCPF pilot book, we saw that the need for a permit was required with "aggressive attitude from the Guadia Civil" if you didn't have one.
Instead then we headed direct for Baiona (as they say in these parts). The wind appeared around noon and we had a very pleasant 2 hour sail into the harbour. We moored up in the Baiona sport marina with the help of the marinier. Very substantial pontoons and a chandlers. Showers and toilets are a bit basic (in portacabins). The office speak good english and they have wi-fi (via a login name and password). Easy to get fuel. Price with the passport is just under 30 Euros per night.
For the first time in 6 weeks, there were a number of British boats. We had seen the odd one since leaving La Coruna but it seems very few venture up into the Rias. Nice to have a chat to someone in English for a change.
Rick and Connie on Calaloo were anchored just off the marina so mid afternoon they joined us for a wee drink in the rather hot sunshine (it has been warming up significantly). We had last seen them in Seaport marina in Inverness at the start of the Cally canal. They had stayed in the canal for a few weeks and so we ended up ahead of them for our sail down to Spain. Looks like our timing was easier for the Biscay crossing as it took them 9 days in some very bad weather. We have also heard the same story from other boats. In the evening we had a wander round to get or bearings. Looks a nice place if a little full of tourists.
One very funny incident was along the main street along the sea front. Blue flashing lights everywhere. Traffic at a standstill. Council electricians buzzing (oh no!) around.
(how many galician council workers does it take to change a light bulb?)
It turns out it was a large electric cable that had fallen down into the road and hence only small cars could get past - hence the chaos. These four guys were using a ladder to hold the cable up to let the traffic clear. God knows how they are going to sort this one out. I only hope this isn't the cable that supplies power to the marina.
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