LEAVING BAIONA AND THE SPANISH RIAS, 25 July

We chose Saturday the 25th July for the departure date so as to be able to "sail" down the Atlantic coast of Iberia from Baiona. The weather forecast specified North Westerly winds of 15 to 20 Knots. A lot of the time during our travels in the Spanish Rias the weather has been lovely but there has been a desperate shortage of wind, so we have had to use the engine quite often which detracts from the enjoyment of sailing.

Unusually on the Friday evening before departure the sea state became quite rough in the bay of Baiona and we were ready to cancel our departure and stay another couple of days. Typically here the weather is erratic. High pressure from the Atlantic meets low pressure systems over the land causing different winds happening within a few miles. We have experienced huge variations between what is forecast and reality. On one occasion two French yachts were blown onto rocks because a strong unpredicted wind suddenly happened. When talking to wise local cruisers we were told that there are abnormalities inside some of the Rias whereby the mountains and sea "bend" the winds into completely different directions.

Anyway on Saturday morning the sea state had settled a bit so we decided to depart Baiona.

It was a good decision even though the swell was about two meters, and we arrived in Porto ten hours later. Average speed 6.5 knots.

Here are some more pictures of Baiona and area: