Logbook – Santander to Gijon 13 Aug 19

The strong winds from the day before had abated and left us with some good sailing winds for our trip to Gijon.  We’d planned an early start to get to Gijon at a reasonable time and so get some shopping and laundry completed.

We were not the first up and away, several yachts all heading East had similar ideas and the route to Gijon rapidly became a maritime version of the M5!

We set off in the dark and this was the first time Andy had departed with navigation lights.  The departure was flawless and the shortcut behind the Îles to Mouro cut off a couple of miles.

By 0900 the winds had increased to allow us to sail and we slowly caught up with a catamaran that left earlier than us.  With the right winds Eclipse can really fly.

The scenery of North Spain reminds you of both Cornwall and Wales.  Inland is the long distance pilgrimage walk of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  It has become even more popular since the relapse of the 2010 movie with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.  

A common image from both the movie and the coast is the Spanish commitment to wind turbines.

Gijon is another large port, serviced by 2 marinas.  The visitor’s pontoon is immediately on the left as you enter the marina and offers 2.5m, shallowing as you go further in.  We selected a berth on the visitors pontoon as the marina captain had long since departed. A kind French sailor lent us a card for the showers, which was a relief after long days and a couple of nights at anchor. The showers are a short walk across the marina next the capitainerie. There are about 10 showers and are clean but the lighting system is push button there is an unnerving moment when you are plunged into darkness mid shower. 

That evening we were treated to an atrocious rock band on the beach, one of many during the week of festivals we had happened upon. But as they are mostly free, and the punters a little worse for wear, the events are still well attended.

The next morning was a resupply but no laundry.  In a happy coincidence, a skipper I had once worked for in the MOD and sailed to the Scillies with, Mike Griffiths, was also checking out of Gijon at the same time I was settling the bill.  Great to see him every so briefly and amazing as I had mentioned him just the day before!

After refuelling we were off again, this time towards Luarca.