43°44.0'N 007°52.2 W Sunday 12th July

Carino, Galicia

Left Santa Marta Friday evening and felt our way out of the ria and over the sandbar, this time with no problems thanks to our earlier recce. We were accompanied across the bay by large snub-nosed dolphins which have a relaxed graceful, diving in-and-out of the water motion, unlike the smaller common dolphins' acrobatic and enthusiastic leaps and twists. Anchored off the fishing port of Carino, just in the mouth of the ria and to one side of the beach. Stayed a day, explored the town and watched the Spanish take their very serious constitutionals up and down the beach (4 trips up and down equal a couple of km?). Richard borrowed a neighbouring British boat's large 25 L fuel can and cycled off in search of diesel for the boat, and had the can's owners over for drinks that evening.

Sunny and warm, off to Cedeira in the afternoon. Need to get around Punta de Los Aguillones - Galician equivalent to The Needles.

43°39.3'N 008°03.9 W Wednesday 15th July

Cedeira, Galicia

Been here since Sunday waiting for weather. Had a murky trip over, drizzle!! Couldn't see the entrance or rocky bits as the visibility was so poor - shame as it looked might it could be spectacular. Cedeira is a sheltered spot with a little town bisected by its drying river. There are a series of little bridges to enable you to get from one side to the other. The northern side is the old town, narrow winding streets with little shops that look like someone's front room at home. The southern side is the new town with an esplanade and smart square and cafes, etc. We climbed out to the point and little lighthouse on day 2 and could see what we had missed on our arrival - a stunning rocky, wooded entrance. Again a strong fishing presence and we went to watch the local auction of the day's catch in surprisingly sophisticated and immaculately clean processing buildings.

The problem with the weather has been wind. It has been blowing a hooley and there are a few foreign yachts holed up here - 5 British, 2 French, 2 Spanish and 1 Swiss. The forecast resulting swell in Biscay was 3-3.5m (over 12 ft) so not nice, reducing to 2-2.5 today. We spent last night dancing around our anchor, but it held fine. Our neighbouring French boat dragged hers, but I think they were trying some battery charging in reverse a bit enthusiastically.

We have also developed a bit of a complex - looking in the bay from the headland above, we look minute (and the smallest boat there!) It is not helped by the fact that above French boat is a huge, dark-hulled 80 footer - we look like her dinghy!

Paul is flying into Coruna today, so although one would never leave if it felt unsafe to do so, one still feels anxious about getting there to meet him. So having watched the wind ease this morning, we decide to set sail for Coruna about 10.30 this morning. Big swell at first, but fairly light winds, dropping further throughout the day, and after 6 hours moored up in our first marina in ages, the Darsena in Coruna. A quick tidy up and meal to prepare, expecting Paul about 8.30-9.00pm