42°15.6'N 008°46.3 W Monday 24th August

Sanxenxo Ria de Pontevedra, then Cangas, Ria de Vigo

Sun returned, had a couple more lazy, swimming days in the Ria de Pontevedra off Sanxenxo. The first night we were woken by knocking on our hull, 3 chaps dressed in black in a RIB shining a torch like something out of James Bond. Turned out they were doing a sweep of the bay, someone had reported seeing a man set off swimming during the night who had not re-appeared. Then another boat joined in the search. Then the helicopter joined in, using huge searchlights over the water. Another knock about 4.30 am asking the same questions. The helicopter did long slow sweeps in a grid pattern for about 2 hours. He was low enough for us to feel his down draught. All in all, a sleepless night for us and for them. The next morning the Guardia Civil were out as well as the lifeboat. As far as we know they did not find anyone, alive or dead, and stood down the search in the early afternoon.

We sailed on Sunday down to the Ria de Vigo, a good fast sail in cooler sunshine, past the Islands of Cies that we want to visit, to anchor off the Ensenada de Barra, just inside the Ria. Huge number of boats there, and big. The further south we go, the smaller we get it seems! And we discovered, the beach would not have done much business for the likes of M&S, a nudist beach with mostly chaps strutting purposefully about! Unfortunately the Spanish diet seems to have affected the majority of males here so that they seem to lead with their stomachs - not a pretty sight.

Today, a return to a bit of mist and murk, so have ducked into Cangas to see if we can make progress on our Permission for the islands. We had an email from them, have yet to fully translate it. Also talked to their office on the phone and seem to be getting conflicting stories.

Sorry no picture from the nudist beach (we stayed on the boat out of harm's way - properly attired). R the frogman instead.

Happy birthday to Nick for 22nd. And congratulations to Sophie on your promotion - well done and well deserved!