Bayona
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Bayona
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Bayona (in Galician Baiona) is a historic town in NW Spain, immediately south of the Ria de Vigo, blessed with a well-sheltered natural harbour as well as a yacht club and marina. It is the most southerly of the Galician harbours and, if heading south, the last proper harbour before the Portuguese border. Founded as long ago as 140BC, the town was granted a royal charter by King Alfonso IX of Leon in 1201 and in 1370 briefly became the seat of King Ferdinand I of Portugal until returning to Spanish hands in 1372. Perhaps the town's most famous claim to fame was the arrival here on 1 March 1493 of the Pinta, the fastest of Christopher Columbus's three ships on his epic voyage of discovery and therefore the first to bring the news of the discovery of America. A replica of the vessel is now permanently moored in the harbour. Bayona has been for many years a popular staging post for yachtsmen crossing the Atlantic or cruising along the Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal. The Monte Real Club Nautico de Baiona has traditionally offered visiting yachts a berth on its marina-style pontoons or buoys and since 2003 the new Puerto Deportivo de Baiona offers a further 370 marina-style moorings. For those sailing on a budget or simply 'wanting to be alone' there is ample space to anchor in the bay. To the north at the entrance to the Ria de Vigo are the wonderful and unspoilt Islas Cies, the like of which few cruising yachtsmen will encounter again until arriving in the Caribbean or the Aegean.
Local Weather
Shelter in the bay of Bayona is excellent in virtually all conditions. Even NE winds, with a fetch of nearly two miles across the bay, do not seem to pose any major threat.
Sources for Weather forecasts:
- See Spain.
Charts
- British Admiralty
- 3633 - Islas Sisargas to Rio Mino
- 1730 - (approaches only)
- Imray
- C48 - A Coruna to Porto
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
Straightforward, but there are offshore rocky islets to be avoided both to the west and north. If arriving from the north, there is a useful passage inside the small rocky islets of Islas Las Estelas north of Bayona which has depths of 4.0 - 5.0 metres. It saves up to an hour, but should not be used if there is a big swell running. As you approach Bayona bay, the fortress of Monte Real on the headland protecting it from the west is conspicuous.
Berthing Options
Visiting yachts have four main options in Bayona:
- to berth on the pontoons of the Monte Real Club de Yates;
- to pick up one of the 20 moorings of the same Club (which are priced the same as the pontoon berths);
- to berth in the expensive Puerto Deportivo de Baiona, or
- to anchor in the bay of Bayona, clear of the MRCY moorings and the fairway.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
The Monte Real Club de Yates
The Puerto Deportivo de Baiona
Anchorages
- There is a small anchorage in 8.0 - 10.0 metres just east of the yacht club buoys. Be sure to leave the fairway to the fishing boat jetty clear or you will learn some Spanish swearwords!
- It is also possible to anchor off the beach of Playa de Ladeira about a mile to the east, although the shelter is less good here and the anchorage would probably become untenable in strong northerlies.
- The Islas Cies five miles north of Bayona have several wonderful anchorages off dazzlingly white beaches. Sadly, however, access is now strictly controlled and a permit is needed (you will be heavily fined if you don't get one). For details, visit: Galician Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, also Atlantic Islands of Galicia (currently in Spanish only). The easiest way is to visit is to ask the yacht club to organise a permit for you (details needed here of current charges).
Offshore Islands and Groups
- Islas Cies (five miles NNW - several anchorages but permit now needed Islas Cies)
- Islas Las Estelas (two miles N - no anchorages)
Yacht Repairs and Services
Marine Stores
Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.
Repairs/Yards
Most repairs can be organised through the yacht club. Also hull cleaning and painting, joinery and a diver.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
Fuel pontoons at yacht club and marina are both open from 0800 to 2200. Marina pontoon has minimum depth at low water of 2.5 metres. Water and electricity at all berths at both club and marina.
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
The old town of Bayona has great atmosphere and the mediaeval street plan is a delight to explore. The replica of the Pinta moored in the harbour can also be visited. There is a good walk up to the Vierxe da Rocha, a huge statue of the Virgin on a rocky promontory above the town. The park surrounding the statue has lots of shade under the pine trees and is an excellent place for a picnic. If you are lucky enough to be here on the last Sunday in August, there is a huge festival, with fireworks, traditional dancing, Galician pipe bands and an outdoor barbecue charcoal grilling sardines for the faithful.
Grocery & Supply Stores
Supermarkets, bakeries and provisions shops in the old town. The bread here is some of the best to be found in Spain.
Eateries
Several good 'rustic-style' bodegas up the hill in the old town.
Internet/WiFi
WiFi (free) at yacht clubs and at marinas.
Laundry
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Garbage Disposal
Bins at the yacht club and in the marina. Also on the fishermen's jetty if you are at anchor.
Transportation
List transportation (local and/or international.)
Routes/Passages To/From
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Bayona at the Wikipedia
- Canal Principal de entrada a la Ría de Baiona -- notes on navigation towards the Bay of Bayona (in Spanish only)
References & Publications
See Spain.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- August 2000 --Atheneoflymington
This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
Contributors to this page
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Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington, Vadim |
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