La Coruna

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WorldNorth AtlanticSpainNW SpainLa Coruna
La Coruña
Port of Entry
43°21.794'N, 008°23.112'W Chart icon.png
lat=43.36324 | lon=-8.3852 | zoom=13 | y
DarsenaDeportivaMarina.jpg
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The Darsena Deportiva Marina

La Coruña (in Galician A Coruña) is the second largest port of Galicia in NW Spain and was the region's capital for over four centuries before Santiaga de Compostella took over the role in 1982. One theory of the origins of its name is from the prominent landmark of Torre de Hercules, a 2nd century AD Roman lighthouse at the end of the peninsula on which the original pre-Roman settlement was built (Latin: columna = column). The town prospered during the Roman era and was even visited by Julius Caesar, but declined after the fall of Rome and was subjected to attacks from invaders such as the Vikings and Normans right up to the late Middle Ages. From the 12th century onwards a process of slow recovery began and La Coruña became the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia in 1563. The strategic importance of the harbour is reflected in subsequent efforts to secure it, by an English fleet under Sir Francis Drake in 1589 (unsuccessful) and a later French army in 1809 (successful), when the British expeditionary force was evacuated from the port following the Battle of Corunna during the Peninsular War. However, the city took up arms and expelled the French only five months later. In the seventy years since the end of the Spanish Civil War, La Coruña has seen an exponential increase in population with the city's increasing industrialization to today's total of nearly quarter of a million. During the peak tourist season of July and August, this total more than doubles, with the region's excellent beaches and investment in tourist infrastructure being the main attraction. The old town is famous for its characteristic glassed-in balconies, called galerías, which are reminiscent of the stern galleries of 19th-century wooden warships and are a very practical solution for the frequent rainy days of winter. For the cruising yachtsman, La Coruña is a good staging post for a passage across the Bay of Biscay and offers marina berths in two separate basins (with a third under construction) as well as a sheltered anchorage inside the long Dique de Abrigo (breakwater) at the entrance.

Charts

British Admiralty
1111 - Punta de la Estaca de Bares to Cabo Finisterrre
1094 - Rias de Ferrol, Areas, Betanzos and La Coruna
1110 - La Coruna and approaches
Imray
C43 Santander to A Coruna

Weather

Local weather conditions?

Sources for Weather forecasts: See Spain.

Passages

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

None.

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Navigation

Provide any navigation notes especially any dangers or peculiar local conditions here.

Entrance

La Coruna is a port of entry for Spain. For details see Entrance: Spain.


Berthing

There are three (and possibly four) options for yachts arriving in the harbour:

  1. The smart new Marina Coruña to starboard on passing the end of the breakwater,
  2. the Marina Real in the Darsena Deportiva de la Coruña, the former fishing harbour of the old town a mile to the west of the breakwater,
  3. the Puerto Deportivo El Puntal, Oza in the Darsena de Oza, run by the Club Maritimo de Oza (which may accept a small visiting yacht), or
  4. alternatively, a yacht can anchor inside the breakwater clear of the mooring buoys wherever there is space.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

The new Marina A Coruña

Marina Coruña

Marina Coruña/wiki/La_Coruna#Marina_Coru.C3.B1a
Marina icon Marina Coruña [[La Coruna#Marina Coruña|Marina Coruña]] 43°22.033'N, 008°23.159'W
Port of Entry

This is a new 700-berth marina (100 for visitors) it is situated at the root of the breakwater at the entrance to the harbour, between it to the north and the castle of San Anton to the south. Yachts berth where directed on finger pontoons protected from swell by two long wavebreak pontoons. Maximum length 50+ metres and maximum draft 10 metres. The facilities are reportedly excellent here. Water and electricity. Toilets and showers. Laundry. Bar/restaurant. Fuel berth. Chandlery. Supermarket. Cashpoint. WiFi (free). Boatyard with travel lift (35T) and all maintenance and repair facilities.

[email protected]; Tel: +34 (881) 920 482; Fax: +XX (XXX) XXXXXX; VHF channel 09
Address: Paseo Alcalde Francisco Vazquez s/n, 15001 La Coruna, Spain
Hours: 1000-1400 and 1600-1900
Prices: For the latest prices see Price Listing

Marina Real

Marina Real/wiki/La_Coruna#Marina_Real
Marina icon Marina Real [[La Coruna#Marina Real|Marina Real]] (Darsena de la Marina) 43°22.054'N, 008°23.758'W
Port of Entry

Is situated in the Darsena Deportiva de la Coruña close to the old town. Operated by the Real Club Nautico de la Coruna, the two basins of the marina have a total of 353 berths (40 for visitors). Maximum length 30 metres. Maximum depth 6.0+ metres. Water and electricity. Toilets and showers. Laundrette. Fuel dock. WiFi. Travel lift (32T). Supermarket, banks and pharmacy nearby. The reception pontoon is situated at the hammerhead of the first pontoon opposite the entrance.

[email protected]; Tel: +34 (981) 117 141; Fax: +34 (981) 22 64 85; VHF channel 09
Address: Muelle Arzobispo Gelmírez s/n, 15006 - La Coruña, Spain
Hours: 0800-2200, 7 days a week
Prices: For the latest prices see Price Listing

Puerto Deportivo El Puntal, Oza

Puerto Deportivo El Puntal, Oza/wiki/La_Coruna#Puerto_Deportivo_El_Puntal.2C_Oza
Marina icon Puerto Deportivo El Puntal, Oza [[La Coruna#Puerto Deportivo El Puntal, Oza|Puerto Deportivo El Puntal, Oza]] 43°20.991'N, 008°22.867'W

s a 350-berth marina developed in the Darsena de Oza, about one mile due south of the harbour breakwater. It is run by the Club Maritimo de Oza. The marina is only suitable for small yachts up to 8.0 metres. Depths in the marina are 2.0 – 3.0 metres. It is not known if the club accepts visiting yachts (information needed).

[email protected]; Tel: +34 (618) 694 755; Fax: +XX (XXX) XXXXXX; VHF channel 09

See also details of the nearby marinas at Marina Sada in the Marina Ares about 10 miles to the east.

Anchorages

N of Breakwater

N of Breakwater/wiki/La_Coruna#N_of_Breakwater
Anchorage icon N of Breakwater [[La Coruna#N of Breakwater|N of Breakwater]] 43°21.603'N, 008°22.699'W
Anchor in the lee of the breakwater in 5.0 - 8.0 metres.

Mera

Mera/wiki/La_Coruna#Mera
Anchorage icon Mera [[La Coruna#Mera|Mera]] 43°22.779'N, 008°20.641'W
Anchorage in bay of Mera two miles to NE of breakwater? Details needed

Amenities

Facilities
Water In Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Electricity In Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Toilets In Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Showers In Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Laundry In Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Garbage Bins in Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Supplies
Fuel In Marina Coruña and Marina Real
Bottled gas Camping Gaz (blue bottles) at Ferretería Araujo, Calle del Marqués de Pontejos, 12
Chandlers
  • Efectos Navales Pompo at Avenida Primo de Rivera 8 is an excellent ship chandlery. It is more a fishermen's and ship chandlery than a yacht chandlery. Fair prices.
  • Náutica Pompo, just a few houses on the left at Avenida Primo de Rivera 11, is the associated sail clothing shop
Services
Repairs In Marina Coruña and Marina Real; Marina Coruña appears to offer a wider range of maintenance and repair skills through its associated company Marina Seca
Internet
  • WiFi in bothMarina Coruña and Marina Real
  • In Coruña a public WiFi is available in several places (e.g. Plaza de María Pita): 'SmartCoruna'.
Mobile connectivity ?
Vehicle rentals Numerous outlets in the old town

Provisioning

Several supermarkets and chandlery-type shops in the old town.

Eating out

  • Calle de Franja near Maria Pita square has some good fish restaurants
  • Rey de Jamon, a small characterful bar at the top of Calle de Franja, is a great place for lunch, surrounded by air-curing hams

Transportation

International: Coruña Airport. A special airport to old town coach line brings you to the Marina Real/Paseo Maritimo for just €1,50. Weekdays every 30 minutes, weekends once an hour.

Tourism

The old town of La Coruña is most attractive, with its glass-fronted galerías lining the harbour and atmospheric narrow streets winding behind it. There are several interesting churches worth visiting, such as the 12th century Iglesia Santiago, the 15th century Iglesia de Santa Maria del Campo and the 18th century Baroque church of San Jorge near the main square of Maria Pita.

A walk along the peninsula to the Tower of Hercules, originally constructed by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, is a must to inspect this symbol of the city (it even features on the municipal coat of arms). For a fee, you can climb the interior staircase to see the wonderful views from the gallery at the top.

Glass-fronted galerías, La Coruña
Main square, La Coruña
The Roman lighthouse of Torre de Hercules

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

References

See Spain.

Comments

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Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington


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