Sangenjo

From CruisersWiki

Sangenjo (in Galician "Sanxenxo") is a popular beach resort with a very smart marina on the northern side of the entrance to the Ria de Pontevedra in NW Spain. It lies eight miles south of the Ria de Arousa and ten miles north of the Ria de Vigo, the last of the so-called Rias Baixas (lower Rias) before the Portuguese border. The town itself is quite pleasant, though not particularly interesting architecturally, but Sangenjo is a good base for exploring this part of Galicia, including the picturesque towns of Combarro and Pontevedra further inland.

Weather

The Illa de Ons acts as a natural breakwater at the entrance to the Ria, which does not suffer from the worst of the Atlantic swells. Sanxenxo itself is sheltered from all directions except SW round to SE. SW gales can be savage here, especially during the winter months, but the shelter in the marina is good.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• See Spain

Charts

British Admiralty

3633 - Islas Sisargas to Rio Mino

1732 - Ria de Pontevedra

Imray

C48 - A Coruna to Porto

Communication

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Islands

• Illa de Ons two miles offshore at the entrance to the Ria.

Navigation

There are no dangers in the approach to the marina, although note that a rocky ledge extends for some distance from the shore about 50 metres NNE of the entrance.

Berthing

The only berthing option s the Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos. Call on VHF channel 09 or telephone: +34 986 720 517 or [E-mail]. The marina office is straight ahead on entry to the marina at the end of a long waiting pontoon, where a yacht can berth while awaiting instructions.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• The Marina de Sanxenxo (established in 1998) is now known as Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I in honour of the Spanish monarch, who started the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 from here in November 2005. The marina has a total of 370 berths (40 for yachts in transit) on pontoons with all facilities. Maximum length 18 metres. Lowest depth in the marina is 5.0 metres. Water and electricity on all pontoons. Toilets and showers (excellent). Hard standing (4,500 square metres). Travel lift (65T). Mobile crane (5T). Fuel station. Security (24 hour). Considerable investment has gone into the marina in recent years and it is now one of the smartest anywhere in Spain, with superb facilities and an extremely well-appointed yacht club. Further details from: Website.

• The Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo occupies a building at the SW corner of the marina, in the 'crook' of the elbow of the breakwater. The club is very prestigious and well appointed and has already gained a notable reputation in international yacht racing, having fielded a three-boat team in the 2000 Admiral's Cup series in Britain and a winning team in the 2002 Sardinia Cup, which included King Juan Carlos himself. Facilities include bar, restaurant, gym, sauna/massage room, solarium, swimming pool, creche and games room. For further information, telephone: +34 986 303400 or see: Website.

Anchorages

• Combarro, seven miles up the inlet on the north side, is a delightful anchorage (though there is also a large new marina just S of the village). Anchor off the foreshore N of the marina in 5.0 - 6.0 metres on mud. Shelter good from all directions except S-SE. The village ashore is a gem. An alternative anchorage is on the NE side of Illa Tomba a mile to the south, where there is a sandy beach. Note: recent reports suggest that a marina is under construction in the harbour here, which may make the anchorage somewhat less delightful.

• Ria de Aldan, a small inlet on the southern side of the entrance to the Ria de Pontevedra, five miles SSW of Sanxenxo. Anchor in 5.0 - 6.0 metres in sand and mud. Shelter here is good from all directions except NW - N. It is even safe (although uncomfortable) in a SW gale.

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 marina office.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Water and electricity at all berths. Fuel berth (24 hours) to port on entry to the marina

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

While Sanxenxo itself is a relatively typical Spanish tourist town and not especially interesting from a historical or architectural perspective, it is well worth hiring transport or catching one of the regular buses to the small fishing village of Combarro seven miles east of Sanxenxo. Combarro is still a delightful and unspoilt fishing village (in spite of the big new marina there), which seems caught in a time warp. Most of its old granite-built houses, many of them with arcaded ground floors, still stand and the foreshore is lined with ranks of horreos (traditional Galician grain stores). Another three miles on the bus brings you to the mediaeval settlement of Pontevedra, which has a very picturesque old town with winding, cobbled streets overlooked by arcaded granite buildings. A delightful lunch spot here is the square of Plaza de la Leña opposite the Pontevedra museum. The museum itself has some interesting prehistoric and Roman treasures unearthed in the area and a remarkable replica of a frigate cabin. Also worth a visit is the Iglesia de Santa Maria de Mayor, the fishermens’ church, with its intricate carvings on the fascia and inside the porch. For those of a religious bent, there is the Santuario de las Apariciones, a set of lodgings where Lucia de Fatima is reputed to have had a vision of the Virgin Mary and which is now a centre of pilgrimage.

The Plaza de la Leña, Pontevedra	Iglesia de Santa Maria de Mayor, Pontevedra
Combarro waterfront	Restaurant with a view, Combarro

Grocery & Supply Stores

Good supermarkets and other shops in the town.

Eateries

• The restaurant at the Hotel Rotilio at the root of the marina breakwater is excellent (it recently gained a Michelin star)
• Good fish restaurants along the shore north of the marina

Internet/WiFi

In the marina.

Laundry

Can be organised through the marina office.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Car rental outlets in the town.

Garbage Disposal

Bins in the marina.

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Routes/Passages To/From

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

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

• Sangenjo at the Wikipedia

References & Publications

See Spain.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Personal experiences?

• One of our most memorable ever evenings at anchor was spent dining on caldeirada de pescado (fish casserole with potatoes and peppers) and albariño wine in a romantic waterfront restaurant in Combarro with a view of the Ria and our yacht Athene at anchor (see photo above) --Atheneoflymington.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Sangenjo and this page's details validated:

• August 2000 and April 2001 --Atheneoflymington

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington