Bayona
From CruisersWiki
| Bayona or Baiona
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 Bay of Bayona |
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.
Charts
- British Admiralty
- 3633 - Islas Sisargas to Rio Mino
- 1730 - (approaches only)
- Imray
- C48 - A Coruna to Porto
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.
Passages
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Islands
- Islas Cies (five miles NNW - several anchorages but permit now needed Islas Cies)
- Islas Las Estelas (two miles N - no anchorages)
Communication
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
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 Monte Real Club de Yates [[Bayona#The Monte Real Club de Yates|The Monte Real Club de Yates]] 42°07.358'N, 008°50.770'W Monte Real Club has three long piers with a total of 250 berths on finger pontoons, of which 40 are supposedly designated for visitors. Yachts of up to 50 metres and draft of up to 12 metres can be accommodated. Toilets and showers. Restaurant. WiFi. Travel lift (18T) and crane (1.0T). Very small hard standing (300 square metres). Additional moorings are available on 20 buoys north and east of the pontoons. Note: the charge is the same for both the pontoon berths and the buoys. Call Monte Real Club de Yates on the VHF.
- [email protected]; Tel: +34 (986) 385 000 ; Fax: +XX (XXX) XXXXXX; VHF channel 09
- Hours: 0900 - 1400 and 1600-1900 (office)
The Puerto Deportivo de Baiona
The Puerto Deportivo de Baiona [[Bayona#The Puerto Deportivo de Baiona|The Puerto Deportivo de Baiona]] 42°07.156'N, 008°50.571'W Puerto Deportivo offers 297 berths on seven pontoons, of which 14 are designated for visitors (assuming an average length of 14 metres). The visitors' berths are alongside the long reception pier linking the seven pontoons. Maximum length accommodated is 18 metres and maximum draft 5.5 metres. Water and electricity at all berths. Toilets and showers. WiFi. Travel lift (45T) and crane (5T). Fuel berth. Small hard standing (1600 square metres). Slipway. Call Puerto Deportivo de Baiona on the VHF.
- [email protected]; Tel: +34 (986) 385 107; Fax: +XX (XXX) XXXXXX; VHF channel 09
Anchorages
E of the buoys
Playa de Ladeira
Islas Cies
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Water | Water at all berths at both club and marina |
| Electricity | Electricity at all berths at both club and marina |
| Toilets | At both club and marina |
| Showers | At both club and marina |
| Laundry | ? |
| Garbage | Bins at the yacht club and in the marina. Also on the fishermen's jetty if you are at anchor. |
| Supplies | |
| Fuel | 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. |
| Bottled gas | ? |
| Chandlers | ? |
| Services | |
| Repairs | Most repairs can be organised through the yacht club. Also hull cleaning and painting, joinery and a diver |
| Internet | WiFi at both club and marina |
| Mobile connectivity | ? |
| Vehicle rentals | ? |
Provisioning
Supermarkets, bakeries and provisions shops in the old town. The bread here is some of the best to be found in Spain.
Eating out
- Restaurant at the club
- Several good 'rustic-style' bodegas up the hill in the old town.
Transportation
- The closest airport is Vigo airport (30 km)
- The closest train station is in Vigo
- There are buses every 30 minutes from Vigo on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays there are buses every hour.
Tourism
History
Give a short history of the port.
Places to Visit
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.
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
- Bayona at the Wikipedia
- Bayona at the Wikivoyage
- Canal Principal de entrada a la Ría de Baiona -- notes on navigation towards the Bay of Bayona (in Spanish only)
References
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.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Bayona and 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 |
