The sailboat sails regularly from Santander to La Coruña, where its crew and passengers walk the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, to return again to La Coruña and Santander, an 8-day trip.
This activity is characterized by its double facet of navigating and walking the Camino De Santiago.
The navigation is a staged cruise, which means that there is a schedule to adhere to. This means that if the wind is not with us, we must use the engine to reach the ports at the scheduled times. We will also navigate at night, with organization of guards and use of electronic equipment. Meals on board are also marked by weather conditions and the wave, which greatly affects. The collaboration of all is essential, but not essential: each one will contribute their grain of sand, to the extent of their possibilities and desire.
Walking 25 kilometers requires some physical preparation. Choosing shoes, socks and clothing well, and not loading the backpack too much, help a great deal. Fortunately, if for any reason you cannot or do not want to continue the march, there is transportation at all times to get you closer to the hostels and rest.
Day 0.- Afternoon/night: Accommodating ourselves to the availability of the pilgrims, we welcome them on board throughout the afternoon and evening of Friday. Once installed, and after sealing the pilgrim's accreditations in the port, we proceed to explain the operation of the sailboat, its active and passive safety elements, and the services it has. Later we move to have dinner (expense not included in the price) in a restaurant in the port itself or surroundings, a moment that we use to, depending on the weather conditions, explain the first stage, departure time, forecast of waves, etc. Upon returning to port, the necessary clothing for the following day is checked, the departure time is set and, if necessary, the shifts of the guards.
Day 1.- You leave Santander Bay early to travel the 90 miles to the port of Gijón. Breakfast is eaten on board, either before leaving, or while sailing. The journey, like the rest of the days, is carried out eminently under sail, but the engine will be used as support in the event that the weather conditions advise it to reach Gijón before 7:00 p.m. Therefore, it is also eaten on board. Whenever you are sailing, the pilgrim would participate in all the nautical work that you want. The crew will be happy to teach those who don't know, clarify doubts or have the knowledge of those who have sailed before. There will be time to work, cook, read, listen to music, chat or meditate, each according to their preference. Upon arrival in Gijón, after mooring and picking up the boat, and again stamping the accreditations, the crew normally uses the services of the marina in the port to clean up and prepare to tour the city and have dinner (dinners are not included, since they are all made on land).
Day 2.- Again we get up early to cover the next 90 miles to Viveiro. The travel plan is similar to the day before, touring the Asturian and Galician coast, at the foot of the Picos de Europa. The entrance to the port of Viveiro is a spectacular estuary, surrounded by mountains and vegetation. The town is small and cozy, and the restaurants are reasonably priced. The marina, simple but comfortable.
Day 3.- As the journey is shorter, people usually get up less early, as long as there is no headwind. After passing Cabo Ortegal, the east course maintained up to that moment is varied, beginning to fall towards the south. Ferrol is left to port and enters the La Coruña estuary, shortly after having finished lunch on board. That afternoon there is more time, which is managed between preparing the backpack for the next day and touring the old part of the city. It is important to have everything prepared, including the stamping of the accreditations, because the next morning we start the stretch of the Camino on foot. Dinner in La Coruña is not included in the price either.
Day 4.- At about 09:00 we start walking, after having breakfast on the boat. If there is availability in the port, an auxiliary raft would bring us closer to the Burgo estuary, where we would disembark at the beginning of the promenade, already on the English Way. If not, we would walk through the city to that same point. On the first day, between 25 and 30 kilometers are covered. It is eaten based on sandwiches or small stops in bars along the Camino, until reaching the Mesón do Vento, where the first night is spent in a three-star hostel, in double rooms with individual service (service not included in the price). .
Day 5.- After breakfast (not included) the second day begins, about 25 kilometers, more comfortable than the day before. You eat along the way, in the same regime, and you reach the vicinity of Sigüeiro, where you have dinner and spend the night in another hostel, with the same characteristics and services as the previous one.
Day 6.- We start the last stage on foot early, as we will try to arrive in Santiago before 12 noon, to participate, whoever wishes, in the Pilgrim's mass. We proceed to collect the Compostela and after eating, from the Santiago station, depart at 5:00 p.m. to La Coruña. At about 7:00 p.m. we will find ourselves showering in the Marina of La Coruña, ready to take a short walk near the port and have dinner.
Day 7.- We got up early and after having breakfast on the boat we left for Ribadeo, eating on the way, remembering the incidents of our three days of walking and admiring, once again, the rugged Galician coast. The entrance to Ribadeo is spectacular, its small but very comfortable port, and the well-kept facilities. In the port itself there are three restaurants to choose from for dinner.
Day 8.- Without rushing, as the sail is going to be long, we have breakfast and leave Ribadeo on our way to Santander. It will be 150 miles, just over 24 hours of contemplating the coast, admiring the Picos de Europa, greeting the dolphins, pleasant conversation, steering the wheel, handling the sails, resting your feet, etc. We have lunch, dinner and breakfast on board, to arrive in Santander early on Wednesday morning. With great sadness we say goodbye to each other, we exchange hugs and addresses, and we return, I hope happy, to our homes.
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