The sailboat regularly sails 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 cruise in stages, 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 sail at night, with the organization of guards and the 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.
25 kilometers walking need some physical preparation. Choosing well your shoes, socks and clothing, and not carrying your backpack too much, help greatly. Fortunately, if for any reason you cannot or want to continue the march, there is transport at all times to get to the hostels and rest.
Day 0.- Afternoon / night: Accommodating the availability of the pilgrims, we welcome on board throughout the afternoon and Friday night. Once installed, and after stamping the accreditations of the pilgrim 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 dinner (expense not included in the price) in a restaurant in the port itself or its surroundings, a moment that we use to, depending on the weather conditions, explain the first stage, departure time, wave forecast, etc. Upon returning to port, the necessary clothing for the next day is checked, the departure time is set and, if necessary, the shifts of the guards.
Day 1.- We leave the bay of Santander early to be able to travel the 90 miles to the port of Gijón. You have breakfast on board, either before leaving, or while sailing. All breakfasts on board are included in the price. The crossing, like the rest of the days, is carried out eminently under sail, but the motor will be used as support in the event that the weather conditions advise it to arrive in Gijón before 7:00 p.m. For this reason, you can also eat on board (included in the price). Whenever he is sailing, the pilgrim would participate in all the nautical tasks that he wishes. The crew will be happy to teach those who do not 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 your 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 port marina to wash up and prepare to tour the city and have dinner (dinners are not included, since they are all made on land).
Day 2.- We get up early again to travel the next 90 miles to Viveiro. Breakfast and lunch on board included. The travel plan is similar to that of the previous day, crossing 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 crossing is shorter, you usually get up early less, as long as there is no headwind. After passing Cape Ortegal, the course this maintained until that moment is changed, beginning to fall towards the south. Ferrol is left to port and enters the La Coruña estuary, shortly after having finished the meal 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 section of the Camino on foot. Dinner in La Coruña is not included in the price either.
Day 4.- At around 09:00 we started walking, after having breakfast on the boat. If there is availability in the port, an auxiliary raft would take us 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 very point. The first day they travel between 25 and 30 kilometers. It is eaten with sandwiches or small stops in bars on 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 having breakfast (not included) the second day begins, about 25 kilometers, more comfortable than the previous day. You eat on the way, in the same regime, and you get to the outskirts 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 early on foot, since 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, we leave at 17:00 to La Coruña. At around 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 get up early and after having breakfast on the boat we leave 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 port is small but very comfortable, and the facilities are very well cared for. In the port itself there are three restaurants to choose from for dinner.
Day 8.- Without haste, because the sailing is going to be long, we have breakfast and leave Ribadeo on the way to Santander. It will be 150 miles, a little more than 24 hours to contemplate the coast, admire the Picos de Europa, greet the dolphins, pleasant conversation, steer the wheel, handle the sails, rest your feet, etc. We eat, have dinner and have breakfast on board, to arrive in Santander early in the morning on Wednesday. It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to each other, we exchange hugs and directions, and we return, hopefully happy, to our homes.
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