We took a 3-month contract in Real Club Nautico de Vigo and used it as our home base to explore this beautiful part of Spain. We cannot speak highly enough of the staff at this yacht club, especially David Vilas. We had a problem with our generator, I e-mailed David around noon from our anchorage about 1-hour sail away, he promptly replied that a mechanic would be on the dock at 4 Pm waiting for us.

This marina is right in the heart of Vigo, a vibrant city that has much to offer, almost everything is in walking distance around the marina, good transportation access also, planes, train, and busses.

The big advantage of having a home base was to be able to charge batteries, take on fresh water, replenish food and have a safe berth when the weather turned nasty. Some of the worlds best beaches are within 1.5 hours sail.

The Marina Davila Sport is in a huge industrial estate and VERY far from everything but could be a good option for overwintering. We found the staff there unpleasant compared to other places. You’d need a bicycle just to get out of the industrial estate. Ten minutes ride out and then another 5 min to the pleasant town of Bouzos. Good chandlery there. Vigo is another 30 minutes bike ride or taxi.

Punta Lagoa Marina is another marina worth considering for overwintering, also far out of town but 10 minutes from the airport. It has space for larger vessels and many foreign boats stop there on their travels. It has a boatyard and large travelift as well as in water storage. It is worth negotiating the price. There is nothing else on site. They had a restaurant but did not receive planning permission so had to remove it. The closest town with two supermarkets, a launderette, butcher, baker, hardware store etc is about a 20-minute walk straight up a mountain. Lovely views. €5 taxi ride. The tiny restaurant at the top of the hill (10 min walk) is delightful. Fresh fish only and you get to pick your catch from the daily display. The staff at Punta Lagoa are very helpful and will call taxis, print tickets, etc on request.

Puerto Deportivo Baiona had ample space on finger pontoons with electricity and water. Price was a rather expensive €43.54 a night – charged us for 14m (we’re 12.2m). Toilets/showers simple but adequate. Wifi very slow and poor reception on outer pontoons. Fuel pontoon is near the slipway on the alongside pontoons and in a fairly shallow spot. Laundry can be done at nearby “Wash-up” self-service launderette in town (turn left as you exit marina). Marina gates are unsecured and locals have been observed docking at free finger pontoons to take on crew, water and even wash their decks during siesta 🙂

The town has good shopping including a chandlery across the road from the marina. Explore the small back alleys and climb up the built-up cliff for a good view of the area. The castle is worth a visit and offers a nice walk along the battlements (€1 per person).

Anchoring possible just off the mooring field east of Puerto Deportivo or off the beach with the bungalows (Playa de Ladeira) if there is no swell. In this area, you can pick up free Wifi from the bungalows.

Baiona 08/2014: As mentioned above the Monte Real Club de Yates is quite expensive (€62 for 14m) while the Puerto Deportivo is only €42. We spent only the first night in the Club and moved for our remaining stay over to the Puerto Deportivo. Facilities in the club are admittedly better. If you take a berth with a mooring in the Club instead of one with a finger pontoon, prices are comparable.

On the outer visitor pontoons in Puerto Deportivo, they have only the 32A electricity plugs. Bigger diameter than the standard CEE. We were offered an adapter for €50 deposit, but as we encountered this type of plugs regularly now we bought one for 36 in the adjoining chandlery.

There is a laundry in the club for €12,50 (goes with the berth price I guess) but no in the Puerto Deportivo. There is one in town close by, but that one is no self-service.