Vendée and southwards
I’d make for Île d’yeu next, 45 miles south-east of Belle Île. Port Joinville marina can be busy, but Yeu is a gem, bathed in southern warmth and almost Mediterranean joie de vivre. Rich light glows on pantile roofs, whitewashed walls and bright flamboyant hollyhocks. There are mouthwatering beaches and anchorages for lazy summer days.
Yeu is a practical jumping off place for Spain, though you might continue down to La Rochelle or Royan before heading offshore. La Rochelle to Santander is 200 miles and Santander is a magnificent harbour to enter. However a 240-mile passage from Yeu to Gijón lands you nicely west of the Biscay corner and well on your way. One drawback is that the direct track leads less than ten miles outside Plateau de Rochebonne, though this curious shoal is no danger in fair conditions. Gijón has an excellent marina next to the old quarter of Cimavilla.
Pressing on from here, you pass Spain’s glorious Asturias coast before reaching the Galician rias. Cudillero is 26 miles from Gijón and then it’s a longish day to Ría del Barquero, a nostalgic favourite of mine where we anchor off Vicedo village. Now you only have to round Punta de la Estaca, before turning the corner towards La Coruña
– the classic staging post for yachts heading south.