Sailing Today

A sainted path

Most of us have been there, the sky is grey, waves are creaming over the boat and we are huddled in the cockpit praying for a let up in the weather. Yes praying, whether religious or not we are closer to the elemental forces when afloat than we ever are ashore.

You will therefore be glad to know that it is now possible to combine the spiritual with sailing in a more tangible way. The Camino de Santiago, the long and wearisome trail, so long the reserve of the pedestrian and more recently the cyclist, has recently become available to the cruising pilgrim. And I don’t mean in a figurative sense, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela now recognises the Credencial del Peregrino, issued by certain yacht clubs, as equal to the same Credencial issued to the pedestrian pilgrim.

A voyage of 90 miles, a small collection of stamps obtained from yacht clubs along the way plus a short 10km hike to Santiago from Bertamirans are regarded as sufficiently meritorious to warrant the issue of the sought after Compostela!

How do I know all this? The Covid crisis has had its ups and downs and

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