Cruising - Camino de Santiago
HISTORY OF THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO The remains of St James the Greater are said to have been transported from the Holy Land to Galicia in a stone carrying boat in 44AD and entombed in Santiago. The tomb was discovered in the 9th century and Santiago went on to became the third most peopled pilgrimage after Jerusalem and Rome. These trails start almost everywhere from Galway to Trondheim in the north and Hamburg to Naples in the east. The most
because of the connection with St James and his last journey. Once again the club showed what it could produce, this time really indoors on tables of six with more of the haute cuisine in its offerings. Not for the first time did we pass a large aquarium where anxious eyes looked out. In the hotel just after midnight, we left at seven the next morning for our last and eventful day. Breakfast was supposed to be on board but Albino was pacing up and down and anxious to be away. Not that he mentioned it, Albino was the master of good humour, competence and very easy going. He hardly ever stopped laughing, or talking, or singing. And if he did, his wife or one of his friends would pick up the baton. The problem was that fresh north winds and poor visibility were forecast from 11 and there was a tricky passage between the Illas Sagres and the mainland to navigate, estimated time of arrival eleven. We got away with minimal delay, the sister ship tarried and much was the shaking of heads as to the trouble
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ancient are from Vezelay, Tours and Arles in France and converge on the Pyrenees at the Spanish border and take the mountain route to Santiago. The first nautical Camino was in 2018 and on the north coast. New routes might be approved by the Cathedral. A belief in God is not mandatory. A journey made with an open mind and a spirit of enquiry is all that is required by way of motive. And how could these things be absent on such a voyage?
they were storing up. There were some big seas and heavy thumps mixed with pitiful visibility but the rocks slipped by and we had turned the corner before the wind piped up. Downhill to the Real Club Nautico Portosin where yet another inspection of facilities, including the restaurant, where delicious fragrances filled the air was followed by another stamp in our Credential and much photography. The sister ship arrived and could not function till all aboard had showered off the salt. To my surprise there was no lunch! This we had in the town and forsaking the delicious looking empanada in fond expectation of greater things to come, I was astonished when people started getting to their feet!
The last lap
Our next stop was a shop on the pilgrim trail where we were given sticks, a stamp on the passport and a shot of something restorative to aid us on our way. This liqueur was made from a pungent smelling herb
FEBRUARY 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
ABOVE End of all Caminos at Santiago BELOW CENTRE The spectacular sight of the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela BELOW RIGHT A ceremony new to all
which we stuffed in our buttonholes. More significant was the next stop at Bertamirans where the zero kilometre road sign marked the beginning of the mandatory 10km hike to the cathedral where our nautical Camino would end. We eventually arrived at the Cabildo de la Catedral, the place where all pilgrims' Credentials were examined, validated and if found satisfactory, the Compostela signed and sealed. The atmosphere had changed amongst us sailors: gone was the banter and small talk, we were all quite serious and moved. Along with us from the boat were tired looking cyclists, trekkers of every age and nationality and others not fitting any classification at all. Clasping our certificates we made our way, as all do, to the shell in the Praza do Obradoiro that marks the end of all Caminos and after that to the Cathedral where the bones of St James lie in a tomb beneath the altar. Our journey was over.
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