Intelligent Dolphins
Day 17 - Monday 11th August, 2003
Log | Other Boats | Ramprasad | Spain
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Despite the hot weather we are dogged by poor visibility, due to the fog that seems to be hugging the coastline wherever we go. Even so the coastline is simply breathtaking, and most of it is littered with wind farms.
On the way we were joined by 5 dolphins who seemed to swim with us for miles. Dolphins are curious creatures. There is much talk of their supposed intelligence and having sailed with a number of pods of them I can understand why. As soon as they make an appearance we run to the bow of the boat, camera in hand, jumping up and down like a bunch of 5 year olds. Somehow the dolphins know this and play up to it. They dart between port and starboard bow, often swimming on their side so they can look up at you. They are very definitely show-offs. Two of them who swam everywhere together would disappear under the front of the boat, shoot off ahead on the other side and then, as if rehearsed many times over, both jump out of the water. Then, like a circus act, a third dolphin joins them and they repeat the act, knowing full well you’re above, watching on. They repeat this for what seems like ages and then, as if called in for tea by their mum, swim off, knowing full well they’ve given you a performance to boast to y our mates about.
El Ferrol is a major naval and commercial port, though there is little to entertain the yachtsman on land. That said the ria has a spectacular entrance, lined by forts either side. We anchored up but didn’t go ashore, which is why I didn’t send a postcard from El Ferrol. Instead we watched the red moon replace the golden sun and change the landscape from a heady mix of green vegetation and mountains into a twinkling Rupert Bear bay.
 Entrance to El Ferrol |
 Spanish Armada leave Ferrol in 1588 |
Log | Other Boats | Ramprasad | Spain
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Boat: RAMPRASAD
Distance: 9.4 nm
Leg: A Coruna to El Ferrol
Destination lat/longN 43° 28
W 8° 15
El Ferrol
Population 77,859
Country Spain
Ferrol 43°28'N 8°15'W is an Atlantic-facing city in the Province of A Coruña in Galicia in north-western Spain. Today, is best known for the Navantia shipbuilding yards and for having been the capital of the Spanish Navy's Maritime Department of the North since the time of the early Bourbons of Spain. Before that, in the 17th century, Ferrol was the most important arsenal in Europe. The city was the birthplace of the Spanish General Francisco Franco in 1892, and was officially known as El Ferrol del Caudillo from 1938 to 1982.
After various local dominations, Henry II gave the town to the Andrade family. It was only considered a safe harbour under the House of Austria, but became a leading naval centre under the Bourbons. For the first time, the immense strategic importance of the port of Ferrol came to be understood and it was made Capital of the Maritime Department of the North, formed under Ferdinand VI and Charles III for the defence of the Spanish Colonial Empire in America. Rapid and well-planned improvements followed, and the position of Ferrol was made almost unassailable from the sea, the difficulties of disembarking troops on its precipitous coast being heightened by its protecting line of fortresses, particularly San Carlos. The Naval shipyards of A Graña and Ferrol, were built between 1726-1783 and produced ships protected with copper sheets from the rolling mills of Xubia. In 1772, The Spanish Royal Academy of Naval Engineers of Ferrol was created -- the first such academy in Spain.
Source: Wikipedia
