BOOK REVIEW | Atlantic Spain and Portugal – Cabo Ortegal (Galicia) to Gibraltar (Eighth Edition)

By Henry Buchanan

A fascinating and, in many respects, delightful part of the world is well described in this very professionally presented pilot book. Having used many of Imray’s pilots over the years, your reviewer is both familiar with and very appreciative of them. They are always first rate but, as they move through several editions, they inevitably improve so as to become almost indispensible. This, being in its eighth edition, is an excellent example of that.

Your reviewer is also very familiar with this piece of coast, albeit a few years ago. So, while the details of ports and their facilities and attractions may have changed a little, the overall geography, history and culture of the area have not. From that background it is clear that Mr Buchanan describes that coast exceptionally well.

A quick scan of the book is likely to make the scanner want to cruise that particular stretch of coast both soon and slowly. The author makes it look particularly enticing and, from personal experience, it is. 

As with all Imray pilots, this book is far from being just a very enthusiastic tourist brochure. It presents the good, the bad and the ugly of the coast in the sense of pointing out clearly its dangers, obstacles and weather threats. It is all encompassing, an invaluable guide to that very attractive coast. 

Available from Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, St Ives, UK.

Web: www.imray.com


Neil Baird

Co-founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Baird Maritime and Work Boat World magazine, Neil has travelled the length and breadth of this planet in over 40 years in the business. He knows the global work boat industry better than anyone.