Vigo, Spain-based Ronautica has unveiled ambitious plans for a new 320-berth marina project in Bayona, Galicia. Work begins on the site in March 2002 and the first boats are expected to go in by the year’s end, says managing director Rodrigo Andrade Oliviè. Having developed the site, it also plans to manage it.

Some 30km south west of Vigo and a similar distance north of the Portuguese border, Bayona and its attractive old town makes for a popular sailing spot on that north-west corner of Spain, not only for locals but also for cruising yachtsmen. The protected harbour and its existing small marina are strategically well placed to provide a useful port of call for those cruising between northern Europe and the south, the town effectively being just round the corner from the Bay of Biscay.

Employing 45 people directly, plus utilising assorted contract partners, Ronautica not only develops marinas, but also makes pontoons and distributes marina equipment. And beyond its marina industry activities, it also builds around 50 of its own Barracuda-designed RO-260 and RO-330 sailing cruisers a year, runs a bare boat charter operation and owns two chandleries – one in Vigo and the other in Barcelona. It also acts as the Spanish importer for the Cruisers range of motorcruisers from the US and for Hobie Cat.