Back round the edge of Biscay instead of straight across . . .

[webcraft]

We are currently in Camarinas and still hoping to head for Falmouth /Scillies / Ireland sometime mid week, but conditions are somewhat unsettled en route across Biscay and changing on a day to day basis, so we will look at the weather again on Monday or Tuesday.

If we get fed up waiting for a five day window then we have wondered about going round the coast:
La Coruna
Gijon
La Rochelle
?????????

Has anyone done this and what problems could we encounter? (Apart from it being a lot further). Where would we make for from La Rochelle with a view to short hops from there to Falmouth or the Scillies?

TIA,

Nick

 

[stevebirch2002]

If you go the long way then I will lose the bet of your arrival at Kilmore!!!!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Nick, we did La Coruna to Belle Ile in 51 hours - OK a bigger boat, but anywhere on the Brittany coast from about La Rochelle to Camaret is the same distance because of the shape of the west coast of France.

My point is that there seems to be little benefit in heading too far south, leaving a fair distance to move up the coast, its better to land as far north as you possibly can.

I would think this is much more realistic than heading for Cornwall or Ireland.

Best of luck - let us know your plan.

 

[Sgeir]

For some reason the words "finger" and "out" spring to mind. I've got ten bob hingin' on you bein' in Ireland on the 29th!

 

[tcm]

yep agree, i will be wimping around biscay from tuesday, tother way, big winds forecast. You just need to be ok leaving bilbao that you can make bayonee/gironde. Many ports aproacable if you don't fancy the night out.

 

[bilbobaggins]

The prognoses from a variety of sources infer that, once a frontal 'triple point' goes through your vicinity around 0001Sunday early am, then that should give just 3 days of fresh westerly and NW breeze, before another active system - with another behind - comes our/your way.

One might be tempted to make a bid for Brest/Camaret, but the likelihood of closing the French coast and the shallow-shelf with heavy weather quite close behind suggests the probability of a rather 'challenging' trip on a small boat. Maybe that's the sort of thing Adlard Coles was writing about in one of his books.....

Oh, and don't let BigNick entice you into a decision with his tales of a recent fast passage. He was asleep much of the time, and appears in only a couple of my many photos - usually about when the kettle boiled, or someone suggested a beer.....





/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TonyMS]

We did just this in May. Day sailed Camariñas, Corme, Redes, Cedeira, Barquero, Ribadeo, Aveiro, Lastres, Ribadesella, Santander. Then waited a couple of days for adequate weather for the big hop to La Rochelle.

If you have the time, it's a lovely trip, and it cuts the longest trip to 200m.

Cheers

Tony

 

[Sybarite]

There is an article in June's "Bateaux" which speaks about "Les Galernes". This is a local meteorological phenomenon between Santander (Spain) and Cap Breton (France). These are 'alongside surges' or 'coastal trapped disturbances' which can generate violent winds in just a few minutes and are potentially strongest along the Basque coast. They are generated when there is a marked difference in the temperatures between the land and ocean masses. There are two typical situations which generate them: the passage of a cold front or the intrusion of cold air after a period of calm sunny weather. Because the latter is not associated with any established weather pattern it's not forecastable. Typical situations are wind passing to F9-10 and temperature lowering by up to 13°c in less than 20 minutes.

This is explained by the coastal range of mountains (Cantabriques 1500m) which separate the mass of hot air on the land from the much cooler ocean air. The hot air on land rises creating a vacuum which draws in the cold air and generates cyclonic disturbances which accelerate quickly drawing in even more hot air through the Foehn effect and the whole thing can spill over the mountain range generating winds of up to 65 knots - in clear air.

The other inconvenience is that there are long stretches of coast where there is no shelter and so, in bad weather, southern Biscay can become a bit of a cul-de-sac.

A straight line between NW Spain and the tip of Brittany is rarely the optimal route as far as sailing is conerned; the passage of weather fronts usully suggest making a loop, either towards land or towards sea depending on the evolution of the fronts and their associated wind maps.

As always weather forecasting is essential when crossing Biscay in a small boat.

John

 

[jimbaerselman]

Your proposal may involve a longer distance, but waiting for a 4 or 5 day weather window will probably take a lot longer while the jet streams remain so far south!

With one day weather windows it's easy to hop round to Gijon, and even in rougher weather your longest passage between two harbours safe to enter in any conditions will only be 70nm. For shorter safe hops, stop at Cedeira or Vivero.

So, I'd pootle around to Cedeira or Vivero while waiting optimistically for a longer window. If one arrives - great - set off for wherever. If it doesn't, it's only a two day window needed to nip across to La Rochelle from either place. And you'll arrive in one of the most delightful Brittany towns. There's not usually much advantage in going further east around N Spain - you just lose westing and risk more windward work.

That is, if passage making is your objective. Since I love pootling, and have time, I'd wander slowly along the whole coast. Great unspoilt cruising!

And of course, if the window extends while you're on passage - fine - head further north.

Nothing like being flexible, is there? And you'll see some delightful places while waiting for your window!

 

[TigaWave]

Biggest problem is too much of the local cider in Gijon before heading for France.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Ah. But don't they pour it from a great height to allow the alcohol to evaporate?

 

[jamesjermain]

Hmmm! I'm due to set off from Torquay for La Coruna on Tuesday - wish me luck, and if you don't hear from me again, think kindly of me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The Yachting Monthly Biscay Triangle (for it is she) goes from La Coruna to La Trinite from where participants make therie way home by any route of their choosing. Many stop off at Audierne before tackling the Raz and Chenal; others potter around the Atlantic Isles for a bit before doing the same thing.
La Trinite is a good port of call but I wouildn't put it above La Rochelle.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]


Oh, and don't let BigNick entice you into a decision with his tales of a recent fast passage. He was asleep much of the time, and appears in only a couple of my many photos - usually about when the kettle boiled, or someone suggested a beer.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Ahem...... no beer en route, IIRC /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Made up for it in Vannes though !!
Big post to follow on the blog later tonight, when I have written it .

 

[webcraft]

Thanks everyone, especially Jim for his local knowledge.

Thing is, we have been away for a year and are looking forward to getting home - we were going to save France for another year. But . . . if it's the only way to get the boat home without having to buy new brown trousers then we will have to start looking at it as an option.

Two questions . . .

a) How far is it from Gijon to Camaret

b) Do any of the weather pundits reckon there is ANY hope of a 5-day window of less horribleness occurring before mid-August?

We nearly went Thursday morning, glad we didn't now as we would have been just about at the junction of Fitzroy, Plymouth and Sole, all of which are threatening possible gale 8 later. (Well, Fitzroy is promising it in fact . . .)

BilboB, yes, not much hope of a four or five day gap in the next week or so, I agree. Someone told me they saw a LR forecast of a big high coming to visit in August - anyone else heard of this?

James, good luck. We may even see you in La Coruna if we fancy a change of scenery.

 

[webcraft]

Re: ten bob

Sgeir,

If you want Fairwinds in Ireland by the 29th then you are quite welcome to come over here and sail her back . . . we will go by air.

Suggest you ask Steve Birch to crew for you . . . .

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Gijon to Camaret is just over 300 miles, 010degsM as the seagull flies to the west of Chausse de Sein.

HTH

 

[webcraft]

Re: Gijon to Camaret

Thanks for that Nick,

So not much of a mileage saving then - still needs a 3-day window and takes you into the bay . . . here to Scillies is just 426nm

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Re: Gijon to Camaret

Fair point, but don't forget the shipping lanes between the two TSS's. In the bay, we saw beggar all traffic - all of about 10ships, fishing boats and yachts the whole way.

You could lay over in Camaret, and then head for Scilly when you have another forecast.

Alternatively head for Scilly from the outset, and keep Camaret as an option.... maybe.

 

[Scillypete]

Re: Gijon to Camaret

Looking at the latest weather info if you left there on wednesday the forecast is currently showing nothing more than force five and six for the first 24 hours from the SW. After that the wind stays pretty much SW'ly or a bit more S'ly and eases 3-4 until Saturday.

course thats what they have predicted now and it is gauranteed to change within an hour of your departure.

Camaret to Scilly is 120nm should you end up there.

 

[Sybarite]

When do you expect to be at La Trinité James?

John