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

[webcraft]

Re: Gijon to Camaret

We aren't in Gijon though . . . . it's 170 miles or so from here . . . straight to St Marys from here is 430 nm, and is still our preferred route.

You are right, at the moment a Weds departure looks like there might be a four day window - but there's a funny little blip between here and the Azores that might be going to wind up into something.

Seeing a clear window five days ahead at the moment of departure is what is required . . . hopefully it will be there when we look on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile we are in coiled spring mode . . . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And for those of you stuck in the floods - it's pouring down and blowing near gale force here at the moment as well . . . good acclimatisation for coming home.

- Nick

 

[AndrewB]

According to my log, Camaret to Gijon is 298 nm.

If you have time, it would be a crime to miss some of the beautiful harbours on the north Spanish coast between Camarinas and Gijon. Among my favourites are Caion, Cediera, Bares, San Ciprien, Ribadeo, Cudillio.

The crossing from Gijon to Belle Ile is 250nm and with a favourable wind requires a weather window of just three days.

There are also some nice harbours eastwards to Bilbao, such as Lastres, Barquera, Castro Urdiles, though it is many years since I was last there.

Incidentally, if you can, rely on FRENCH rather than the British or Spanish forecasts for crossing Biscay. In my experience, the British forecasts err too much on the pessimistic side.

 

[Plomong]

Some minor spelling corrections:

Cediera -> Cedeira, pronounced
<sed> <a>(as in hay) <ir> (as in iridium) <a> (as in aahhh!)
and with a rolled r !!!
Cudillio -> Cudillero
Barquera -> San Vicente (el de la barquera!!)
Castro Urdiles -> Castro Urdiales

As for Galernas, we had one last Sunday -- 50kt winds for about 30 minutes, decreasing afterwards.

Preceded by a strong southerly breeze superheated by Foehn effect in the coastal area.

Sequence as observed:
1) Wind NE/NNE F2/3 off the entrance to Bilbao harbour, strengthening.

2) Quite sudden change to S/SSW, with noticeable increase in temperature. Winds first F3 and increasing towards 4, later 5, still from S/SSW.

3) About 90 minutes later, a very sudden change of direction to NW/NNW, F5/6 initially, increasing to F8 gusting 9 and more within a few minutes.

Temperature dropped more than 10 degrees in about 10 minutes.

The key is point 2: If you detect it, get to port immediately. If shelter is more than 60 minutes away, it could be better to head out to sea, batten down the hatches and sit it out. With searoom, no problem -- a galerna does'nt last long, usually.

As for forecasts, last Sunday's galerna was forecast on local television from Friday onwards!!! and warnings were issued on local maritime radio stations on weather bulletins late Saturday and all day Sunday.

 

[AndrewB]

[ QUOTE ]
Some minor spelling corrections:

[/ QUOTE ]Thanks Plomong, serves me right for trying to spell them from memory. However they are spelt, they are still beautiful spots.

 

[charles_reed]

I\'ve done it

and it's far more fun than going straight across.

Would leave out la Coruna, delightful town, but appalling marinas and pricey. Anchoring is fraught, more than 10m and lots of foul ground behind the breakwater.

Suggest either Bayona or making for Camarinas. Latter is a delightful place and lots of recent good reports.

Ria Viviero, has an excellent marina.

Gijon rockbound entrance passage and extremely expensive and crowded in summer, I'd go to Ria Ribasdella or Santander in preference.

Don't miss Donostia (San Sebastian to Spanish), it's one of the gourmet capitals of Europe. Try the local Basque sailing club - give the Club Reale a wide berth.

It's a fairly easy run up the coast to la Rochelle - keep outside the 100m line and you'll have little swell problem, trouble is no ports of refuge on that coast, though Arcachon is fun; but only entering in fine weather, on flood and with up-to-date channel info.

PS Les Landes target area no exercises weekends - best time to scuttle up the coast.

 

[Sea Devil]

I did day sail from Bayonne all along the north Spanish Coast very easily - the South Biscay Pilot book if you have it gives all the places and it was really easy. I think I made about 5 stops but so many places to choose from...

In the North East corner I then did a day night day up to La Rochelle... Need to get the weather about right for that, as Arcachon is really tidal and it can be lumpy, in bad weather, if you abort into Royan or Port Medoc in the Gironde but very well buoyed.

From La Rochelle north it is easy to do 50 mile hops via the islands or harbours and there are stacks of places to go into...

It is very time consuming doing it that way but once you get to La Rochelle there is always the possibility of just heading out round the outside of Ushant if a settled spell comes in.. All the French marinas have excellent 3-4 day weather forecasts and charts and for the most part forecast the area much better than the Brits..

Michael

 

[webcraft]

Thanks for this Michael

As you say, eminently possible but time consuming. We are keen to get home now after a year away and would like to save that area for another cruise, possibly next year. We still have to get all the way up the Irish Sea as well.

We are still optimistic that we can get across Biscay to the Scillies or Newlyn in four or five fairly painless days probably leaving sometime tomorrow - although the forecasts are changing every six hours it is all looking reasonably benign after the current big low passes over the UK tomorrow evening, with a few days of high pressure likely early next week.

One thing I am looking forward to at home is not feeling compelled to spend half the day looking at weather on the internet!

- Nick