Biscay (I know... again...)

nickrj

nickrj

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Hi All,

Ok, some weeks, or maybe months ago, I cannot remember, I posted about doing a September Biscay crossing. Well, I got held up in Holland for a little too long, however I've finally made it to Cherbourg, France. I won't tell you about how I just accidently ended up in the military harbour inches away from a submarine, but I do have a question about Biscay once again. Sorry to fill the forum with this Biscay neurosis.

I'm going to sail on Wednesday direct to Brest. And from there, I'm going to get a good weather forecast, some Chinese lucky beads and go to Spain or something (Santander perhaps), asap.

I know everybody said 'go west, go west 10degrees!' which is probably a good thing to do... But I'd like to avoid being out in the middle of nowhere on my own for such a long time, and would rather take my chances with that pesky continental shelf and a decent weather forecast.

Can anyone give me a really compelling reason why I can't do that. Or alternatively, give me another route to get across that irritating piece of water (no, don't mention the canal!) without disappearing so far west?

thanks, nick.

It's 5am, I just arrived from Fecamp, please excuse my silliness.
 
Hi nick, I know how you feel. Having been caught out in November I would prefer to be further out. But with a good forecast as stable as its been lately I may take a risk, but would tend to only do the inside of the bay and into the corner in max 48hr chunks. If I go on the inside I go down to La Rochelle and wait for weather to head to Gijon, at least at this time of year.

Good luck, right now looks quite a nice forecast for the middle of the week, at least one forecast looks good to head that way tuesday night.....but you'll never know until you get out there.

Have a safe trip.
 
This time of year I would personally come further down the coast to La Rochelle, wait for a reasonable forecast and then cross. You should be able to get (almost) as far as La Coruna if you wanted with just the one night out at sea. We use an anchorage in El Barquero - just 50M W of La Coruna - but Santander is even closer!
 
My vote goes with Tigawave & Glen. Take the shortest route this time of year. Check out out frank singletons website for advice on Biscay weather/crossing. Best of luck
 
If you get away real soon you can day sail it OK as far as La Rochelle - go to Guernsey, then one of the rivers just north of Ouessant eg Lezardrieux 45 miles then work west to to Ushant then go through the channel and into Brest... That's the hard part done and from there are ports every 40 miles or so all the way... well lit as well.
The big problem you are going to have inshore is mist or fog... lot about this time of year and it does not always burn off at midday.. good gps series of plots and or an electronic chart connected to the GPS is going to be invaluable with the strong tidal streams... You could from Cherbourg, be in La Rochelle in 10 days if you can move every day...

You do need a day night day passage from La Rochelle to the corner but after that again you can day sail it again to Bayonne but some of the ria's are not so well lit so you need to get going asap if you want to 'day' sail it... do not get caught out close inshore along the French coast... can be very bumpy..
Michael
 
Looking at the charts for next week, there seems to be quite a settled bit of weather on the way for Biscay/Iberian coasts, you may even have a nice NE depending on how the high builds - but I´m sure you´ve got the same info. Hope it all goes well for you.
 
The key is how far in the future you can trust the weather forecast? At present I would say 3 days. With the progression of lows it is nuts to try to go outside the shelf at present.

As for Wednesday there is a low going down through the UK and across the channel so not too predictable and wet.

So get the dividers out and find your best 3 day passage. I would not go as far as La Rochelle, a little higher up from one of the islands. Head for Gijon. Santander is too far East to get out against the conditions. The commercial wall at Gijon is huge so is a good port to enter in bad conditions.


It is a shame you are not there now. There is a lovely ridge of high pressure all the way across and by Thursday the high over southern England and the Iberian/African low will give winds OUT of the bay. The models significantly diverge after Friday. i.e they can not agree after 4 days at present.

I suggest you get below Brest, refuel and look again. Once the low has gone through the start of NEXT week then the ridge might re-form. The forecasts would show the probably outcomes better by then.
 
Certainly, go the short route.

As short as possible so you can find a reliable weather window. As others have said, work down as far as La Rochelle if necessary. But of course, given a weather window while you're travelling to La Rochelle, there's nothing forcing you to stop there. Except it's a really lovely place to visit!

To make the shortest route, you need to be flexible about where you will arrive - be prepared to change your arrival harbour while you're en route, the one you can reach quickest given the likely wind over the next (however many) hours you have to go. My site gives a list of safe havens along the Spanish coast which you can enter in any weather.

Happy bouncing . . .
 
I crossed in may 1994 and went down the french coast in short hops to St Denis d'Oleron and went from there in the direction of Spain. The wind changed a number oif times, but in the end I ended in Coruna, which was my intention anyhow. I checked the distance from the different ports along the S-coast of Brittany to Coruna and it is about 300 miles, independent from which port you would start the trip. If there is a good forecast it is the easiest to go straight to Coruna from Brest or Cameret. Sailing along the coast only costs time and you still have to sail the 300 miles to Coruna. Of course if you head for a town more east, Bilbao, Santander or Gijon, the distance gets shorter the further you go along the coast of France.
At the moment the weather here(I live near Coruna) is very nice, but foggy in the mornings. The prediction is the same for the next couple of days, but the fog is probably more consistant out at sea than here on shore. Wish you a good trip.
Henk.
 
Belle Isle to Gijon is a route I'd recommend. No need to go down as far as La Rochelle and a 50 hour weather window should get you there. Don't know what your plans are afterwards. La Coruna is a popular overwinter spot and you could press on down to the Algarve but the trip down could be a bit hairy, with ports closed at short notice when the swell gets up and the fog can be a worry too.
 
Looks like I'm in the minority here Nick ! - I left Camaret 3 years ago on December 1st and motorsailed to Finisterre 'cos of lack of wind, it took approx 72 hours. Of course we waited in Camaret for a good window and took a few extra 5 gallon cans of fuel ! You've got a time proven ocean going boat and windvane so I'd have no problem with going for it and then day sailing down atlantic portugal. Daysailing on one's own down atlantic france is no bowl of cherries with big tides, big boulders sticking out of water, and timing entries to be taken into consideration. Obviously it's only you who can decide 'cos you know your own and your boats capabilities but thought I'd give my views altho' different from majority above.
 
The problem with day hopping is once you leave the Brest area, you actually start to go in a SE direction, away from where you want to go. If you really must cross at this time of year (sorry to appear rude, but it really is against all advice written in various pilot books), pick a good forecast, go from Camaret and GO. Motor if you have to in order to maintain a good average speed. I'd suggest aiming for La Corunna, but if the weather holds continue further south, if you can get past Finnestaire then so much the better. I have to say that if you're worried about singlehanding/going too far west etc leave the trip until next summer. If the forecasters get it wrong, even 'daysailing' you'll get clobbered and you'll have no room to manoeuvre, at least if you go from the Camaret area direct you'll have some sea room if it does go tits up. Having made a couple of crossings (in the summer) I'd really go direct. I'm not sure I'd want to try to put into any ports along the North coast of Spain in a real blow, I don't have my Biscay pilot to hand but memory tells me it's only recommended in reasonably settled weather. The weather looks reasonable this coming week, get yourself to Camaret and wait.
 
Thanks everybody for such good replies.

The consensus that two to max three day weather forecasts are the only reasonably reliable means for weather prediction point towards avoiding (as the majority of people have said) too extensive a crossing. So in light of that, really I think I will get down to Brest asap and re-assess my options, taking into consideration everyones comments. I will also get a better idea of the weather from there, and will see what the feel is.

Before I forget - Can anyone tell me more about this large area below La Rochelle which is a firing or testing range? When is it active?

I am going to Lisbon, and yes, while pilot books and what have you would suggest it is not an ideal time to cross, there is nothing I can do about it - I'm late. There is no way I'm going to winter anywhere unless it starts snowing, so I will simply have to do the best I can with the information and conditions I have...

Thanks again everybody!

nick.
 
for the most part the firing range is not active at weekends and bank holidays nor is it active every day by any means. You can get the list on navtext once you are in the area and the port authorities - capitainary will know from Sable, Isle dieu and of course La Rochelle or Royan and be able to advise you... It is non active more than it is active so .............
 
Just be patient. You will do it.

As for that big square they patrol with helicopters it has something to do with Ballistic missiles so take care!
I think they test fire the Exocets in the Med!

I would ask at the ports for current information.
 
I seem to recall that the actual off-limit area is out at sea. Sailing close to the coast should not be a problem. In which case you can use Arcachon as a harbour between Ile d'Oleron and Spain. Check this out though!
 
To get a really accurate weather forecast I suggest you get in touch with Commander's Weather They where excellent when I was trying to leave the Cuxhaven last year. The only complaint is that they were 3 hours early on the wind shift that they predicted 3 days earlier. Worth every penny.
 
Do Check insurance, we have just asked our insurers for a quote for next July (08) and they have quoted DOUBLE the existing premium. And here was us thinking we would get it cheaper at that time of the year. Anyone with any good Insurers?

All the rest of the comments sound good to us - all common sense options.
 
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