Crossing Biscay in September

[Pagetslady]

Hi has any body done this trip in September if so some tips on what weather I can expect and details of forecast sites would be very helpful.
Mike

 

[temptress]

I've crossed Biscay in most months. September is no different to the summer except you need to watch the weather more closely and make sure you have a good weather window.

Where are you going from/to and what is the boat?

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

We crossed S to N in September 2009.
We had to wait in La Corruna for a week to get a good weather window and then had a good crossing to Belle Isle in under 60 hours. Previously we have gone from Cameret to La Corruna in a similar time.
At any time of year ,as temptress says, look for that three -day weather window and off you go.Good luck

 

[Blueboatman]

I would say-(having crossed 3 times, once at the v. end of Oct, not so good), that many people 'blow it' because when that 3 day weather window actually does comes up, they haven't fueled up, don't have fresh bread, the tail end of the last westerly ''looks rough'' etc etc.. so they prat around and waste a day.
Then the next low tracks in when they are still 24hourrs from La Coruna and they encounter steadily rising wind and sea right on the nose-Duh !

I'm afraid that the fact that you are asking what are really quite basic questions ( whose answers are readily available by searching YBW archive or pilot books or by enlisting some experienced crew), doesn't necessarily auger well to me!
I wish you fair winds and a sound boat and a great trip.

 

[jhr]

Make certain your insurers will cover it (if you haven't done so already, in which case, my apologies for teaching granny to suck eggs ). Some are reluctant to cover trips made after mid-August.....

 

[snowleopard]

A group of forumites crossed Biscay in October 2005 on the Lord Nelson. 3 weeks was allowed to wait for weather windows but we made it to La Coruna in 5 days courtesy of an Easterly 5 which had us romping along at 8+ knots on a broad reach with all sail set to the Royals in bright sunshine - a memorable trip. During our amble down to Lisbon we were dodging gales up to F11 so I wouldn't count the same conditions another year.

 

[mikeinkwazi]

not in august

I've crossed Biscay in most months. September is no different to the summer except you need to watch the weather more closely and make sure you have a good weather window.

Where are you going from/to and what is the boat?

I agree with all the posts, but, I have crossed Biscay Falmouth to Coruna in June July August and September. On 9 crossings the only time we were in serious bad weather was in AUGUST! You will need at least 3 experienced bods for that trip whatever the month. Fair winds.

 

[temptress]

.... people 'blow it' because when that 3 day weather window actually does comes up, they haven't fueled up, don't have fresh bread, the tail end of the last westerly ''looks rough'' etc etc.. so they prat around and waste a day.
Then the next low tracks in when they are still 24hourrs from La Coruna and they encounter steadily rising wind and sea right on the nose-Duh !......

I agree go on the back of the last LOW.

I have had bad crossings in June and complete calms in December. Then again I've waited 2 or 3 weeks in September for the right window. Working my way from South wales to Brest hoping to reduce the crossing time.

The passage is nothing to be afraid of. When asking these questions it is likely to be the longest time a crew has spent at sea up until then. Also with modern boats you can got to windward in a blow if you have to. It is just uncomfortable and things tend to break!

 

[simonjk]

The bay can 'bite' at anytime.

Watch weather systems carefully, especially way out in the Atlantic as the effect of them can be felt through the Bay even with the generating feature 1000 miles away.

By September things are generally becoming more changeable across northern Europe and Atlantic lows are beginning to deepen. The later in the month you leave it, the higher the chance of this happening.

Hope that helps,
Simon

 

[Lady Campanula]

You're a good man, Simon JK.

'Twould be interesting to have you along for a week's blue water stuff from, say, Newlyn to Camarinas, or down to Flores-in-the-Azores....

The bay can 'bite' at anytime.

Watch weather systems carefully, especially way out in the Atlantic as the effect of them can be felt through the Bay even with the generating feature 1000 miles away.

By September things are generally becoming more changeable across northern Europe and Atlantic lows are beginning to deepen. The later in the month you leave it, the higher the chance of this happening.

Hope that helps,
Simon

 

[BrendanS]

I did some shorebased weather reports by sms for a forumite crossing Biscay in a motorboat a few years ago.
Apart from the obvious, these were useful. Magic seaweed not only has weather, but swell forecasts, which were enormously helpful. Meteo-france is good, and has some English language forecasts, and the buoy data was great for finding out what was 'really' happening, rather than forecasts.

http://magicseaweed.com/

http://www.meteo-marine.com/english/marine_weather/

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

 

[simonjk]

Great tips there BrendanS.

Can't stress enough how important it is to compare bouy and forecast reports for a few weeks before leaving. Gives a really good insight into the accuracy of swell forecasts.

Simon

 

[simonjk]

...I'll take that as an offer m'lady

 

[BrendanS]

not only swell, but wind forecasts too

 

[tudorsailor]

Biscay in very late August

We crossed S to N in September 2009.
We had to wait in La Corruna for a week to get a good weather window and then had a good crossing to Belle Isle in under 60 hours. Previously we have gone from Cameret to La Corruna in a similar time.

I read all this with interest as PYD are crewing my yacht back from Palma to Falmouth at the end of August. I am joining them in Porto to cross the Biscay. Being a delivery I assume they will not be waiting for the perfect weather window. So I approach this with trepidation and a bagfull of Stugeron. Should be an interesting few days

TudorSailor

 

[Pagetslady]

I've crossed Biscay in most months. September is no different to the summer except you need to watch the weather more closely and make sure you have a good weather window.

Where are you going from/to and what is the boat?

Hi I have crossed Biscay several times, but not for some time. I hope to depart Jersey around the 6th Sept and the plan is to go direct to Gib the boat is an Oyster 57.5 and is on its way to do the ARC.
Mike

 

[Pagetslady]

I would say-(having crossed 3 times, once at the v. end of Oct, not so good), that many people 'blow it' because when that 3 day weather window actually does comes up, they haven't fueled up, don't have fresh bread, the tail end of the last westerly ''looks rough'' etc etc.. so they prat around and waste a day.
Then the next low tracks in when they are still 24hourrs from La Coruna and they encounter steadily rising wind and sea right on the nose-Duh !

I'm afraid that the fact that you are asking what are really quite basic questions ( whose answers are readily available by searching YBW archive or pilot books or by enlisting some experienced crew), doesn't necessarily auger well to me!
I wish you fair winds and a sound boat and a great trip.

thanks for that having done the trip many times in both directions 15 or so years ago I thought it prudent to have a chat about up to date weather websites from you experts and I must say there have been some very helpfull replies. The boat should be up to it as it has been prepared for the Arc should be quite comfortable to.
regards Mike