Easterlies in Biscay- lumpy?

[Kelpie]

We're sat in Kilmore Quay, SE Ireland, wanting to get across Biscay. Forecast has a lot of easterlies coming up.
Gut feeling is that whilst this would give a sailing angle, the predominant Atlantic swell setting in from the west is going to throw up a lumpy sea in these conditions.

Would be good to hear from anybody who has experience of this area. It's very easy to just decide to sit tight and wait for the perfect window, but we're getting late in the season already and can't wait forever.

 

[webcraft]

We're sat in Kilmore Quay, SE Ireland, wanting to get across Biscay. Forecast has a lot of easterlies coming up.
Gut feeling is that whilst this would give a sailing angle, the predominant Atlantic swell setting in from the west is going to throw up a lumpy sea in these conditions.

Would be good to hear from anybody who has experience of this area. It's very easy to just decide to sit tight and wait for the perfect window, but we're getting late in the season already and can't wait forever.

Just had a look at Windy. Very benign sea conditions in the Easterlies starting Monday, swell all less than 2m and generally on the quarter.

Winds look generally on the beam, gusting up to 25kts Tues/Weds

All looks perfectly do-able, and you can always stop in the Scillies to take a deep breath!

Certainly looking better for the direct route rather than via Brittany.

Give me a ring if you want a chat, I'll PM my number.

- W

 

[RJJ]

We're sat in Kilmore Quay, SE Ireland, wanting to get across Biscay. Forecast has a lot of easterlies coming up.
Gut feeling is that whilst this would give a sailing angle, the predominant Atlantic swell setting in from the west is going to throw up a lumpy sea in these conditions.

Would be good to hear from anybody who has experience of this area. It's very easy to just decide to sit tight and wait for the perfect window, but we're getting late in the season already and can't wait forever.

Swell has to come from somewhere - and is not always around.

From my vast experience of one Biscay crossing, we had no swell at all. Started in easterlies, which turned to westerlies, and we experienced waves only commensurate with the extant wind.

If there's a big depression somewhere mid-Atlantic, hitting UK in 48 hours, it's a different story. Last year we motored from France to IOW in a force 1-2, but 50 knots forecast to arrive 24-36 hours later. The swell was 2-3m on the beam, not very comfy.

 

[capnsensible]

Where are you headed for?

For me, I would be off today! 500 miles, around four days if you aren't shy in using the engine when it's lighter winds. Don't think, with the forecast, the sea state will be a problem at all.

One of the times I did this passage was from Glasgow. Got held up in the South of Ireland but when we got going, I went westish to 9degrees west, then waypoint Finisterre.

I guess your arrival port depends on your future plans. La Corunna is fab. But well east of Finisterre. The wind round the head

 

[38mess]

I remember hanging around for a week in Biscay waiting for a French aircraft carrier, it was so calm we were swimming every day. That was around this time of year.
Edit.
Sorry this doesn't help at all?

 

[RobbieW]

Agree with Webby, it looks good for a week or so (based on a single GRIB!). If you use a tool that can show swell forecasts, XyGrib for example, add that in to the download.

A few years ago I did a Falmouth to Lisbon on the tail of a NE gale, 20-25kts till we got to about the Berlengas where the wind finaly died. A fast trip on a Bowman 42

 

[capnsensible]

...land. (ipad snag). The wind generally bends round there quite strongly either northing or south ish. Top tip, if you are in L Corina or that area, def wait for the wind its a horrible beat. Lumpy seas and pot markers out to over 100m.
If you arrive from more to the west the rias south of finisterre are fab. Problem I suppose are the covid and brexit rules. In June I pit stopped in beautiful bayonna at the south of the spanish bit. On route from Guernsey to Costa del sol. No problems whatsoever on entry and my favourite of all around there.
Hope it goes well great to be underway!

 

[stranded]

I was so over cautious when we did it in July a while back that we had to motor virtually all the way - the ‘boiling’ of the rising currents in the glassy calm water as we crossed the continental shelf was quite something - hard to stop the imagination turning to things like sea monsters!

 

[Kelpie]

Thanks all. Forecasts are diverging now and showing less wind. SWMBO suggesting we just tank up to the brim and go for it, I'm more in favour of waiting for a more consistent forecast and the chance of sailing the bulk of it. It's nice here anyway.

Eventual destination is around the corner, we have pretty much ruled out the idea of crossing the Atlantic this season so there's no rush really, North coast might be interesting. But it would be daft not to carry on around Finisterre if conditions allow.

 

[capnsensible]

You could spend several weeks in the rias! There are some nice stops on the Portuguese Atlantic coast too.

 

[Graham376]

If you're not in a hurry and not been there before, there's a lot to be said for Brittainy, then down to Gijon or somewhere then along Spanish coast. We've done that route twice, lots to see and mostly day sails once in Spain.

 

[Blueboatman]

Get on with it
Def.
Hanging around in the rias or better , s of finisterre a lot better than trying to find another 4 day plus window from Ireland
IMO
3 times across , easterlies are fab??)

 

[Tintin]

Thanks all. Forecasts are diverging now and showing less wind. SWMBO suggesting we just tank up to the brim and go for it, I'm more in favour of waiting for a more consistent forecast and the chance of sailing the bulk of it. It's nice here anyway.

Eventual destination is around the corner, we have pretty much ruled out the idea of crossing the Atlantic this season so there's no rush really, North coast might be interesting. But it would be daft not to carry on around Finisterre if conditions allow.

Go now. You have a benign forecast.

 

[Minerva]

You got AIS so we can track you across? We can all enjoy the passage vicariously!

 

[Tradewinds]

Your wife's right . Get going now.

 

[cherod]

Lucky you ??

 

[Kelpie]

You got AIS so we can track you across? We can all enjoy the passage vicariously!

Yup, we do, courtesy of our new Onwa plotter. Aphrodite, currently in Kilmore Quay.
We've missed the chance for today as I need to rebuild some of the boat where I was inspecting a chainplate, amongst other things.
It sounds as if I don't need to worry about an easterly in Biscay, and I've just been inventing things to get worried about.

 

[geem]

Just crossed from Falmouth to Baiona. 3 days 9 hrs. Great trip, 500nm. If you have wind in a suitable direction for your route just go.
Off direct to Cascais early morning. Having cruised this coast a couple times we are happy to push South. We have to spend our 90 days wisely ?

 

[webcraft]

Got you on AIS in KQ at six o'clock. Hoping to see you under way to or ow. Have a great trip.

- W

 

[Kelpie]

Got you on AIS in KQ at six o'clock. Hoping to see you under way to or ow. Have a great trip.

- W

Yes it was switched on again briefly as I was sorting a little wiring gremlin. Chainplate is back in and rigging re-tensioned. Getting excited about heading off now.