Help Greece from the UK/Ireland

[benlui]

If one were to sail to the Greek islands what tips can you offer?
Voyage would begin in march/April ideally, and would be completed on a basis of 4-6 lay overs throughout the summer. return to work. Then return to the voyage again and repeat the cycle over the summer.
My main question is the bay is biscay, is March/April too early?
The shorter passages will most likely be done short handed.
The longer passages will be a crewed arraignments.
Ideally arriving in Greece in July/august.
The boat itself is a well equipped 28ft sailing boat and very able.
I would plan to go direct to Brittany, then biscay. So 2 legs to Spain.
I understand the implications of biscay and this is my main concern. I would plan to stay far offshore which I hear is a safer option.
Any short tips/ideas would be very appreciated.

 

[dt4134]

Biscay isn't the only way, you could look very seriously at the French canals. You'd need the CEVNI (perhaps the whole ICC to go with it) but that should not be too difficult at all.

If you cross Biscay you should accept that you might encounter a F10. You might not, of course, but you can't rely on that.

 

[macd]

The reputation of Biscay is overstated (not least by insurance companies). The stats simply do not bear out its being as gale-prone as is sometimes suggested, although it should certainly be treated with great respect, especially in late or early season (as Marsupial's experience suggests). He was unlucky. Forecasting is generally more reliable than that. I've done it twice this year (northwards in May) and never encountered more than F5, which was precisely as forecast. I might add that I waited an interminable three weeks to head north across the bay: not because the winds were strong, but because they were against me. Conversely, the same three weeks offered mainly excellent conditions for heading south.

It used to be the case that one of the preferred passages was direct from Cork to Galicia. No doubt some still hold to that view. It made sense when forecasting was poor or non-existent: sailors more-or-less expected to encounter a gale, so made sure they were well offshore when it struck. We're usually rather better informed these days. And for you it would mean maybe five days at sea, by the latter part of which forecasts have become extremely sketchy.

Taking a rhumb-line passage from, say, Le Camaret or Audierne to Galicia gives the advantage that the longest section over the continental shelf, i.e. the French end of the leg, is made when the forecast is newest. After 90 miles or so you'll be in deep oceanic water. This route should also keep you clear of most shipping, although you'll likely encounter fishing craft for the first 50 miles or so. (Audierne has the advantage that it's south of the Raz de Seine, so departure timing isn't constrained by a tidal gate. And in early season, the moorings in the outer harbour are free.)

In your boat, with fair winds, you'd perhaps reckon on 3 days to La Corunna. Slightly shorter, and easy to enter in daylight or with a decent moon, is Cedeira -- a big, safe easy anchorage. Viviero is slightly shorter still, but more subject to swell.

I'd qualify Marsupial's point about preferring easterlies for Biscay. They're fine unless meeting a big westerly swell, which can lead to unpleasant seas. This is a common phenomenon in summer along the Spanish North coast.

Whilst the rhumb line suggested for Biscay still leaves you plenty of sea-room for much of the passage, the same is not true of the transit down the Portuguese coast. This can be a horrible lee-shore. When swell is running high (even without a local gale) many harbours are dangerous to enter. Lives are regularly lost in the attempt (two Brits in April last year). However, it can be done by day-sailing, but keep yourself well informed of both weather and swell predictions and do take keen note of harbours the pilot book suggests are especially hazardous. (Aviero can be especially exciting.) The Portuguese met office broadcasts swell predictions; www.passageweather.com amongst many others offers a similar service on-line.

If you're not familiar with grib weather files, I'd suggest you bone up on them now. www.grib.us and www.zygrib.org are both free and easy to use.

Fair winds. Enjoy.

 

[benlui]

Great information there thanks. I also found on inyourfootprints a detailed description of a route from cork to bayona which is one I might favour.
As for the French canals, I do have an icc however this option is not practical for me as I draw 1.55m and fully laden even more.
Also it might take longer,cost more, granted, it's a dream cruise for me but just simply too much risk with water draft and dropping the mast.
Thanks again guys. But biscay does bother me a little on a small boat abate very able.
I've been looking into joining the cruising clubs run down there but it's a little bit later in the season than Would ideally suit.
Happy Xmas all and thanks again

 

[franksingleton]

Crossing Biscay

Whilst I agree that Biscay is the subject of a fair amount of over-hype, it should not be taken lightly. How you cross it will depend on many factors - the stoutness of your boat and crew particularly.

At http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Crossing-Biscay-Meteorologists-Advice, I have a page on the various ways that Biscay can be tackled.

The Portuguese coasts has its own problems with a number of ports being dangerous to enter in any swell. Pay particular attention fo swell predictions and be prepared to reamain at sea rather than attempt an entrance.