Leaving Gibraltar how far out west will I have to go to avoid Biscay problems.

[mocruising]

We are hoping to leave Gib. for Falmouth in a few weeks. I have time so quite fancy taking the long route out maybe two fifty miles then hook right when the favourable winds kick in, is this a sound plan.

 

[chinita]

I planned to do the same back in 2007.

However, when I rounded Cape St Vincent I encountered South Westerlies which took me all the way up the Portuguese coast and across the Bay.

Did not turn Northerly until we go to Ushant so the final leg to Lymington was on the beam.

One thing I did in the planning was check out all the Portuguese West coast Wind Guru locations. It was pretty accurate.

Just suck it and see.

 

[Downsman]

I've made that passage three times. Port of departure was Portimao on each occasion. I'm single handed so the coastal passage North doesn't appeal to me. Mid June the first one and late July the other two, I never ever got to 15 degrees West before I found South-Westerlies, usually managed to hold about 290 mag: from Cape St Vincent until I found the wind. Last voyage (2010) I was only 80-90 miles offshore when I managed to steer 025 mag: Nic 32 with Hydrovane, worst weather encountered was only 5-6 and fog off the Lizard!! :encouragement:

 

[AndrewB]

The "gentleman's" route is out to the Azores and back. Once the westerlies which often blow into Gibraltar are passed one is likely to get favourable NE winds most of the way to the Azores, then predominantly westerly winds back towards England. My boat did this route once, though not with me on board that time.

These days the great majority of yachts headbash their way north up the Portuguese coast, then from Finisterre to western Brittany. Luck is needed for the very occasional SW wind to get up the Portuguese coast: I've never had them. But at least there are a good number of stopovers. Luck is also needed to be able to lay out from Finisterre to clear Ushant, as the wind is generally NW at first.

The third option of going offshore as you suggest, is recommended by Connors "World Cruising Routes" as probably being the fastest though definitely hard work. He does not recommend a particular distance but simply suggests heading immediately offshore and then staying on whichever tack makes the most northing. That way you keep out of the strongest part of the southerly current on the Portuguese coast. Sorry, haven't tried one that myself so can't comment.

Connors prefers an early summer passage as strong SW gales can occur from August on, remnants of hurricanes. That's been my experience too.

 

[alant]

We are hoping to leave Gib. for Falmouth in a few weeks. I have time so quite fancy taking the long route out maybe two fifty miles then hook right when the favourable winds kick in, is this a sound plan.

I delivered a yacht from Gib to Poole some years ago. The owner, who was onboard, insisted (been reading Admiralty sailing stuff) that we should sail west for 250 Nm & then turn right (as was the normal routine for presumably square rigged ships). He insisted this was correct, even though all the weather forecasts, showed no wind, due to high Pressure systems all the way across the atlantic. He then wanted to wanted motor out (fuel range 150 Nm max) & await favourable winds (of whatever strength). We motored up the Portugese coast, filling up at Sines & Vigo & motoring all the way to Ushant, before getting any breeze.

My advice, check the weather, before deciding.

 

[rib]

whats the hurry,plenty to see if you coast hop and don't have a dead line