Please help! Biscay or the coast?

[Nostrodamus]

After years of dreaming we have finally sold our house, bought a boat and will soon be heading south to the Med.
We have no time scales and the journey is every part of the adventure as much as the destination.
The only decision to make now is should we sail directly across the Bay of Biscay or take our time and follow the coast round.
Although I have a lot of sailing experience my family have far less. (wife and two boys of 17 and 15)
What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with each option and which way would you go?
I would really like your advice on this and I know there are others this would help.

 

[rallyveteran]

The only decision to make now is should we sail directly across the Bay of Biscay or take our time and follow the coast round.
Although I have a lot of sailing experience my family have far less. (wife and two boys of 17 and 15)
What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with each option and which way would you go?
I would really like your advice on this and I know there are others this would help.

This is a frequently asked question, especially at this time of year. Here are some posts giving the information you seek, all from within the last year or so:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2442188
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265261
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230298
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265790
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197847
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258498
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253491
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247693
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226099
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226418

Probably worth a read of these and then follow up for anything missing ;-)

 

[jordanbasset]

Hi,
we did a compromise. We coast hopped along the French coast, thoroughly ejoyed it. If anything wish we spent more time on this coast, helped we had good weather.
When we got to Port Joinville on the Isle De Yeu we went direct to Passages, Santona (just east of Santander), leaving early in the morning and getting there about 5pm the next day (210 miles) having sailed/motorsailed.
We did wait for the right winds and weather window and the crossing was very uneventful and enjoyable. But not particulalry impressed with Passages. As you can see from the other posts there are all sorts of options, it is very much down to personal preference.
Enjoy it and fair winds.

 

[Sy-Revolution]

We coast hopped all the way from Cherbourg to La Rochelle on our way south. Some great places to see on the way. A few highlights were Cherbourg itself, (coulda missed out Alderney) Lezardrieux, Roscof, Chanel du Four, Carteret, Belle Ille, Ille de Re, and La Rochelle.

It's an adventure so, if the weathers fine why rush past? Northern Spain is also worth a look but once you're into Portugal, going south, you'll be sailing longer.......cos it's boring.

http://www.sy-revolution.com/zen/northern-france-and-brittany/

http://www.sy-revolution.com/zen/north-biscay/

http://www.sy-revolution.com/zen/ile-de-re-1/

C.

 

[Baggy]

He,s my penny’s worth,
Leaving from the east coast.. weather permitting..



You will have to make a stop off at Ramsgate to await the tide to get thro the Dover straights

Places not to miss

Have a stop at either Brighton or Eastbourne
Make way into the solent, explore the river Medina, Yarmouth, Lymington ( town quay ).. etc
then thro Hurst point to studland bay.
Weymouth
Dartmouth/Salcombe
Fowey
Falmouth
Scilly's..
Camaret..

Only a 3 day weather window to cross Biscay to north Spain

And the added bonus of leaving spring/early summer, you will have the luxury of not having crowed ports and harbours..

 

[25931]

We coast hopped all the way from Cherbourg to La Rochelle on our way south. Some great places to see on the way. A few highlights were Cherbourg itself, (coulda missed out Alderney) Lezardrieux, Roscof, Chanel du Four, Carteret, Belle Ille, Ille de Re, and La Rochelle.

It's an adventure so, if the weathers fine why rush past? Northern Spain is also worth a look but once you're into Portugal, going south, you'll be sailing longer.......cos it's boring.

http://www.sy-revolution.com/zen/northern-france-and-brittany/

http://www.sy-revolution.com/zen/north-biscay/

http://www.sy-revolution.com/zen/ile-de-re-1/

C.

For sight- seers Portugal is great with a variety of harbours/marinas.

 

[GrahamM376]

Much depends on fast you want to get to the Med and blow your savings. We've done the west coast of France as far as LaRochelle several times and there are still places we haven't been, so much to see.

LaRochelle to Coruna direct took us (IIRC) around 60 hrs but LaRochelle to Gijon which we prefer is only around 40 hrs at 6 kts and you can easily spend a few weeks between there and Bayonna in the Rias with plenty of free anchoring. There's plenty to see down the Portuguese west and Algarve coasts and SW Spain to Gib.

Whatever you decide, it's best not to be too late down the west coast of Portugal as many ports can get closed with high swell from autumn onwards. It can also be very foggy in summer.

 

[charles_reed]

I opted for the scenic route - mainly because I'm usually single-handed and insurers have a neurosis about Biscay and go psychotic when you mix single-handing with crossing the Bay.

The S Brittany coast is a fantastic cruising ground (IMHO infinitely better than anything in the W Med) and right the way down to la Rochelle is a delight - Arcachon, though interesting in its own right, saves nothing on the journey, so I'd suggest working your way down the French coast then doing the toddle from les Mimimes to Donostia (San Sebastian to Castilians). The latter could well claim to be one of the gastronomic capitals of Europe - don't speak French there, they're still exacting reparations for the 1812 French retreat.
That N Spanish coast, from Bilbo to Cediera is unspoilt with easy day sailing between anchorages and ports. Do watch the entry line into Gijon, though, there are unmarked rocks awash in areas of 12m depth.
Unless you're doing a delivery the one-hop from Brest to la Coruna is strictly for masochists (or sado-masochists if you have a crew).

 

[phantomlady]

or you could go through the canals......just a thought

 

[[2574]]

The S Brittany coast is a fantastic cruising ground (IMHO infinitely better than anything in the W Med) and right the way down to la Rochelle is a delight

seconded. do not miss south brittany at any price, it is at least one season's cruising in it's own right. winter at La Rochelle/LRB/Rochefort then n spain the following year.

 

[vyv_cox]

seconded. do not miss south brittany at any price, it is at least one season's cruising in it's own right. winter at La Rochelle/LRB/Rochefort then n spain the following year.

Exactly so. We took a whole season, April to end September, to reach Rochefort from Holland. We knew the northern part well, so we were in Cherbourg within a few days. There is an enormous amount to see on this coast and some maintain the French Biscay coast to be the best cruising area in Europe, so it would be a pity to bypass it.

 

[Eeyore]

Not being a great lover of anything French......I opted for the 'straight across' route. It was late October, so as previously mentioned, the insurers get a little twitchy. I chose a three day weather window (if I were to do it again, I would want a five day window) before leaving Camaret for Bayona. The first two days were great. On the third day, bad weather came 24 hours early and we got hammered! I understood from Falmouth coastguard later that five boats were lost that night - including a boat with a couple who were sailing just a mile from me.

I suppose if you have no timetable, then it's sensible to opt for the coastal route!

 

[maxi77]

When time is not a consideration following the coast is without doubt the best, there are lots of super places to stop. Follow the coast to the Gironde then head for Spain.

 

[BoyBlue49]

To the Med

Hi Nostrodamus,

I have sailed both straight across and down the coasts, unless you or your crew have a strange fascination for looking at waves all day and knowing you are in water up to 3 miles deep, the coast is far more interesting and enjoyable.

Where you jump off from is up to you but to get foreign as soon as possible is my idea of getting away from it all.
Do not miss Brittany and any port or small harbour to Royan and then include Cap Ferret-Arcachon and Hendaye further south.
There are so many interesting places, too many to name all but, Benodet, Lorient, Belle Ile, Pornic, Les Sables, La Rochelle are just a few worth looking into.

Spain's north and west coast has a small port or anchorage just about every couple of miles, Portugal has few places to stop until rounding Cape St. Vincent so plan accordingly.
Good luck and fair winds but keep a weather eye on the navtext.

 

[Plomong]

After years of dreaming we have finally sold our house, bought a boat and will soon be heading south to the Med.
We have no time scales and the journey is every part of the adventure as much as the destination.
The only decision to make now is should we sail directly across the Bay of Biscay or take our time and follow the coast round.
Although I have a lot of sailing experience my family have far less. (wife and two boys of 17 and 15)
What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with each option and which way would you go?
I would really like your advice on this and I know there are others this would help.

In this thread: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253491 I gave a list of French and Spanish ports -- might be worth a read ??

But do note that some of the comments about weather windows relate to a proposed crossing in November/December !!!

Plomong

 

[Plomong]

But not particulalry impressed with Passages.

Could have tried Hendaya/Fuenterribia (more correctly Hondarribia) or maybe better Guetaria or Zumaia ??

Plomong

 

[Nostrodamus]

Thank you all so much for your responses, views and links. It will take some reading but I will get there.
It is interesting to note the total lack of anyone opting for the direct route and I am now surer than ever that the costal route is the one we shall follow.
We may get to the Med this year or we may not if the coast is that good but at least we will be seeing and cruising some wonderful places along the way.
Now has anyone got any charts they want to part with?

 

[[27631]]

biscay

Hi...I have come up from Gib to Portsmouth singlehanded 2 winters in a row.in a 12 metre boat...am at present in Port Medoc ...far better than Royan..heading north tomorrow..go round the inside,some amazing places to stop,especially in the rias of northern Spain,and indeed in France,,dont mess with Biscay,get it wrong...and you may not live to regret it...If it is of interest I can give you details of where the Dolphin will probably find you...between the Gironde and Cape St Vincent...there are 5 or 6 areas they regularly turn up for 1/2 hour or so...the Western Med. is an expensive disappointment to many like yourselves...when you get there...the Atlantic seaboard is much much better...do not miss out the Isla Formosa anchorages at Faro,or indeed the Guadiana.....bon voyage

 

[dougg]

We are leaving arround the 15th April and still undecided re the route. Having read the above posts I think its got to be via la Rochelle. My view, fwiw,is to get south quickly as its going to be warmer.
If im going to spend a winter in France I may as well be at home.
We could spend all summer looking round the atlantic coast or spend all summer looking round Balerics sardinia etc etc.
Interesting to read peoples different thoughts though.

 

[BoyBlue49]

Hi dougg, I can see your point about getting to warmer clims asap but I hope you have deep pockets if you are intending to use marinas in the western Med.