Plymouth - Azores end of november

[Mark-1]

The reason for the straight line has all to do with time, better said a lack of it.

They dont seem to be the least bothered with the circumstances.

Two red flags right there. Time constraints are always a nightmare in sailing. As for the second if, rather than not being bothered, they were saying "We're likely to face these challenges but it will be ok for these reasons" I'd have slightly more confidence.

I have zero experience of ocean crossing so no doubt someone will correct me, but I guess the one saving grace is with prevailing strong SWlys the option of chickening out and turning around back where you came will be a very easy one.

One more thought: The last time I sailed with someone who didn't "seem to be the least bothered with the circumstances" they went below and left me freezing cold, exhausted and soaking wet to get us out of the situation. So maybe the reason they're not bothered is because they know when it gets really tough they will be retreating below and leaving the problem to you. (If you're substantially younger than them I'd say that's a very real risk - they might well be unconcerned "because BillyTheKid is young, strong and can handle it when it gets too much for us.")

 

[Wansworth]

Here in Galicia looks like we have a whole week of gales and rain

 

[Pete J]

Very long nights . I would need to be well paid for this trip ! Good advise in above comments

 

[BobnLesley]

A careful read of Adlard Coles' 'Heavy Weather Sailing' seems a 'must'...

Dreadful Advice!
It can get scary enough out on the ocean when the weather's cutting up rough, without having read that horrific tome. I occasionally wonder how many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of would be offshore sailors kicked the idea into touch before they ever began as a result of reading that book.

 

[winch2]

Please do not feel pressurised in to going

In the aviation world its calle....Get-There-Itis and has killed many pilots who couldn't bear to wait for more favourable conditions.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

On that type of yacht, it would be around 12 to 15 days.

• I left the Clyde in November for the Canary Islands and encountered 4 gales, one in excess of 45kts, most of that was with the wind forward of the beam, also thick fog.
• The straight line rout will not take you into the Bay of Biscay, but you may have to divert there.
• The boat is old, condition is everything, if the boat was in good condition, known to be so, then it is quite possible to do even in rough weather. However, at that age the probability of the boat being shit is much higher. Inclement weather related forces have a habit of exploiting weaknesses. Old sails could tear, rip and blow out, old rigging could snap with loss of mast, the boom could snap due to internal corrosion, hull damage from weakened GRP could cause all sorts of issues from leaking windows and hatches, fittings pulling out, the fin keel falling off. If you are sure of the boats condition and that it is good, then normal contingencies should suffice. Old engines fail.
• These days with decent weather routing and access to weather data, you could plan and mitigate most bad weather, even on passage, to a degree.
• Three is an awkward number.

If you are young, fit, have a life raft, the boat is not a dog, the experienced guys have contingency plans, then go.

Hyperlink: These guys were young, fit, experienced, thought the boat was up to scratch as it had been coded and inspected throughout its life. They all died despite their qualifications, experience and having a life raft. I would read this first before you decide because if the shit is hitting the fan, do you think the boat and experienced crew members can deal with the required contingencies.

 

[SaltyC]

I've always been a Gung Ho glass half full person when sailing..... BUT in this instance I would think very carefully then say NO. Maybe I'm getting Old, 40 years ago would have gone given a chance, now with experience will put my carpet slippers against the fire at home.

I still have memories of Winter North Atlantic in a 150,000 ton tanker where we lost 18" diameter discharge [pipes from deck and guardrails ( 1 1/2 inch dia Galvanised Steel) we were safe, not comfortable, but 1150 feet verses 50 Hmmmmm!

 

[Major_Clanger]

A boat, especially a sailing boat, on a tight time schedule is a boat that's asking for trouble.

That said, I've been across Biscay many times and have seen it like a millpond, even during winter. In a well-found boat, Ouessant to Finisterre is circa 50-60 hours and so planning around weather shouldn't present any difficulty. There's always the chance of getting caught out of course, but any open water skipper should be able to read a synopsis well enough to know what should happen in the next three days. There are places to shelter on the north and west coast of Brittany and at the other end, you've got A Coruna and Bayona either side of Finisterre. Biscay itself can be truly frightening but knowing what fronts are expected means you should be able to plan around them. As a rule the worst seas tend to be at the southern end of Ouessant, both inside and outside passages, and then out a bit at the Continental Shelf. The rapid change in depth can cause a very big, confused sea with the wind blowing anywhere from the west. The good news, going N to S is that the seas will become less confused as the depth drops away.

Don't rule out the trip just because it's November. Plan ahead, watch the weather out in the Atlantic and you should be absolutely fine. I took an Oyster 65 across last winter, N to S, and there was so little wind we had to motor most of the way to Bayona in hardly any sea.

Yes, Biscay can be horrible and should always be treated with respect. But plan carefully, read the synopsis, make sensible decisions and all should be fine.

 

[Mark-1]

Yes, and "tight schedule" and "picking a decent weather window" are mutually exclusive.

 

[billskip]

I think the OPis considering going (or not) as a third crew member, I doubt he will have much say in all the advice above.
Basically it's his choice go or not go...
I would go...but it's still his choice.
I think it's going to be a very trying time.
If you do go, please follow up with your experience

 

[Mark-1]

I think the OPis considering going (or not) as a third crew member, I doubt he will have much say in all the advice above.
Basically it's his choice go or not go...
I would go...but it's still his choice.
I think it's going to be a very trying time.
If you do go, please follow up with your experience

I suppose the other option is stick with the plan and if, the night before, the forecast is 3 weeks of F4 NWlys then go and if it's F12 on the nose be prevented from going by a terrible migraine.

 

[Leslie frank]

I've been across Biscay in October which was OK. Probably best to check with insurance. I am not covered by Pantaenius in November.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

There are people like first class offering such passages for about £5k so there must be a market for it.

And one commercial french yacht needed rescue recently worse still with not enough LJs or space in the liferaft. People die or get injured regularly taking up offers they have not checked out, and time pressure on any unbreakable passage gives high risks. Typical male accident scenario - women are much better at retreating from danger statistically.

Of course the OP could do it as there is a fair surplus of men of a certain age and the world wont end if he drowns, and the world wont care if he spends days honking up - he however might mind so he might be best to talk it through with the skipper

 

[zoidberg]

I imagine one could draw up one of those 'management matrix' diagrams for decision-making.... you know, with quadrants for 'Yes - go for it', 'No - run a mile', 'Yes - conditionally' and 'No - conditionally'. But... but... I learned during a belated career doing pro HNW selling that most difficult decisions finally come down to a hunch, prejudice or obscure emotional 'tic' such as a colour dislike.

Or a wee sneaky lump of 'confirmation bias'.....