Waiting for a weather window... Biscay

Sybarite said:
You could aim for Cameret but if weather conditions and timing are OK you could continue through the Raz de Sein to somewhere like Audierne, Le Guilvenic or Loctudy. That's one obstacle less when you decide to head off.
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No point going further than Audierne - it just increases the distance to A Coruña.

Also, if you leave from Camaret, you don't need to do the Raz du Sein.
 
ausnp84 said:
Thanks for your thoughts guys. We're on a 43ft schooner and getting very conscious summer is fast disappearing, hence starting to consider getting to Brest / Camaret then blasting across. Long term plans are the Canaries and Atlantic crossing so we do have a bit of time to play with, but not a lot.

The low pressure coming through next weekend has been the killer - there's a 2 day window either side of it before the next round of weather comes through. It might just haveto be a case of sucking it up and punching headwinds.
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We sat in the Scillies for a few days, then went to L,Aberwrach, then hopped around to Camaret. Still not good, then Loctudy. Finally went for it, westerly, so sailed the first day then it went sw so donk on. Took us just over 3 days to La Coruna. So go to France, gives that one day less option.
S
 
ausnp84 said:
For those who've been to Camaret / Brest, did you anchor or stay at a marina?
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Go to the inner marina in Camaret. If no visitors fingers free then go round to the 'left' and raft. If it is full of small mobos, raft on them anyway and use shore lines, then in the morning, watch for a boat leaving a finger and zip round to that space pdq cus otherwise someone else will!
 
Another vote for Camaret and then if weather still iffy, you could coast hop down to La Rochelle then 40 hours down to Gijon. We've done that twice and still not seen everywhere along the Rias.
 
Right-o folks, thanks for your thoughts on this. The plan is now to get out of here first light tomorrow morn (Wednesday), blast across to Camaret (or Roscavel if Camaret is packed), wait out the low on Friday then head SW on Sat morning, bound for Vigo (or A Coruna if the conditions deteriorate).

Update to follow....
 
ausnp84 said:
Right-o folks, thanks for your thoughts on this. The plan is now to get out of here first light tomorrow morn (Wednesday), blast across to Camaret (or Roscavel if Camaret is packed), wait out the low on Friday then head SW on Sat morning, bound for Vigo (or A Coruna if the conditions deteriorate).
Update to follow....
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update on weather
22 - WNW/W 5 kn
23 - variable from NW 5 / calm / E 5 kn
24 - SE/S/W/NE 20 kn
25 0600 - N 20 kn
1200 - N 10-5 kn
1800 - N 10 kn
2400 - N/NE 10 kn
26 0600 - NE 10 kn
1200 - ENE 10-5 kn
1800 - E 10-5 kn
2400 - E 5 -10 kn
27 0600 - NNE 15 (south part of biscay
1200 - NNE 5-10 kn
1800 - ENE 5-10 kn
2400 - E 10-15 kn
fair winds!
 
dolphin said:
update on weather
22 - WNW/W 5 kn
23 - variable from NW 5 / calm / E 5 kn
24 - SE/S/W/NE 20 kn
25 0600 - N 20 kn
1200 - N 10-5 kn
1800 - N 10 kn
2400 - N/NE 10 kn
26 0600 - NE 10 kn
1200 - ENE 10-5 kn
1800 - E 10-5 kn
2400 - E 5 -10 kn
27 0600 - NNE 15 (south part of biscay
1200 - NNE 5-10 kn
1800 - ENE 5-10 kn
2400 - E 10-15 kn
fair winds!
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Aaaaaaaand.... now on the latest gribs it's westerlies!!! I tell you, the weather this year is sending me grey... We're going to head to Roscanvel and anchor there, then wait for the window to get around the corner. It looks like there's some serious high pressure forming out in the Atlantic, so perhaps mid-next week we can make a break for Vigo.

Thanks again for the update!
 
Twister_Ken said:
Not Vigo unless you have a pressing need to be there. Baiona (or Bayona) is preferable and not so far up the Ria,
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We're actually going to head into Playa de Barra, the first bay inside the Ria and anchor up. It should be relatively well protected with the northerlies and will give us a few days to relax before heading south to Porto.
 
ausnp84 said:
Aaaaaaaand.... now on the latest gribs it's westerlies!!! I tell you, the weather this year is sending me grey... We're going to head to Roscanvel and anchor there, then wait for the window to get around the corner. It looks like there's some serious high pressure forming out in the Atlantic, so perhaps mid-next week we can make a break for Vigo.

Thanks again for the update!
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Ha! I'm with you there. We are trying to weekend sail along south Coast to head north. Having the same problems. One moment it all looks really doable in a day or so, then all change and it's on the nose again. Doing my head in!! :-)
 
Twister_Ken said:
No point going further than Audierne - it just increases the distance to A Coruña.

Also, if you leave from Camaret, you don't need to do the Raz du Sein.
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Actually Le Guilvinic, being further South is (according to Google Earth) marginally closer : 5nm and 3° difference in bearing.

Admittedly you have another 3 hours to reach Le G. OTOH unless you go right up into Audierne for shopping (tide limited) all you can do is wait on a buoy outside.
 
Dont rush past the Rias unless you have to. They are so beautiful and lovely anchorages.
Probably my favorite Is Probra do Caraminal. Free anchorage near the marina then take the dingy into the marina to go into town. The marina also let you have free water if you ask.
But there's lots of great places to explore.
 
Unless you are fighting a deadline it would be CRIMINAL to miss out on the ports and rias.

Making landfall using the Tower of Hercules a Roman built lighthouse more than a thousand years old and realizing that you are following in the wakes of so many great sailors who have been glad to see that landmark.

Fiquera de Foz Ilsa Cies Lisbon etc. Wonderful places to visit.
 
Hopefully you will be in Camaret this morning if you set off as planned or a good way on your journey to Spain if you decided to go for it. Whichever it is good wishes on the rest of your journey. We had a great time and sure you will to.
 
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