weather in biscay

[cagey]

Any one got any knowledge or usefull web site where I can check out expected weather and sea conditions Plymouth to Gibraltar from mid Nov to early Dec. Obviuosly not looking for forecasts (although that would be handy) but historical trends. Not nice is already known.
ThankS
overdue ps at 01.10
Thanks for all advice so far, but I'm not going on my own boat I'm deck crew on STS Stavros S Niarchos going to Teneriffe and was thinking what to pack and how many Stugeron etc to pack. Leaving 19th Nov 18 days to Canaries then 7 days cruising round Islands. They still have places at give away prices.
Keith

 

[Roberto]

Have you looked at pilot charts

http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APC/Pub106/106dec.pdf



if you PM an email address I have made a passage report with climatic averages for the three legs: plymouth finisterre - finisterre st vincent - st vincent Gibraltar, it is a .tif file I cannot attach here

 

[Plomong]

Not nice is already known.

But maybe not appreciated, in the true sense of that word ????

If going direct, or Western Approaches (e.g. Falmouth or Brest) to A Coruña, the trip duration is well beyond the range of any reasonable forecast. And forecasts beyond 2 days for the Bay at this time of year should be considered works of fiction -- nice to read, but that's it.

If you do choose to proceed, you should be extremely well prepared, and be prepared for a pasting if that is what the weather gods throw you. The NW coast of the peninsula is not the place to be when a F10 or 11 is brewing or just on top of you.

Nearly every year boats, many from the UK, are lost, or their crews rescued, off that bit of coast. Frequently the problems are fatigue (weak crew when starting) or inability to make to weather off a lee shore. Recommendation: keep a good 100 miles in hand to the NW until you are SURE you can make port before anything nasty comes in off the Atlantic.

If in doubt about crew or boats ability to handle the worst weather that can arise, I'd recommend going around the Bay at this time of year, not across it.

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And now he'll be shot down by those who have done it and lived to tell the tale. They were lucky, and they shouldn't forget it. Biscay in late autumn, winter and early spring can be very nasty and unpleasant.

Plomong

 

[Tomahawk]

you have comfirmed our thoughts

We are late getting away...
So we have decided to change our plans...
We are very unlikely to go straight across... but will instead go round the outside.. It is a much longer trip and we will get stuck for days at a time biefore we can hop another 60 miles down the coast...

On the other hand we are not in a hurry and we wil see places which otherwise we would miss...

I would rather be safe in port than scared at sea...

 

[phantomlady]

We've had a pasting in Biscay (in August). It is something I never want to repeat as long as I live
Go around the outside!

 

[Three kings]

I've never done the inside but the outside is OK. Stay on the 10 degree line or 9 degrees if feeling lucky.

 

[cagey]

Biscay

Thanks for all advice so far, but I'm not going on my own boat I'm deck crew on STS Stavros S Niarchos going to Teneriffe and was thinking what to pack and how many Stugeron etc to pack. Leaving 19th Nov 18 days to Canaries then 7 days cruising round Islands. They still have places at give away prices.
Keith

 

[Plomong]

Thanks for all advice so far, but I'm not going on my own boat I'm deck crew on STS Stavros S Niarchos going to Teneriffe and was thinking what to pack and how many Stugeron etc to pack. Leaving 19th Nov 18 days to Canaries then 7 days cruising round Islands. They still have places at give away prices.
Keith

That's a different kettle of fish !!!!


Jealous, moi ???

Just a bit.

Plomong

 

[Wansworth]

Oh yes...not for nothing we even have a nice stretch of rocky coast called the "costa de Muerte" and as Plomong pointed out every year one yacht is rescued,still in the winter months coast hopping has its charm and you see the place without tourists!There ar the odd years when it can be calm especially around Christmas..

 

[KellysEye]

Bear in mind that when passing Cape Finisterre the wind speed can be two forces above the forecast. Also we chose to stay outside the 1,000 fathom line where the waves/swell are smaller.

 

[capnsensible]

Bear in mind that when passing Cape Finisterre the wind speed can be two forces above the forecast. Also we chose to stay outside the 1,000 fathom line where the waves/swell are smaller.

I have a feeling the Captain of a tall ship may be aware of that.....

Most sailors too look for the hundred fathom line as its a bit closer to harbours.