Weymouth to Canaries in November - advice?

[marcsov]

Hi all,

Thanks in advance for your time. Knowing there's a huge wealth of experience and helpful people out there, I thought this forum a good place to seek advice.

Two friends and I are going to sail a Rival 32 from the South Coast of the UK to the Canaries (via Biscay, Portugal, Morocco) and ultimately St Lucia, starting in November. We don't have the luxury of time so setting off in Nov is a necessity. We're competent sailors, and know that with decent weather windows, good sense and equipment we'll likely make it without too much trouble.

Has anyone done something similar, and could you share any advice, hints, experiences etc - anything we may find useful in our journey.

Much appreciated,
Marc

 

[KellysEye]

The best time to cross Biscay is July I would expect few weather windows in November so be prepared for gales. Sail outside the 1,000 fathom line the waves will still be big but they are much bigger inside that line as the water shallows. Bear in mind gusts can be 40% higher than the wind speed. We had an unforecast gale over Biscay in July with 35 knots gusting 50 knots, a Moody ketch ran of towing drogues, a cat hove to and sadly a local fishing boat sank with the loss of all hands.

 

[Goldie]

The best time to cross Biscay is July I would expect few weather windows in November so be prepared for gales.

Agreed, but my best Biscay Crossing was in December (reaching in F4/5), my worst was July (with 36 hrs of F9 from ahead)! The latter was when we left at the planned race start time. The former, when we picked our own time to depart based on forecasts. Take the windows if/when they come.

 

[duncan99210]

Without in any way saying don't go at that time of year, I know my insurance company wouldn't give me cover for Biscay between October and March, so you'll need to check that out.

I followed tradition in routing across Biscay, heading west to about 8.5 degrees west before heading south to Corunna. I waited about ten days in Falmouth for a weather window (5+ days of moderate westerly winds) before setting off. It was then a case of mainly day sails down to Gibraltar: we were heading for the Med so I can't help on the Cannaries leg.

My experience suggests that trying to do a long trip like this in November is going to be difficult: add in the pressure by having a fairly tight timescale and you may find yourselves having being pressured into sailing in marginal weather conditions. Anyhow, enough of the caution! Take care to get hold of good weather forecasts, resist the temptation to set off into adverse weather and enjoy yourselves.

 

[shaunksb]

a cat hove to and sadly a local fishing boat sank with the loss of all hands.

That should set you all off in a good mood. Sailing forums eh...

Anyways

1) You are just going to have to accept the possibility of bad weather through Biscay and be prepared for it. I'm sure you know what to do however I would try and limit your exposure by possibly setting of in a reasonable 3 day weather window from NW France to keep it down to a minimum. Once you get down to the latitudes of Portugal things should be better.

2) Cold - we found it very difficult to keep warm when crossing Biscay in the winter. You will need all the thermals you can get and as good a set of oilies as you can afford. If you have some form of heating to dry out wet clothes that would be good.

It is quite a strain on morale to climb into already cold, wet gear at 3am while your teeth are chattering.

3) The nights are long - don't forget the goodies bag.

Fair winds

____________________

 

[Sandyman]

You say 'competent sailors' but how expeirenced are you? For instance, have you all endured days on end in an F9/F10 on the high seas? Are you experienced in heavy weather sailing ?
You are of course aware of the Biscay but do not underestimate the W cosat of Portugal in winter. In 2012 we
were stormbound in Nazare for 3 months without a single weather window.
Not wishing to be all dome & gloom but by putting time constraints on your passage you are asking for trouble.

 

[macd]

You are just going to have to accept the possibility of bad weather through Biscay and be prepared for it. I'm sure you know what to do however I would try and limit your exposure by possibly setting of in a reasonable 3 day weather window from NW France to keep it down to a minimum.

+1
Forecasts beyond three days become increasingly unreliable. Best to leave on three-day crossing with a fresh one. The continental shelf (which, as others have written, very much worsens big seas) is extensive off SW Brittany, when the forecast is newest. Within a day you'll be in very deep water with plenty of sea-room. The shelf is quite narrow, perhaps 30 miles, off Galicia. I hope you have the means to get weather updates on board.

You are of course aware of the Biscay but do not underestimate the W cosat of Portugal in winter.

Another +1.
The usual passage down there offers very little sea-room, and harbour entrances which are both very dangerous in big swells (even without much local wind), yet so very temptingly close. They claim victims regularly, often within shouting distance of land.

My last boat was a R32: wet as a faucet but if well-found it will look after you. Fair winds.

 

[Sandyman]

+1Another +1.
The usual passage down there offers very little sea-room, and harbour entrances which are both very dangerous in big swells (even without much local wind), yet so very temptingly close. They claim victims regularly, often within shouting distance of land.

Absolutely right. As bad weather set in I used to watch as port after port closed all down the coast. This on a Portuguese website. Will see if i can find it and will post it if its of use to the OP.
Have often heard reports & stories that say Nazare is the only all weather port on that coast & that it never closes. Not true. During the winter of 2012 it was closed on at least 8 occassions & even the big fishing boats would not attempt to exit/enter.

 

[Talulah]

We did a 6 day Atlantic trip leaving 1st December.
We had waited a couple of days for a weather window.
Using the SSB we were able to listen to Falmouth Coastguard for the weather forecast.
After 3 days the forecast of 'sea state high' gave us time to prepare for some heavy weather. All the spare diesel was put in the tank. (Worth carrying as much diesel as you can.)
The sails were changed for heavy weather sails and everything was securely stowed. Nothing left out. Cupboard doors tied together.
That night the storm hit as if someone had turned on a switch. Relative calm to crazy.
During the night one breaking wave across the deck put the mast underwater with stuff coming out the lid of the fridge. But it felt very safe.
The boat soon righted. Shook itself off and carried on sailing. A tack during the night was unsuccessful when I founf myself holding the end of the jib sheet. The bowline on the sail had come undone.
Autopilot virtually all the time.
The crew did not fare so well. One (an Italian) was panicked in the conditions and needed lots of reassurance.
The one really useful thing I took was a box of disposable hand warmers. I had a pair on the go 24/7. Kept out the cold.

 

[LadyInBed]

Not a trip that I would fancy at that time of year.
I think leaving from uk and going direct leaves you open to big errors in the predicted weather window.
My preferred route is to get down to Cameret / Brest where there are good free weather hidyholes then wait for a good 3 to 4 day window to get across to La Coruna, then look for a window to get round the corner and head South.
A good point has been raised re insurance at that time of year.

 

[TQA]

It is common to have a rough passage from Portugal to the Canaries at that time of year.

 

[Richard10002]

Why does it have to be November?

If you are heading for St. Lucia, what is the time pressure to get there by a particular time?

 

[michael_w]

Another vote for waiting in Camaret/Brest.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Wait for better weather?

 

[James Marinero]

Lots of great advice here, but def keep outside 1000 m in Biscay.

Costa del Morte is a bad corner and personally I would steer well clear of La Corunna this time of year. You might be very lucky though and get a NW gale (have T shirt).

Portuguese coast can be tricky. Have seen Cascais closed in August and damage to yachts inside the marina. Look at the hydrography outside Nazare - there is a huge undersea canyon that focuses the seas.

 

[James Marinero]

I've been lucky 3 times then...

 

[fredrussell]

Well I have nothing to offer but having read this thread my local estuary never looked so inviting!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Yep done it with a NW gale in June! once you get used to it and settle down with the wind vane doing the work it's fine. But a cold NW gale in November might not be the same.

 

[Sandyman]

Look at the hydrography outside Nazare - there is a huge undersea canyon that focuses the seas.

Was one of the spectators. Truely amasing sight.

Edit to say: This was 2 days after a hurricane went through. That was fun on the pontoons

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Lots of great advice here, but def keep outside 1000 m in Biscay.

Costa del Morte is a bad corner and personally I would steer well clear of La Corunna this time of year. You might be very lucky though and get a NW gale (have T shirt).

Great videos certainly got the adrenalin going wish I could surf and have the balls to do that.

Portuguese coast can be tricky. Have seen Cascais closed in August and damage to yachts inside the marina. Look at the hydrography outside Nazare - there is a huge undersea canyon that focuses the seas.