paulncc
New member
hi all i am thinking of crossing biscay in late march early april in a jaguar 22. any advice welcome.
when to cross biscay
- Thread starter paulncc
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Talbot
Active member
Get good life insurance /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
snowleopard
Active member
brittany ferries
kds
New member
Seems pretty ambitious to me - but then I'd get scared witless in a 29ft. traditional yacht in the Bristol Channel in March.
Ken
Ken
A
Anonymous
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
hi all i am thinking of crossing biscay in late march early april in a jaguar 22. any advice welcome.
[/ QUOTE ]You'd stand a better chance of not hitting really bad weather after mid June. Make sure that you have fully researched the weather before you leave and get a last minute phone briefing from the Met Office just before you slip off. You are looking for a quiet 5 day spell with favourable winds. Even then you are a long way from the nearest safe harbour in bad weather and there is a chance of a gale so you'd want to be sure that you can happily ride out a full gale. If you have any doubt about riding out a gale then reconsider - maybe talk this through with others who have experienced those conditions in the same type, if you haven't done so yourself.
Consider a GPS EPIRB and fit a DSC VHF. Your boat will have to be your liferaft. Your passage plan should include fully researched alternates and you should have charts and pilot information for those. You could get by with Reeds for the pilotage as space will be too limited for a stack of pilot books. People have done far more ambitious things in smaller vessels but there is undoubtedly risk attached.
hi all i am thinking of crossing biscay in late march early april in a jaguar 22. any advice welcome.
[/ QUOTE ]You'd stand a better chance of not hitting really bad weather after mid June. Make sure that you have fully researched the weather before you leave and get a last minute phone briefing from the Met Office just before you slip off. You are looking for a quiet 5 day spell with favourable winds. Even then you are a long way from the nearest safe harbour in bad weather and there is a chance of a gale so you'd want to be sure that you can happily ride out a full gale. If you have any doubt about riding out a gale then reconsider - maybe talk this through with others who have experienced those conditions in the same type, if you haven't done so yourself.
Consider a GPS EPIRB and fit a DSC VHF. Your boat will have to be your liferaft. Your passage plan should include fully researched alternates and you should have charts and pilot information for those. You could get by with Reeds for the pilotage as space will be too limited for a stack of pilot books. People have done far more ambitious things in smaller vessels but there is undoubtedly risk attached.
BrendanS
Well-known member
I guess the factor here is your experience so far, and what risk you are willing to take? I take a small boat far afield, and many question that. I've never felt at risk, but I plan well.
Are you aware of the risks of taking a small boat across Biscay and will you cope with whatever the weather gods throw at you if you get it wrong? If so, go for it and enjoy it.
If your experience has been mainly coastal, get some blue water experience before you go. Being out of sight of land for extended periods gets to some people, and you need to know you can cope with that.
Are you aware of the risks of taking a small boat across Biscay and will you cope with whatever the weather gods throw at you if you get it wrong? If so, go for it and enjoy it.
If your experience has been mainly coastal, get some blue water experience before you go. Being out of sight of land for extended periods gets to some people, and you need to know you can cope with that.
Scillypete
Well-known member
Agree with all the previous statements.
Most of all you need to be sure of the weather situation which can be changeable during April, quite often in early March it can be quite favourable with long periods of settled high pressure giving fair winds for crossing, but not always.
The trick is to pick your departure harbour and just sit and wait for the right window of opportunity for you and if that means waiting until high summer then so be it.
Most of all you need to be sure of the weather situation which can be changeable during April, quite often in early March it can be quite favourable with long periods of settled high pressure giving fair winds for crossing, but not always.
The trick is to pick your departure harbour and just sit and wait for the right window of opportunity for you and if that means waiting until high summer then so be it.
Robin
Well-known member
In March/April, apart from it being very cold (sea temperature will be at it's lowest of the year) you are also most likely to have the usual depression weather systems (very aptly named IMO) and experience headwinds and gales. Your boat will not be fast so your passage may be much longer than a trustable weather prediction window. You could get lucky but I wouldn't make that bet, at least not with my own life as the stake money.
As someone else has said Britanny Ferries on a trailer is a good option. Otherwise go later in the year and/or coast hop round in predictable forecast legs, even consider using the Canal Du Midi if the Med is your target.
Sure people have done more in even smaller boats, but they didn't have to ask the question. If you need to ask then I suggest the answer has to be DON'T DO IT!
As someone else has said Britanny Ferries on a trailer is a good option. Otherwise go later in the year and/or coast hop round in predictable forecast legs, even consider using the Canal Du Midi if the Med is your target.
Sure people have done more in even smaller boats, but they didn't have to ask the question. If you need to ask then I suggest the answer has to be DON'T DO IT!
ashanta
New member
Jaguar 22 is a light boat and at the time of year you're looking at it will most likely IMHO be changeable. To cross directly rather than coast hop will mean you will be exposed to the atlantic shelf which runs parallel to this course, rising very sharply which creates large swells in good weather and rough seas in poor weather. Some of the advice you have been given is very good and your safe journey will depend on your skill, experience and equipment.
good luck.
Peter.
good luck.
Peter.
BrendanChandler
Member
I agree with everything Lemain says.
In addition, if you want to clear Finisterre, I recommend going west to Falmouth and when you leave, sail S.W. until 10 degrees west and then go South, giving the Cape a wide berth to avoid the gales, fog and concentrated shipping. This way, you also avoid the shallowest water.
Expect a full gale and be pleased when you miss it.
Brendan
In addition, if you want to clear Finisterre, I recommend going west to Falmouth and when you leave, sail S.W. until 10 degrees west and then go South, giving the Cape a wide berth to avoid the gales, fog and concentrated shipping. This way, you also avoid the shallowest water.
Expect a full gale and be pleased when you miss it.
Brendan
charon
New member
You are getting some good advice here and there is not much to add to except to re-inforce a couple of points.
Check your boat, make sure there are no maintenance problems. (Obvious and I'm sure you will). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Plan at least 2 alternatives to each part of your route. (Second guess the devil in the deep)
Wait for a suitable weather window. There is no shame in standing on the jetty wishing you were out there, it's a lot better than being out there wishing you were on the jetty.
Biscay's a strange place at times. I crossed it in November (in a tall ship mind) expecting to get walloped and it was a flat calm most of the way. Another time it was F11, damage done and no fun at all.
It's out there. If you want to do it, do it. Plan, prepare and enjoy the experience you lucky sailor you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Godfrey
Check your boat, make sure there are no maintenance problems. (Obvious and I'm sure you will). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Plan at least 2 alternatives to each part of your route. (Second guess the devil in the deep)
Wait for a suitable weather window. There is no shame in standing on the jetty wishing you were out there, it's a lot better than being out there wishing you were on the jetty.
Biscay's a strange place at times. I crossed it in November (in a tall ship mind) expecting to get walloped and it was a flat calm most of the way. Another time it was F11, damage done and no fun at all.
It's out there. If you want to do it, do it. Plan, prepare and enjoy the experience you lucky sailor you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Godfrey
ChrisE
Active member
Paul,
I'm going to be a bit tough and say that if you have to ask this question you shouldn't be contemplating this trip. As all of the previous posters have said this is non-trivial and unless you have seriously got the boat ready to go by now you ought not to be trying it. You might get away with it and call people like me old scaredy cats but equally you might get a real scaring, if you are lucky and drowned, if not.
Chris
I'm going to be a bit tough and say that if you have to ask this question you shouldn't be contemplating this trip. As all of the previous posters have said this is non-trivial and unless you have seriously got the boat ready to go by now you ought not to be trying it. You might get away with it and call people like me old scaredy cats but equally you might get a real scaring, if you are lucky and drowned, if not.
Chris
Graham_Wright
Well-known member
How far offshore is the shelf and does staying outside improve sea conditions much (when it blows obviusly)?
Stork_III
Well-known member
When you've bought a bigger boat, unless your name is ELLEN!!
snowleopard
Active member
if you sail SW from ushant you will cross the edge of the shelf at right angles about 110m out. the dangerous area is the point where the N Atlantic Drift hits the edge of the shelf and wells up.
samwise
New member
We are planning the same trip (destination Med for a 12 month liveaboard) next year (06) and are planning and preparing already. The deep fin on our 33ft Westerly precludes the canal route and we are doing the coastal hop, perhaps down to Royan or thereabouts ( although the safe haven options get a bit thin as you go further south with some port entrances very dodgy in some conditions) and then across to N.Spain before "going round the corner."
I am pretty confident that our boat ( and the crew) could take it if we were caught out, but I would rather reduce the risk as far as possible and keep my options wide open. In any case, we are in no hurry. I hope that Paul has done his homework and is pretty well advanced with his boat preparation . If he really means to go this March he's cutting it a bit fine
I am pretty confident that our boat ( and the crew) could take it if we were caught out, but I would rather reduce the risk as far as possible and keep my options wide open. In any case, we are in no hurry. I hope that Paul has done his homework and is pretty well advanced with his boat preparation . If he really means to go this March he's cutting it a bit fine
webcraft
Well-known member
If you can't cross in three days then you can't count on a weather forecast to keep you safe . . . and I would suggest that in a Jaguar 22 you probably can't count on crossing in three days from any UK port.
So - you have to be prepared for bad weather, and in March in Biscay that can mean VERY bad weather, the worst.
You might be lucky . . . I crossed on a 33 footer in mid-May 2001 and we had three days of motoring in a glassy flat calm. I wouldn;t bet my life on it, though.
- Nick
So - you have to be prepared for bad weather, and in March in Biscay that can mean VERY bad weather, the worst.
You might be lucky . . . I crossed on a 33 footer in mid-May 2001 and we had three days of motoring in a glassy flat calm. I wouldn;t bet my life on it, though.
- Nick
TonyMS
Active member
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If you stop off in Brittany, say Camaret or le Conquet, you shorten the jump across Biscay considerably. You then have a much better chance of a reliable weather window.
However, we had a Jaguar 22 for around 10 years, which we used for crossing the N Sea and Channel. I'd say it wasn't strong enough, stable enough or weatherly enough to take across Biscay in reasonable safety.
Tony
However, we had a Jaguar 22 for around 10 years, which we used for crossing the N Sea and Channel. I'd say it wasn't strong enough, stable enough or weatherly enough to take across Biscay in reasonable safety.
Tony
LadyInBed
Well-known member
You ask when, and as no one else has asked,
I ask why?
When I came back from the Med in a 22 footer I came via the Midi, Vilaine, Rance and C.I’s.
Cut off all the nasty corners and coast hopping is much more fun, especially if you are short handed.
I ask why?
When I came back from the Med in a 22 footer I came via the Midi, Vilaine, Rance and C.I’s.
Cut off all the nasty corners and coast hopping is much more fun, especially if you are short handed.
paulncc
New member
hi all thanks to all for the advice. think i will leave the trip a little later and go via the canal du midi.