Where to go? 3 week cruise - Biscay or Ireland.

[woody001]

Hi,

I help sail a boat to ireland last year, really enjoyed it, thinking of doing it again.

What would you do? Cross the biscay or go to ireland?


Simon.

 

[Ocean Hound]

Done both - equally as good but I think the craic from Newport to Cork takes some beating, especially if the weather is kind, which usually isn't!

 

[ChrisE]

Depends a bit on whether you are thinking of coming back in the 3 weeks. If you are then the sailing/ashore ratio of the Biscay trip will be very high and v weather dependent. Must be Ireland. OTOH, if you are happy to leave the boat in the foreign then must be Biscay.

 

[RupertW]

I'd be inclined to Ireland if the weather outlook is good - mostly because I've never sailed to Ireland as SWMBO hates rain, and South Brittany/Biscay has always been a better bet.

My experience of 3 weeks and back for a Biscay crossing was that it was fine in the time window, but only if by cutting down on the number of visited ports and accepting that the time in Spain will be minimal (3 days in Santander for us).

We then got back to more familiar cruising ground from La Rochelle upwards where we port hopped a bit more, knowing that we could get back home in a couple of days from pretty much anywhere once we got to Belle Isle.

 

[Sans Bateau]

...and dont forget, if you do have to leave the boat...wherever, Easyjet fly to and from Cork so escape should be economic.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Can't answer your question as we have never done Biscay, but for your interest there are links below to account of our Ireland cruise this year. The log was in 7 parts, lots of pics. They were posted to in Sept.

<u>Links - Ireland Cruise 2006 - Parts 1-7</u>
Part 1 - Dingle
Part 2 - Kinsale
Part 3 - Kilmore Quay
Part 4 - Waterford + Dunmore East
Part 5 - Dun Laoghaire
Part 6 - Kilmore + Kinsale
Part 7 - Voyage Home - Bantry Bay
Part 8 - Back Home - Epilogue

I would recommend the south and south west coasts (ie Cork, Kerry). First port of call if coming from wales or west UK would probably be Kilmore Quay in wexford, or Kinsale/Crosshaven in Cork if coming from UK south coast. If you can get around to Dingle, Bantry and Kenmare bays you will enjoy the most spectacular scenery.

 

[bigwow]

I wouldn’t go to Ireland, they are far too friendly, get you drunk all the time and don’t charge too much for berthing! I wonder why I go all the time?