First time crossing the Bay of Biscay

[boatman61]

Don't be to cocksure about the 'Windows'.. one off my worst Biscay trips was leaving Gurnesy on a '7 day window' only to get hit by an unexpected SE'ly screamer that lasted 48hrs and built huge vertical sea's against the S' bound currents..
And for those who may say get the latest gadgets we had been passed earlier by a £2mil Jongert just past Ushant with a very experienced former Olympic sailor owner.. they were caught out as well.. in spite of the latest greatest piece of mossy rock..
When you head out for the Biscay be ready for the worst possible.. and be grateful for every hour it does not happen.. far to many influences to make it 'Predictable'...

[nauticalnomad]

I just arrived in Coruna yesterday..
Did 2.5 days from Port La Foret.
Motored for first 15 hours as had no wind then got 10 hours of id say a F5 and averaged 7 to 8 knots and then the wind died again and we motored with like i swear 100 odd dolphins for id say 6 hours. They were everywhere. It was weird. They just kept coming and swimming all around us and you could see fins 100 mtrs off each side of the boat. Looked like a day out at seaworld.
That was my first time crossing Biscay and it was not what i expected from all the fear portrayed but i dont doubt for a minute that it can get horrific out there. You feel the presence of the swell of the entire Atlantic ocean just coming at you and it looked calm. But i reckon when it gets angry you are at its mercy..

[reed1v]

Congratulations. Yup, sometimes its like that. We rounded the Horn in flat calm conditions. Had to motor. No wind, no seas, no nothing. A very happy letdown.

[nauticalnomad]

A happy let down describes it 100%..
Sort of wish i could be saying "Yeah, tackled Biscay it was huge bla bla bla"... But nope. It was a none eventful flat pond. The wind did gust through as we got close to land I was sailing and mate was asleep and it caught me unaware and i had too much sail up and was a battle to reef and furl in a rush. The gust came and just increased out of nowhere very quickly. But that was easy fixed.

[boatman61]

Glad it went well for you..

[nauticalnomad]

Thanks. Was aiming to make Porto and to leave the boat, but Coruna was easier. I have commitments for next month elsewhere so Ill come back and head to PT in June.

[barnakiel]

Good job!

b.