Biscay Yacht Delivery

Sailing across Biscay on a yacht can be intimidating. Biscay is often known for its formidable reputation, which is frequently justified.

Despite the fact that the region's weather and geography remain the same, improvements in accurate weather predictions, the ease of getting reliable forecasts and modern yacht design have undoubtedly had an impact. There's truly no reason to be "caught out" in Biscay now.

Leaving northern Spain crossing Biscay on delivery to the UK

However before these advancements during the era of square-rigged ships, the Bay of Biscay served as an ideal trap. These ships, incapable of sailing upwind, would be driven inshore by the prevailing westerly winds, unable to tack back out to sea.

This, coupled with a steeply sloping seabed over the continental shelf and exposure to 3,000 miles of the open Atlantic Ocean, created the perfect nightmare scenario for sailor.

The Right Weather Window

The right weather window is crucial for any Biscay crossing.

A Biscay crossing ranges from approximately 320 to 360 nautical miles, depending on your starting and ending locations. Typically, we accomplish a Biscay yacht delivery in about two and a half to three and a half days, depending on the vessel and conditions. Therefore, we generally seek a weather window of three to four days.

There are numerous apps and websites available for weather information, and your choice ultimately depends on personal preference.

It's a good idea to explore multiple options to determine which suits you best. However, you might want to consider Passage Weather and Windy, as we find these two particularly helpful. It is also important to view more than one forecast model as you will find predictions can vary.

Checking wave height and direction is as crucial as monitoring the weather. This factor, more than wind strength, often determines whether a Biscay crossing will be enjoyable or uncomfortable. Again most apps will predict this.

Oceantrax carry out Biscay crossings all year round and a late season or winter crossing can often mean an increased chance of gales. This being the case, it’s useful to know that there is a good choice of marinas on both the north and south ends of Biscay to wait out bad weather. Here are just a few of our choices:

MARINAS IN FRANCE

Brest offers outstanding shelter and a well-equipped marina, with 24-hour self-service fuel available by card. It provides a wide array of yacht services and supermarkets. Additionally, Brest has a customs and immigration office near the marina, convenient for those crossing the channel to the UK or arriving in France from the UK.

Camaret Sur Mer: One of our preferred spots for a day or two, featuring 24-hour self-service fuel available by card, a supermarket in town, and a great selection of bars and restaurants if you find yourself staying for a few days. Strolling along the cliffs provides breathtaking views of the coastline, and the village itself is quite charming. Be sure to take a brief look inside the church as you walk from the marina to the village.

Port La Foret: Slightly more remote and technically still within the Bay of Biscay.

However if you've been driven east into the bay and require fuel or refuge from approaching weather, the marina provides 24-hour self-service fuel and excellent protection in adverse conditions.

RAZ DE SEIN PASSAGE

Raz De Sein in northern France merits a mention in this guide as it is a formidable body of water.

If you find yourself being pushed east into Biscay, you might be tempted to take this shortcut to Brest. However, it should be approached with great caution. The timing must align with the tides, and the weather conditions need to be favorable. You can find details on the optimal times to attempt this in the Reeds Almanac.

MARINAS IN SPAIN

A'Coruna is likely the most well-known stop and often acts as the first or last port when crossing Biscay, depending on your travel direction. It provides a wide range of marine services, such as engineering, rigging, and GRP repairs. Fuel and water is available at the marina and there are well-stocked supermarkets nearby.

A'Coruna has two main marinas; the outer one can be somewhat exposed to swell, while the other is well-protected and closer to the town center. For longer stays, the inner basin is recommended. While A'Coruna be sure to checkout the lighthouse, The Tower of Hercules, which is the oldest known Roman lighthouse.

A'Coruna has an airport with limited flight options. Santiago de Compostela airport is often a better choice as it offers more options. Public transportation is available from Santiago, but if two or three people are traveling, the cost is roughly the same as taking a taxi.

Sada: One bay east of A Coruna, offering most marine services, fuel and supermarkets for provisioning for your crossing. Far cheaper than A'Coruna if you are planning an extended stay in the area however there is not so many services if you require work carried out on your vessel.

Muxia: Small marina and town with a couple of small supermarkets but do not expect anything other than essentials. From our experience the marina never seems to be busy and the staff always friendly. Fuel is available here, however you have to buy from the garage on the quayside. The attendant will then fill a bowser with the amount you order and tow it on to the dock behind a trike.

One disadvantage of this is on spring low tides the slipway can be a bit too steep for the trike and you have to be accurate with your estimation as unused fuel cannot be returned. This marina really wins on its location as when you leave you are straight into the Bay of Biscay and can set your course for France.

If heading south and you do not need fuel or supplies and the weather is favourable we would recommend passing Finisterre and considering one of the many marinas in the inlets that lay just to the south. There is many options in the three inlets and the area is definately worth exploring.

BEST TIME OF YEAR

Based on historical weather data, June and July are typically the optimal months for crossing, as gales are very uncommon, though not impossible. When the Azores High is firmly in place, a ridge of high pressure generally extends towards Brest. This results in predominantly southwesterly winds in the Channel, westerly winds in North Biscay, and north-northeasterly winds in South Biscay, which then evolve into the Portuguese trade winds.

TOP TIPS!

Off the northwest coast of Spain, near Cabos Ortegal, Baras, and Finisterre, there is an acceleration zone. In this coastal region, localized winds frequently reach gale force, which weather forecasts do not always predict. These winds often diminish rapidly after passing Finisterre.

Some years, the jet stream stays significantly further south, causing low-pressure systems to pass near or over the UK. This results in predominantly southwesterly winds in Biscay, creating conditions that resemble spring and autumn rather than midsummer This can be a blessing or a hindrance depending on your direction.

BEWARE OF THE CONTINENTIAL SHELF

The Continental Shelf can significantly influence the sea state. The ocean floor quickly rises from depths exceeding 4000 meters to under 150 meters over a relatively short distance.

When depressions prevail, large swells can form, and as these reach the continental shelf, the shallower waters cause the swells to grow taller and shorten in wavelength. If the wind shifts to the northwest after the cold front passes, a hazardous and chaotic sea may develop.

SHORTER BISCAY CROSSINGS

There have been occasions when we had to reduce the length of a Biscay crossing. This could be because of brief weather windows or, for a powerboat delivery, a restricted fuel range. In these cases, we've headed east along the northern Spanish coast until nearly directly south of northern France.

We've utilized ports like Gijon, Ribadeo (a charming town that's definitely worth visiting, though be cautious of the large swells at the entrance in certain weather conditions), and Santander.

Depending on where you start or end your journey, using one of these ports can cut the distance to 250-270 nautical miles.

KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER

Get a good 3-4 day forecast for a straight northern France to Northern Spain crossing.
Ensure you have plenty of fuel and take cans if necessary. Crews quite often underestimate how much fuel they will use, especially if the wind drops or you end up motor sailing into headwinds.
Beware of the acceleration zone off North West Spain in an Easterly or North Easterly.
Check your boat – crossing Biscay can be a real test on equipment. Checkout our guide on rig checking..
Ensure you have the right crew and set up a good watch system. Our guide to an efficient watch system can be found here.
Wait for a suitable weather window, do not rush it.
Check the wave heights and direction not just the weather as this can have a big impact on your Biscay crossing.
Be aware of strong tides around northern France when entering the English Channel.

DIETER PESCHKES

Owner & Manager of Oceantrax Yacht Deliveries