Table of Contents
How long does it take to sail through the Bay of Biscay?
It usually takes a day to cross the Bay of Biscay. Making a stop in the bay may extend journey time to two days but it rarely takes longer than two days.
When can you cross the Bay of Biscay?
The most recommended time to cross the Bay of Biscay is early summer. The least recommended time is in the fall and early winter, starting with the early Equinox at end of August to the end of September.
How long does it take to sail to Gibraltar?
The Atlantic takes about 3-4 weeks to cross. If you’re fast, take shortcuts, and get lucky, it can be done in about 2 weeks. If you’re out of luck and are without wind for a week or more, or use a slow ship, it can easily take up to one month.
How long does it take to sail to France from England?
One of the most popular connections, England to France, can take anywhere from 35 minutes on the EuroTunnel up to 11 hours. Some of the longer journey times can be found on our connections from Algeria and Morocco, taking 23 hours and almost 40 hours to sail to France, respectively.
Why is the Bay of Biscay so choppy?
It’s known for its rough seas and violent storms and much of this is thanks to its exposure to the Atlantic ocean. “These swell waves can be felt in the Bay of Biscay if you’re still in deep water 100 miles out. They then become shorter choppier waves when you hit the continental shelf.”
What are the problems with crossing the Bay of Biscay?
On all Biscay crossings, ships and fishing boats are an ever-present problem. Typical breakages that Rally yachts seem to suffer on the Biscay crossing include: Engine failure – normally due to dirty fuel that has been mixed by the motion of the Atlantic swells, and then clogs the filters.
Why is the Bay of Biscay called embayed?
The Bay of Biscay is notorious from the days of the square-rigged sailing ships, which because of their wide tacking angle could become ’embayed’; trapped in the Bay and unable to clear either Ushant or Cape Finisterre. Modern yachts don’t suffer this problem, but the words ‘Bay of Biscay’ still gets sailors’ pulses…
Is the Bay of Biscay really open water?
In actual fact, the Bay of Biscay is like any stretch of open water when it starts to get windy. Conditions can change quickly and because of certain geographical features, can become rather uncomfortable. The Bay of Biscay is a wide concave sweep of water that stretches around the western coast of France and along the northern coast of Spain.
Can a transatlantic cruise go through the Bay of Biscay?
Many transatlantic cruises from the UK will go through the Bay of Biscay. Transatlantic cruises often move downwards before going across the Atlantic, they may even stop in the Canary Islands, Portugal and the Azores before making the crossing. A number of ‘northern Europe’ cruises will also go through the bay.