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Our "Biscay" starts south of the tidal gate at the Raz du Sein, and runs to Ribadeo, the first of the Rias of Galicia. Biscay shorelines, often ignored in the rush to warmer climates, are rewarding cruising destinations in their own right, and good value compared with cruising UK waters. French Biscay can be reached and briefly cruised within a two week cruise from UK. It has three markedly different regions; N France, France south of the Gironde, and N Spain:
The Rias of Galicia, (new page) just around the corner, aren't all Biscay. They offer far more friendly cruising conditions, better yacht support, and even year round sailing for hardened individuals.
There's good sailing in Biscay from the beginning of June to late September, with temperatures some 5°C higher than south England. Occasional depressions pass by, sometimes with strong winds, usually well forecast. Outside of those, light winds with coastal sea and land breezes are quite common. In spring and autumn the probability of severe weather rises, limiting cruising opportunities. Winter, November through to March, has many periods of vicious weather, while massive seas make the exposed coasts hostile, especially in N Spain.
There are two strategies for crossing Biscay:
One Hop. It's best to wait for a three or four day weather window, which is easy in summer between June and September, when they are frequent. Weather windows are often accompanied by windless passages! Winter is far more challenging. Strong ocean going boats with strong crews practiced in surviving heavy weather are needed for this strategy, knowing that occasionally three day weather windows turn to worms. Note the ports of refuge - those which can be entered in any weather and any state of tide!
Coasting. Day sailing around the coasts is feasible, except the 150nm past S Biscay France. Waiting near the Gironde river for a 36 hour weather window to make the passage to a convenient port of refuge in N Spain is prudent. Passage planning is simple, with little tidal stream along the coasts to worry about. However, entry to the many ports/marinas is tide dependent, and in some ports strongly swell dependent. The passage is easily conducted with few delays from June to September. It's feasible in winter, but a lot of time will be spent waiting for tolerable sailing conditions.
Reviewed May 2017