Time to cross the Bay
Les Sable-d’Olonne had been good to us and it was now time to cross the Bay of Biscay. We had found that tales of the crossing ranged from really easy to awful and we were keen to ensure we got the right weather window. We employed the services of the delightful Simon Rowell, a professional weather router we had met before on an online weather routing presentation run by the cruising association.
We had a window in mind and during an online meeting Simon showed us what he did and modelled our plan. It confirmed our thoughts and although the wind was going to be more than we’d really been used to on Yanula Blue, we set off knowing we would have a fruity night and to stay North before gybing to A Coruna as we approached the north-western tip of Spain.
Learning to do watches
Crossing Biscay would be our longest passage on Yanula Blue and just the two of us! We had to start getting into the rhythm of watches where only one of us stays on deck (watching!) and the other gets some sleep or relaxes.
Jenni was quite nervous of being alone on her own in the dark – and given we only left Les Sables d’Olonne at 1400 there was only really six hours till darkness. What to do?
We decided to start off with 30 minute watches in the light – just getting used to being on our own.
Then we moved to 1 hour when Jen was more confident and it had gone dark … then to 1.5 hours!
This timing didn’t really give much time for sleep – but we were still getting used to the movement of the boat and the noises, so not a lot of sleep was expected. Plus everyone says it takes 2-3 days to get into a good watch pattern.
We made it through the darkness and for the following night we resolved that the watches would be longer – building up to 3-4 hours as we discover what works best for us.
When the autohelm breaks!!
Of course such incidents only ever happen at night! Jen was just coming off a watch at 0130 and very much looking forward to bed when she heard a grinding in the aft cabin. At the same time the sails started flogging and Chris realised the autohelm steering had stopped!
It was blowing a Force 6 so not an ideal time to lose the third member of crew! Luckily the superstar skipper quickly identified what had happened and that he had a spare part.
Chris quickly set about fixing the problem whilst Jen got on the helm, using stars to try and keep as smooth a course as possible – not that easy when so tired and so windy and just listening to banging of the hammer from down below!
The issue was a spigot that connects the autopilot drive to the steering quadrant, it had sheered and was likely due to metal fatigue and the amount of pressure on the rudder caused by waves from a following sea. The previous owner had told us about the failure and had had spares made. Happily, they were easily changed over albeit the access to the quadrant is under the bed in our aft cabin.
About an hour later the autohelm was back and normality resumed. Bed for Jen and watches for Chris!
Another good reason for getting a Hydrovane which has been discussed already. Better get out the cheque book!
When the forecast gets it right.
Crossing the Bay of Biscay is not to be taken lightly – at any time of year. We know people who have had difficult sails in summer – and those who have had great sails in winter!
As we weren’t in a rush we had waited for the right weather window to make this passage as good as possible – we actually waited in Le Sables D’Olonne for 2 weeks!!
The services of Simon Rowell, a professional sailing navigator and meteorologist, helped us make the decision to go – or not!
Initially a weather window had presented itself for Tuesday 23 September – in between another low forming that we were all tracking. On an update with Simon he suggested that a Monday afternoon may actually be the time to go – after the current low was forecast to move away!!
Aaaggghhhhh – we had so much to do! But agreed with him and cracked on getting the boat (and ourselves!) ready for this trip.
So far the forecast has been very accurate – F6-7 on the first overnight reducing to F4-5 the following day and overnight with a nice downwind NE wind direction.
If it carried on we should make land by Thursday morning – with a good amount of time to spare watching the next front and deciding when to move again!
17:38 – our first whale!!
We were sitting in the cockpit catching up before making dinner, when Jen heard a gentle blow from behind and at the same time Chris shouted “WHALE!”
Jen turned and saw the slow moving fin as a whale slowly swam by. He didn’t seem too interested in us, but we saw his water spout blowing as he made his way into the distance.
Jen did see a flash of white and for a moment worried it may be an Orca – but we think it was a Minky whale which can also have white on them and more common in these parts! It was very exciting!
We gybed on Wednesday night as the light faded and made for A Coruna. The wind was on our Port Quarter and made for a flying sail toward the Spanish coast. Jen was still a little reluctant to take a watch with such high winds and so we decided Chris would see us through most of the night. Chris had Yanula Blue flying and as dawn approached Jen took over to let Chris sleep. Little did she know what was yet to come.
Orca Alert!
We head been monitoring Orca activity for a while now, as we knew there was a risk we could bump into a pod’s path. They have developed a habit of “playing” with rudders. Unfortunately they don’t know their own strength and often ruin boats and leave them disabled and needing a tow to shore.
As Chris slept a report came in of a sighting in the bay we were headed for. Jen’s eyes were on stalks as she debated whether to wake Chris or not. She let him sleep as he would shortly need to dock the boat in A Coruna.
When Chris arose there was no sign, but we were still at risk of an attack, so we cut the corner of our intended course to make haste. We found out later, that there was an attack 4 hours after we went through this location! We felt very fortunate to escape it indeed!
A Coruna
We had been briefed about the A Coruna approach by a couple we had been in contact with through the Cruising Association. Sure enough, as we arrived they were there to take our lines and offer their congratulations on our successful Biscay crossing – with the marina staff and other people who were around at the time, we felt it was a real heroes welcome!! Our first serious passage was completed and we were so happy to be back to land. Now where’s the bar!
