The Bay of Biscay, that infamous indentation in the coasts of France and Spain, lies in our immediate future. Although this will be our first time across, we’ve been hearing tales about Biscay events for as long as we can remember. It features in many of the tales our Surviving the Storm and other heavy weather books, and we have immense respect for this small body of water.

There are multiple potential problems. First, you have North Atlantic lows spinning along, bringing gale to hurricane strength winds starting in the southwest, veering northwest, and generating confused crossing seas in the process. Then there is the geography of the bay itself, a lee shore trap from either wind direction. Add in a deep open ocean wave train that suddenly comes upon the shallower (blue on the chart) coastal bed of Biscay and the waves get more interesting. Finally, currents, some incredibly strong, tear up the sea state.

In a “normal” season, with time, you can usually wait until the Azores High is well established, and then count on it to block the North Atlantic lows for at least a couple of days. But not always. For the 450 miles to La Coruna, Spain most boats are going to take three to five days, so getting punched is the norm. And sometimes there is a continuous cycle of fronts and the only option is to fight your way all the south or stay here for the year.

We are not adverse to testing a new design, and five years ago, we would have waited for nasty weather. But Wind Horse and crew are beyond the point of needing challenges, both just want a nice quiet ride, so we have been watching the weather faxes and GRIB files. We are luckier than most in that we need just 41 hours at our nominal eleven knot cruising speed to complete the passage to La Coruna. Three hours less if we depart from Falmouth.

Of course yesterday was the perfect option, but we were not ready.

Now it looks like maybe Friday. If not then, who knows? We are ready to see new territory, but our preference this season is to cruise in comfort, sans anxiety. We might mosey down the coast to Falmouth to save those three hours.