How to navigate with google earth

LEARNING CURVELEARNING CURVE

30 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com MARCH 2016

A

fter checking the weather,

I prepared to depart Brest at

1530 on a Monday in May, to

cross the Bay of Biscay in my

Bavaria 33, Isabella, bound for

Vigo with three crew.

Forecasts showed an area of low

pressure, and high winds, expected on

Wednesday night but this would pass

ahead of us and move east along the

northern coast of Spain.

Leaving Brest with a fair tide we could

see the loom of Ar Men light as night fell.

We were on a close reach with two reefs in

the main and a reefed headsail. The miles

were ticking off rapidly.

Using the satellite phone I had been

regularly checking the weather and found

no surprises. But on Wednesday morning,

half way across the Bay, I was horrified to

see the low now heading straight for us.

It was eerily calm on Wednesday

afternoon and early evening. The sea was

like an oily mirror, and then, ‘18 knots,

22 knots, 26 knots... Here it comes!’ I

shouted into the rising wind.

By 0200 we had a constant 35 knots

and monstrous seas that swallowed

us whole. We were under bare poles,

motoring to prevent her going beam on.

I was also two crew down, one paralysed

with fear and the other violently seasick.

My able crew, Clemo, and I helmed

one hour on and one off. To get into

position and stay secure at the helm,

‘How I got

battered

in Biscay’

Graham Vickers gets a hiding when a deep

low takes an unexpected track across Biscay

■ Before crossing,

check the integrity of

your steering system. In

our case, an emergency

tiller would have proved

impossible to use.

■ A blocked filter stopped

our engine. The Biscay

swell is notorious for

disturbing sediment in

tanks. Flush your fuel

system before leaving and

take spare fuel filters.

we swung from harness to harness

in a choreographed movement. The

howling of the wind drowned out any

communication.

At 0400, on my watch, it hit 42 knots.

I was shocked. This was not forecast. I

didn’t tell the others. Off watch, I placed

photos of my children in my pocket.

Mercifully this was the peak and six

hours later the wind started decreasing

but the effort involved in holding course

was now breaking apart the welded joints

of the wheel. Would it last?

Finally we saw land. ‘We’re going to

do it!’ Clemo shouted. An hour later, the

engine stopped.

The wind died when we were 25 miles

offshore. We were being pushed towards

land, on a sea still loaded with energy and

I could see huge breaking waves battering

the coastline. When we were just eight

miles out but still with no wind and no

engine, we called for help on the VHF

radio and were towed into La Coruña. W

Lessons learned

PHOTO: GRAHAM VICKERS

■ The prevailing winds

and swell can push

any boat into the Bay.

Leaving from Falmouth

or Southern Ireland is

a better option than

northern France. This also

keeps clear of the shipping

route across the Bay.

■ Weather in the Bay

is highly unpredictable.

I have heard of yachts

motoring across Biscay

with no wind and then, just

days later, ships having

their ninth floor windows

smashed by huge waves.

Whenever you go, be

prepared for big seas, high

winds and fog. There is

nowhere to run.

■ Experienced crew are

vital. Many insurance

companies insist upon two

skippers. It’s not a place

for novices.

Graham Vickers, 53, a company director,

started sailing 30 years ago after being given

a 12ft Aquacat trailer-sailer. Now an RYA

Yachtmaster Offshore, he has skippered in

the Round the Island Race four times and

competed in the RORC Caribbean 600. He

owns a Hallberg-Rassy 36 MkII currently

moored in Kinsale, Ireland.

Graham Vickers

Forecasts are all

well and good,

but the weather

doesn’t always do

what it should. Be

well prepared

‘We had a constant

35 knots and

monstrous seas that

swallowed us whole’