Saturday 8th July
The big one: L’Aber Wrac’h to A Coruna
The Bay of Biscay has a fearsome reputation as a boat breaker.
The continental shelf extends into the bay to create breaking seas where the depth changes at phenomenal levels. And westerly gales would often blow old sailing ships into the bay and onto the rocky lee shore – often with loss of life.
Needless to say we weren’t looking forward to it.
We spent hours carefully planning the route and took a very careful and very long look at the weather. The weather forecasts were studied for many days before making our decision to leave, and from where.
Finding the forecasts to be consistent across a number of models, and remaining so for the length of time to cross Biscay, we decided our departure point would be L’Aber Wrac’h. Close enough to catch a fair tide down the Chanel du Four, and mostly to the Raz de Sein.
With the decision made and a high confidence level in the forecast, off we went at 0800 on Saturday 8th July.
Flat calm in the Chanel du Four

Mirror Flat
This is in such contrast to the grizzly reputation of Biscay. The boat here was no more than 50 metres away, motoring along as we were, towards the Chanel du Four in a glassy-calm sea.
This continued all the way past the western end of the Raz de Sein… the point we planned to switch off the engine regardless of wind and take whatever was there.
After loosing the grip of the tide, that’s exactly what we did and managed to slowly plod along at the glacial rate of 2.1 knots.

Poled Out
Eventually the wind picked up as forecast, from the north west, so it was up with our downwind rig – and away we went at an average of 7 knots for the rest of the day.
The sails stayed up and the motor stayed off until we neared the harbour at A Coruna some 360 miles away from L’Aber Wrac’h.
Sunday 9th July
Pidgeon and Whales!
Whales! Was the shout from Maria.
And sure enough there they were… two of them, less than 100 metres away to starboard.
These magnificent creatures stayed with us for hours. Always at a healthy distance – not too close or far – and sometimes giving us advance notice of their presence from the air being expelled from their blowholes. They stayed into the night, when we couldn’t see them, but could still hear them.
Our other visitor was a pigeon, who had flown over specially from Yorkshire. We confirmed his heritage not by the rings on his legs, but because he turned his nose up at the bread from France that Maria offered him. If it’s not Hovis, it’s not worth having, I reckon he thought. He stayed with us for an hour or so to recharge his batteries I guess. But when he cottoned on to the fact our destination was South rather than the promised land of the North West – off he went.
Monday 10th July
Whales 7 Dolphins 7
We had almost given up on the dolphins. Other Biscay-crossers with whom we are in touch said they saw them. But we weren’t too optimistic with three days in and no sighting.
Frankly I thought the whales had it in the bag.
Then, 30 miles out from the Spanish coastline, the dolphins appeared with a spectacular performance on both sides of the boat. Leaping and diving under one side of Lady Jane to emerge on the other. It was truly incredible acrobatic performance and we feel blessed to have witnessed something so special.
So, the dolphins managed to pull it back to level the scores at 7 hours each in our company.
Close Quarters with a Cargo Ship

Near miss
We have onboard an AIS transmitter. This shares our course and speed to other vessels around us and enables us to see what other vessels are up to. It also calculates the closest point of approach and when this will be.
In other words, it works out if you are going to hit another vessel or t’other way round. And it is one of the best pieces of technology we have onboard.
At 21:45 I was tracking a cargo ship using AIS and it was clear the distance between us – at this closest point of approach – was going to be uncomfortably close.
So I radioed the ship.
To be fair, he responded right away, and confirmed that he is tracking us. I stated that we are a sailing vessel, which shoves us up the pecking order, and he said he would make sure we are OK. So I left it at that… but with a close eye on him.
Frankly he could have turned a little earlier. Things were getting a bit tense on board Lady Jane as the closest point of approach didn’t change much over the next few minutes. Then he turned. You can see from the photograph how close he was. I’ll give that one 3 out of 10 ta very much.
Tuesday 11th July
Arrival
As predicted – by Predict Wind – the wind came around to the south-west, so we had to motor the last four hours to the marina.
When nearby, Maria called ahead to let them know of our arrival and to ask where to berth.
At that time in the morning, after a sleep-deprived number of days, not a lot makes sense. Maria was hearing go to ‘phantom I’ on the radio and I was seeing a man on a bike waving at us.
Only one of those things was reality.
The man on the bike showed us where to go and took our lines on pontoon I.

Biscay – done
And here we are.
After three and a bit days at sea, we have safely navigated the Bay of Biscay and are currently enjoying A Coruna and the occasional heat of the Galician sunshine.
We’ll be here until early next week, when we sail further south down the Spanish coastline.
I’ve only crossed the Bay on a cargo ship and that was exciting enough for me! Very impressed that you sailed it straight across, and very glad you had calm seas. I’ve seen it live up to its reputation for a storm or two, and all the tales about it are all true.
I saw lots of dolphins but no whales, so quite Jellibags. Glad that you are having such a great start to your adventure.
Enjoy your Spanish sojourn! A&M
Well done for crossing the bay of biscay. Good job it was calm. It can be a nightmare crossing that even on a cruise ship xxx
Well done for crossing without incident apart from your wonderful companions. Whales are so magestic & dolphins entertaining. As for your pigrion from a Yorkshire …. I bet you made him feel at home.
What amazing experiences & I feel honoured to be sharing them with you.
Wishing you more fair winds & calm seas
If you have AIS tracking onboard does that mean we can track you on the web? ANd how are you identified is it a number or your name? And do you have a photo of Lady Jane attached to your AIS. We are currently trying to find you on an AIS map. I love your narratives and photos but as a map fanatic it would also be great to be able to track you.
Found you in the Marina in A Coruna on an AIS map -on the last of the finger pontoons on the town side on a south finger pontoon. We can see that your MMSI is 235015559 and your size is 12 by 4 metres. Technology is wonderful! Looks like there is a big big boat called Sea Walk on the hammer head.
Hi Rosemary – well spotted – and thanks for following us!
I note the “Eye of the Wind” is on the Hammer head of the same Marina you are in – I sailed back from Mombassa to London on her when I was 19 (many decades ago) – with Operation Drake. The Eye of the Wind is a fantastic craft – when I knew her she was a Brigantine – but I think she has amended her rigging format a bit since then.
So jealous but way too scary for me. Carry on sailing. Bon voyage and may the fun continue
What a fantastic update I’m having trouble convincing Viv it’ll be safe to cross the Bay in February on a huge Ferry! Keep the updates coming and most importantly enjoy building your new memories on your travels. X
When I was 19 I sailed back through the Bay of Biscay in a full gale – a very very rough journey in a Brigantine. I learnt to fear and respect the Bay and its weather. More recently I have crossed the Bay in the last 3 years on Channel ferries (UK to Spain) in relatively flat calm weather – once even as flat as a mill pond – and I could not believe how radically different the weather and sea state can be. But as a passenger on a ferry you can get your head down and sleep in a bunk – as crew you have to remain alert and on watch- however you may feel.
Tracking your AIS on https://www.vesselfinder.com/. Would be nice if you uploaded a pic of Lady Jane to their web site.
Peter (husband to Rosemary)
Hi Peter,
Thanks for the tip. I have done as you suggested and hopefully the photograph should show up now.
Cheers
Allen
What a journey! Such a relief you’ve conquered the Bay – with icing on top – whales, dolphins and a pigeon!
Really enjoying your updates and knowing you are safe and sound. Xxx
Totally awesome…you are living your dream…wonderful to sail with you from distant shores! Love, AJ
Loving the updates and tracking, glad to hear all safe, thinking of you, lots of love x x