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Big Decisions Sailing Across the Bay of Biscay | DrakeParagon Sailing

27 April 2024 · 19 min · 5K views · Bay of Biscay

What this video covers

A crew sailing across the Bay of Biscay manages a passage by balancing sail plan adjustments against weather routing to avoid a 30-knot wind system.9:39 The vessel maintains a steady 6 to 7 knots under a single-reefed main and full jib, occasionally hitting 9 to 10 knots in gusts.4:04 To ensure arrival at their destination marina before a forecasted high-wind front, the crew decides to motor-sail, increasing their speed by approximately one knot.18:15 They analyze weather models to compare the risks of a nighttime arrival in moderate conditions versus a daytime arrival in 30-knot winds.14:51 The crew prioritizes maintaining speed to outrun the approaching weather, opting to run the engine rather than heave-to for 36 hours.17:03 They also prepare for a transition to warmer climates by planning to reconfigure the deck layout, specifically moving the dinghy to open the forward hatch for ventilation.12:42 The decision to motor-sail is driven by the need to reach the marina before the weather window closes.17:34

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Boats in this video

Westsail 42Their boat

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