Patrick Lainevideo
Ep 35 Sailing Solo Across Bay of Biscay Whale Encounter
September 17, 2018 · 16 min · 73K views · Bay of Biscay
What this video covers
A solo sailor transits the Bay of Biscay from Sidera, Spain, to La Rochelle, France, covering 331 nautical miles in a 12-meter vessel named Isabel.9:10 The passage takes four days due to frequent tacking and short-period, two-to-four-second waves that impede forward progress.12:01 During the transit, the sailor encounters a pod of whales that approaches the boat while techno music plays.3:47 Weather conditions fluctuate between calm fog and 25 knots of apparent wind, requiring a double-reefed main and partially furled Genoa.8:22 The sailor maintains a flexible sleep schedule, remaining awake to monitor erratic fishing vessel traffic at night.9:09 When sailing close-hauled into 20-to-25-knot winds, the boat maintains a 20-degree heel, which the sailor notes is physically fatiguing.14:00 The sailor concludes that while a second reef improves comfort, it sacrifices the necessary power to drive through short-period seas.13:43
Boats in this video
More from Patrick Laine
From Patrick Laine — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.