Passage Stats
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Price: $7,000
Distance: 1,000 Nautical Miles
Total Days: 14
Start Port: Plymouth, UK
End Port: Lagos, Portugal
SYNOPSIS: Heavy-weather Biscay crossing
The legendary Biscay crossing is a passage of contrasts. The journey starts in cold, wet and windy UK, before punching upwind through the SW’lies in Biscay. Just when you think you can’t take any more wet, upwind, heeled over sailing, the temps start to get warmer and the wind starts to shift. By the time you hit the coast of Portugal, you’ll be shedding layers and sailing downwind in the sunshine!
Join FALKEN in Plymouth on the south coast of UK, where we’ll begin our journey south to Portugal. We include enough days for our passage that we can make a stop to await a good weather window if necessary. Once we push off south across the Bay of Biscay, heavy weather can be a possibility as the Atlantic swells roll in unobstructed from Newfoundland. As we sight the Spanish mainland, we’ll continue south along the beautiful Portuguese coastline in the legendary “Portuguese Tradewinds” making a downwind landfall in Lagos, Portugal – a colourful tourist town on the Algarve coast.
What to Expect on this PAssage
Biscay in October almost certainly will provide a taste of real heavy-weather.
This is a nonstop passage once we get the right window — even if the weather turns against us, we’ll be far enough west and offshore that we’ll ride it out and continue to the south coast of Portugal.
1,000 miles on the rhumb line means about 5-7 days continuously offshore, more if it’s upwind or we need to heave-to.
Typical Weather Pattern
Heavy weather is to be expected in Biscay as the Atlantic swells roll in unobstructed from Newfoundland. But Biscay can always surprise, so anything is possible in making the passage a different experience. But the chances are very high you’ll end it in dry, sunny, downwind weather as you approach Portugal!
HOW TO JOIN
To register, click the 'Sign Up' button anywhere on the site. Complete and submit the form indicating ‘2024 FALKEN | Plymouth, UK – Portugal’ as your preferred passage.
We’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours to confirm bunk availability, send you the long-form crew application & invoice you the 50% deposit to hold your spot. Balance will be due 60 days prior to the trip start date.
Payments are non-refundable. You'll be asked to agree to our terms & conditions on your application before submitting the deposit. Please read them carefully.
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Join the boat at 13:00 on the passage start date. Crew must depart the boat by 12:00 Noon on the passage end date.
Make sure you eat lunch before joining! We’ll get straight into bunk assignments & briefings once all crew have arrived.
Travel logistics & specific itinerary will be sent in the Passage Newsletter #2 emailed to all crew 2-4 months before passage departure.
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All 59º North passages are led by qualified RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Ocean-certified skippers & mates. All miles sailed onboard both boats will count towards your own license mileage requirements. We are happy to provide certificates to this effect for your RYA Day Skipper, Yachtmaster or other countries’ sea-time requirements.
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We now reserve two spots for women on all of our passages! You will not be ‘alone’ when you sail with 59º North. Learn more here.