Crossing Biscay Seminar

Details

For many sailors, crossing the Bay of Biscay is one of the longest and most challenging passages they’ve attempted. While summer generally offers more favourable conditions, careful preparation is key to ensuring a safe and comfortable journey. 

This all day seminar will introduce the essential resources to help you plan your crossing and will feature first hand accounts from Cruising Association members who will share their own experiences and lessons learned from making the passage.

A full agenda with speaker lineup is listed below, the cost for the day includes teas/coffees and a two course buffet lunch.

Date: Saturday 21st February 2026

Time: Registration and coffee from 10:30 programme begins at 11:00

Place: CA House, Limehouse, London

Dr. Andrew Eccleston - Sourcing and Using Weather Information

Andrew Eccleston is a Chartered Meteorologist and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, sailing a Dufour 36 out of Plymouth. Crossing Biscay is a serious endeavour and getting a detailed picture of the weather to be expected on passage is essential. Andrew will explain the modern approach to weather forecasting and show how to make the best use of the data that is freely available to help you plan a safe voyage.

John Burbeck - Orca Interactions. Will it work if I....... ?” .The presentation will provide the latest knowledge and tips.

John sold his Moody 43 Eclipse early in 2022 having spent the previous 6 years almost full time cruising. He sailed back from the Med through Orca Alley in 2021 without incident, although a yacht a few hours behind was not so lucky. Since the beginning of 2022 he has led a RATS based CA team trying to help develop advice to help yacht crews avoid interactions with the orca, and to reduce the damage if one occurs.

Malcolm Denham - Crossing Biscay - From Brittany to the Spanish Rias and back

Malcolm came to yacht sailing late by CA standards, sailing with friends and on charters during the mid 80s. He completed his Day Skipper ticket in 1990 and since then, never looked back. He has now advanced this to Yachtmaster Offshore. Malcolm and his wife Julie keep their Maxi 1100, Misty Blue in South Brittany.

Every crossing is different and every skipper has a different way of doing it. This is how Malcolm Denham approached the crossings from Brittany to Spain and back. It will cover the key aspects of planning including boat and crew preparation weather and swell, as well as highlights of the passages.

Nick Sexton - Exploring Northern Spain - from the French border to Finisterre.

Nick and his wife Deborah sail Tamara a Nicholson 476. Their boat is currently based on the River Vilaine in Brittany.

Over the past three years Nick and Deborah have worked their way along the rugged Spanish coastline, with the magnificent back drop of the Picos de Europa in the distance. Nick’s presentation will take you on a journey along this rarely explored coast, visiting the many highlights you will discover from the Basque country in the east, to the delights of Galicia and the costa del morte in the west.

Nick is a joint Secretary for the CA's Biscay Section.