Routes Between the English Channel and the Mediterranean
south to north via Atlantic coast
Click
here for Atlantic chartSN4 = South to North via Atlantic coast.
- Best time May to September early October -
Hard work this route but can be quite enjoyable provided you have time to spare.
The first step is to leave Gibraltar and get across the Bay of Cadiz to one of the two anchorages just below Cape St Vincent. Wait here for a forecast of a period of light northerly or favorable winds - stick the engine on and go as far as possible north until the winds come up and make it too difficult - there are stacks of anchorages, ports and marinas all the way up the Portuguese coast. I find once its 20Knots on the nose I am heading for a parking place. (The winds tend to be lighter in the mornings and come up later in the day.)
Once you get to just below Finisterre (smashing little fishing village and anchorage there in the actual town) you can decide whether to wait there for favorable winds to get across the Bay of Biscay or go round the corner to Coruna which is a big town/city with excellent facilities - anchorage or marina or yacht club buoys.
From Finisterre or Coruna you need a good 4-5 day forecast to get across Biscay to the English channel.
There is the option of cruising along the North Spain coast to France and then heading north - this coast is superb cruising - superb anchorages, little ports and towns and rias. For some reason was still (2003) pretty undiscovered by cruising yachts and holiday makers. From say San Sebastian you can start doing over nighters northwards to La Rochelle - Pornic - Ushant - Channel Islands to the English Channel when ever the wind serves but the predominant winds here abouts are still out of the North but much less consistent than the Portuguese coast.
DISTANCE GIBRALTAR to BAYONNE - 510 nautical miles - Took me about 2 weeks plus last time. (not including 3 days wait behind Cape St Vincent) This involved pushing on when ever possible and little sight seeing.
DISTANCE BAYONNE to FALMOUTH - 542 nautical miles - This is the direct route across the bay - say 5 days + waiting for the weather time.
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Michael E Briant
"Tells it as it really is! The boats, equipment and the cruising grounds!" "A fund of useful information" "All you need to know about the RED SEA!" "The most detailed account of the PANAMA CANAL." For more information go to Living Aboard Around the World £11.95
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If you go along the North Spanish coast you are looking at about 10 days to 2 weeks for that section, with a bit of a chance to explore but you should be able to sail all of it.
From San Sebastian to La Rochelle is 2 days and nights more or less - but you have to wait for the weather or coast hop - say a week.
La Rochelle to Ushant and the Canal du Four its maybe 8/10 days minimum -
Once you are round the corner the prevailing winds are more westerly so its up to you. An overnighter + day to Falmouth is ok and after that it's pretty easy to get up channel.
Perfectly possible to day sail this route but it will take several months and possibly all summer.
Have a look at my BISCAY LOG BOOK for some of my experiences whilst making this passage from North to South!
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From the UK
SN1 = north to south - direct route by sea
SN2 = north to south via Canal du Midi
SN3= north to south via Le Havre - Paris - or Calais or St Valery
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From the Mediterranean.
SN4 = south to north via Atlantic coast
SN5 = south to north via Azores
SN6 = south to north via Canal du Midi
SN7 = south to north via canals to Paris and Le Havre or Calais
Lorry option = a list of web sites of British and French haulage companies who specalise in boat transport.
Canal du Midi = My log and some pictures of a recent transit. (SN7)
The Scenic Route = My log and some pictures of a recent transit. (SN6)
VNF = Voies Navigables de France - details of license fees and canal offices - official paper
These
web sites may be useful for the end of the canal system in the
http://guidemediterranee.free.fr/article.php3?id_article=0301
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If you are looking for the river and canal charts for the trip go to |
