Bay of Biscay

First ever voyage across the bay and we hit what the skipper said was some of the very worst he had ever seen there.

One one trip picked up Tomatoes from Madera all stored on the forward deck of the Pretoria as no room below.
Hit a some real bad ones in the bay but it saved unloading the Tomatoes in Southampton.

rhodsia castle bay of biscay

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In my humble opinion, the Bay was mostly quiet. Worst was travelling between the Islands, light ship
Vic.

Yes I remember coming north through the bay aboard the Lagos Palm in October 1968 a massive storm and we were called out to try to stop our deck cargo of West African trees from going over the side. From memory I think we lost about half of them as the wires broke and they took half of the port rails with them . Quiite a mess. I often wonder if another vessel collided with any of them.
Chris Gundry

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Originally Posted by vic mcclymont

In my humble opinion, the Bay was mostly quiet. Worst was travelling between the Islands, light ship
Vic.

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Hi Vic
Although i could agree with you , at most times the Bay was not too bad at all, but there were the times that i recall very well when she was a Terror! Had a few really bad trips across her mate!
Cheers

#73 Tend to agree. Been across the By of Biscay many times more often than not decent weather. Yes have had a couple of uncomfortable crossings but lets face it not as if it takes days to cross it. Western approaches can be every bit as bad.

The Bay of Biscay, calm as a mill pond, but unfortunately never when I was on board a ship.
Same thing going across the Great Australian Bight, rough as guts.
Somehow I do not think Neptune thought kindly of me.

Is this correct, one of the reasons that the Bay of Biscay can get so bad is the swell that comes in with an Atlantic storm. It is the reduction of the depth of water because of the continental shelf that causes the height of the waves to drmatically increase within the Bay.?

Need an Expert here on that James!

All i know as said it can at times be dreadful, as i and many others have had first hand experiences of bad Conditions!
Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by James Curry

Is this correct, one of the reasons that the Bay of Biscay can get so bad is the swell that comes in with an Atlantic storm. It is the reduction of the depth of water because of the continental shelf that causes the height of the waves to drmatically increase within the Bay.?

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Have heard that before and from what I have been told that could well be the case.