My first Biscay crossing

Kate Fraser’s first overnight sail was both testing and exhilarating in equal measure

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Trying to find a weather window to cross the Bay of Biscay has been all consuming. I just can’t seem to relax and enjoy daily life as I’m constantly thinking about it and worrying about how I will cope – I just need to go.

After what seems like a long wait, we decide to cross to France and wait there for a chance to cross to Spain. Although I’m feeling nervous about the crossing, I also really want to do it, to see if I like offshore sailing.

HIGH HOPES

Finally, we are off, setting sail on a summer afternoon. I envisage a lovely downwind sail on the 125-mile trip, with perhaps a couple of dolphins. My hopes soar. This is my first overnight sail and I am nervous about standing my watches but excited to ‘get it done’.

However, the wind soon drops off, not even filling the sails. And thus the rolling begins – side to side through 20° either side of vertical, constantly, all night.

After hours of mind-churning rolling, and, before one of us decides we can take no more and will jump overboard, we decide to sail, altering our course by 20° to put us on a beam reach. After around five hours of reasonable sailing, the wind drops further and we are forced to furl the sails again and continue rolling to France.