Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

Bay of Biscay Claims Another Yacht

by Hartlepool Mail/Sail-World Cruising on 5 Nov 2006
Notorious Bay of Biscay between France and Spain SW
The Bay of Biscay, notorious Bay on the path between Northern Europe and the warmer climes of the Mediterranean Sea and points west to the Caribbean, has claimed another yacht.

English couple Darren and Vicky Hewitt told the Hartlepool Mail they were lucky to be alive after being dramatically rescued. They were stranded for around 18 hours and were forced to endure 60ft waves crashing over their yacht, which is believed lost in the incident.
They hailed those who rescued them as 'true heroes'.
Speaking from Spain, Darren, 31, told the Mail: 'If the yacht had gone over abruptly we would have been left in the sea, 50 miles off the shore.
'It would have been fatal. There is no way we would have survived in those conditions.'
The couple set off on a dream trip in September and planned to spend a couple of years sailing around the world after selling their electronic door business earlier this year.
But on Wednesday evening, their dream turned into a nightmare when they were caught in a storm in the Bay of Biscay, as reported in yesterday's Mail.
They tried to steer their £25,000 yacht, Sentito, into La Coruna, but the winds and waves were too strong.
Darren added: 'We were there throughout the night and there were 60ft waves crashing over the yacht. It kept being physically knocked over on to its side.
'At one point we were both thinking 'this is it'.'
But eventually they were forced to abandon their yacht and were airlifted by helicopter to safety.
Darren does not know what has happened to the yacht, but believes it has sunk.
He added: 'We are both absolutely gutted. We have lost everything, our clothes, the yacht and everything on board.
'But, at the same time, we are lucky to be alive. We would both like to say a massive thank you to everybody involved in the rescue. They are true heroes.'
Darren and Vicky, 30, plan to remain in Spain - for the next few days at least - to see if their yacht is recovered.

Sailors take note: Why the couple were travelling so late in the season, was not explained, but it is well known that even in a moderate gale, the seas can become very rough in the Bay of Biscay. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) suggests that boats travel south by the end of September to avoid the winter gales, and Jimmy Cornell, guru for the round-world cruiser, suggests that as the Bay is only 300 miles wide, then ‘if one leaves from places like Falmouth with a favourable forecast, one should be able to cross without being caught out by weather.’ ..but, obviously, not always…

The reason for bad sea conditions during adverse weather in the Bay of Biscay is that parts of the continental shelf extend far into the bay, and an aggravated swell from the Atlantic Ocean encounters a steep continental slope.
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERVaikobi 2024 DecemberMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER

Related Articles

Introducing Ocean Legend
Vaikobi's range of lifestyle clothing Introducing Ocean Legend; Vaikobi's range of lifestyle clothing inspired by the stoke and the stories of those who live and breathe ocean sports.
Posted today at 4:37 am
WASZP brings the heat at Foiling Week 2025
Four epic days of classic Ora conditions Malcesine turned it on once again for Foiling Week, with four epic days of classic Ora conditions and a record 131 WASZPs hitting the start line - the biggest WASZP fleet ever at the event!
Posted today at 4:11 am
31st Block Island Race Week Day 3
Soaring temperatures on Risk Strategies Race Day Risk Strategies Race Day at Block Island Race Week featured another day of champagne conditions and soaring temperatures. To give sailors a brief reprieve, the Race Committee called for an "early" end to racing (only 2 long races instead of 3).
Posted on 25 Jun
Can a maxi achieve the Rolex Fastnet Race triple?
The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize is lining up to be a tough one The fight to claim the prestigious monohull line honours prize in the centenary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race is lining up to be a tough one between the world's fastest 100ft maxi yachts.
Posted on 25 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 6
Double gold for France in Olympic classes Perfect sailing conditions marked the final of Kieler Woche in the Olympic skiff, dinghy, and surf classes: On Wednesday, June 25, the waters off Schilksee offered fresh to strong, challenging winds with flat waves.
Posted on 25 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel Overall
Kieler Woche delivers spectacular medal series showdown ahead of Aarhus Worlds The 3rd iQFOiL International Games at Kieler Woche came to a thrilling close today, with a full day of Medal Series racing under spectacular conditions.
Posted on 25 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 day 1
Peninsula Racing and Team Nika share the limelight After a gale forced the cancellation of yesterday's practice racing, for day one of the 44Cup Marstrand, taking place off the familiar Swedish paradise island, there was a west to northwesterly that built as the afternoon progressed, to 17 knots.
Posted on 25 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma Practice Race
Boats and breeze at the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing The waiting is over and the moment has arrived — The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 is up and running once again for the 29th time in the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing.
Posted on 25 Jun
Ferrari Hypersail unveiled
The Prancing Horse enters the world of sailing Ferrari today unveils its new Ferrari Hypersail project, an unprecedented sporting challenge in the world of sailing that blends racing tradition with technological innovation.
Posted on 25 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more...
Posted on 25 Jun