Crossing the Bay of Biscay is a navigational hurdle when sailing south from the UK to Portugal. We begin this episode in France, in the charming port of Camaret-sur-Mer, waiting for good weather and preparing for the 2-3 day crossing. The Biscay crossing starts out well although we have to keep a constant lookout for aggressive Orca whales. We hope to reach Spain and round Cape Finisterre in good conditions before the wind builds and the sea state becomes uncomfortable. Will we make it?

We do an extended sea trial aboard our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat, Distant Shores IV. Sailing from Makkum in the Netherlands, we do an overnight crossing of the North Sea, dodging gas works, oil platforms and shipping lanes, then deal with shoals and big tides on the East Coast of the UK when we make landfall at Hull.