Bay of Biscay - What Fun (1 Viewer)

[mariner]

I'm doing the Portsmouth to Bilbao on the 20th, so like you fingers crossed, a few beers before reaching the BoB should see me OK,

That sounds like my kind of trip.

On the Econommie Ferry so hope the bar has some decent beer

 

[Taran_Las]

I'm doing the Portsmouth to Bilbao on the 20th, so like you fingers crossed, a few beers before reaching the BoB should see me OK,

Well at least you'll be able to enjoy your beer twice (after you throw it all up)

Did I ever thank you for passing on to me the near fatal 'Man flu'?

 

[beerdrinker1]

That sounds like my kind of trip.

On the Econommie Ferry so hope the bar has some decent beer

Me too !!!!!!

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[beerdrinker1]

Well at least you'll be able to enjoy your beer twice (after you throw it all up)

Did I ever thank you for passing on to me the near fatal 'Man flu'?

Now then Phil, You know I am not a true born Scot and don't have to
regurgitate to have more beer Heehee, and . . . . yes you did moan about your > . . . man flu !!!!!!!,

Glad you survived,

and one for you though not 5 litres though !!!!!!

 

[PenelopePitstop]

Well we're well on the way and it's been like a mill pond so far! We've been sailing for 21 hours now and I've been asleep for 13 of them .
Only another 12 hours to go so a meal then bed!

 

[rolandrat]

I've booked the Economie again it's the Baie De Seine to Santander with an outside cabin. I prefer it as there's a fair choice of meals and far better than the cruise ships offerings. OK it rolls about ever so slightly more than the bigger ships but it's more than bearable.

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[Mikeco]

I've booked the Economie again it's the Baie De Seine to Santander with an outside cabin. I prefer it as there's a fair choice of meals and far better than the cruise ships offerings. OK it rolls about ever so slightly more than the bigger ships but it's more than bearable.

No thanks, your ship 22000 tonnes, my ship Pont Aven 40000 tonnes which is the only one I will travel on. I get seasick having a shower.

 

[busby]

Well we're well on the way and it's been like a mill pond so far! We've been sailing for 21 hours now and I've been asleep for 13 of them .
Only another 12 hours to go so a meal then bed!

Thats a long crossing,,,BUSBY.

 

[rolandrat]

I've done the 2 day crossing on the cruise ship, it does a crew changeover before crossing the Bay. Point taken regarding the cruise ship being heavier but even luxury liners can get a fair roll on when it's rough. You only have to look up on U-Tube to see what carnage takes place.

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[Mikeco]

I've done the 2 day crossing on the cruise ship, it does a crew changeover before crossing the Bay. Point taken regarding the cruise ship being heavier but even luxury liners can get a fair roll on when it's rough. You only have to look up on U-Tube to see what carnage takes place.

The Pont Aven does the Plymouth to Santander run which is only 18 hours, it is the Cap Finistre which does Portsmouth to Bilbao but once a week calls at Roscoff to change crews which makes that one a two night jobby.

 

[PenelopePitstop]

The two nighter is a great crossing. No rush to get to Portsmouth. A full day with NOTHING to do! Then off early and a full day to drive without looking for somewhere to stay. We've now arrived at Caceres - cruise control set at 60 - arrived about 4.30 Spanish time. Now enjoying a chilled glass of Cava - where are you #champers??? Oh and by the way it's 25degrees

 

[f6c]

Cheers Then

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[EuroTrotters]

The Pont Aven does the Plymouth to Santander run which is only 18 hours, it is the Cap Finistre which does Portsmouth to Bilbao but once a week calls at Roscoff to change crews which makes that one a two night jobby.

Pont Aven when in Service on Biscay or when on the Spanish Routes.

Serves Portsmouth-Santander approximately 24 hours
and Plymouth Santander approximately 20 hours (a few crossings are covered by Cap Finistere on Plymouth-Santander)

Portsmouth-Santander is currently covered by four ships.

Pont Aven
Cap Finistere
Baie-de-Seine
Etretat

Depends on the season and timetables.

Baie-de-Seine and Cap Finistere serve the Bilbao route

Cap Finistere Sunday departures from Portsmouth is 2 days as it stops in Roscoff.

 

[DBK]

You can which ship does what and when here. Other pages do other routes. Personally I would only use the Pont Aven to Spain although in a few years their new ship will be bigger and better.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-spain/portsmouth-santander/timetable

 

[EuroTrotters]

You can which ship does what and when here. Other pages do other routes. Personally I would only use the Pont Aven to Spain although in a few years their new ship will be bigger and better.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-spain/portsmouth-santander/timetable

As I understand it, Brittany Ferries have cancelled their new ship. For the time being.......

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[DBK]

As I understand it, Brittany Ferries have cancelled their new ship. For the time being.......

Haven't heard that but they cancelled the order for new engines for their existing ships.

 

[rangi]

Wimps!

One trip on the PIPIRIKI, we were light ship to Hobart on a Dolphin Charter. We went the long way around via S. Africa, from Durban to Hobart, by way of the Southern Ocean, was generally a 14-21 day trip. It took us 42 days! think we averaged about 3 knots all the way over, and it was very lumpy all the way across, No Iron Mike either, water cut back to 500 galleons per day for a crew of 27 ,no heating in the Seaman's accom. Salt water showers.

That were the time when boys were men and men were hellers,
AND! The women loved it!

 

[EuroTrotters]

We have drugs now.

Nautamine for those who need it

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[PeteH]

Wasn't quite as bad as this

Just (almost) "peed" myself laughing!. Typical "modern" ships. No Lashing/Tie downs, not a Mariner amongst that lot!. They rely totally upon the stabilization. Typical triumph of Technology over Common sense and SEAMANSHIP!.

I still regard the North Sea, as being worse that Biscay though!.

Rounding the Cape can be "fun" too, Completely broke the For`ard end of a Ben Liner. she came into cape town looking like Concorde!.

Pete

 

[PeteH]

Wimps!

One trip on the PIPIRIKI, we were light ship to Hobart on a Dolphin Charter. We went the long way around via S. Africa, from Durban to Hobart, by way of the Southern Ocean, was generally a 14-21 day trip. It took us 42 days! think we averaged about 3 knots all the way over, and it was very lumpy all the way across, No Iron Mike either, water cut back to 500 galleons per day for a crew of 27 ,no heating in the Seaman's accom. Salt water showers.

That were the time when boys were men and men were hellers,
AND! The women loved it!

rangatira, wasn't that an Old NZS ship?

Pete

 

[PeteH]

Was part of a diving team doing a sea bed survey and we found a steam engine on the bottom of the north Sea, it had been chained down on deck , did not do it much good though

Probably had the Rest of the ship blown from under it? Lot of WW1 and 2 Stuff down on the bottom of the N-S still. Including Great Granddads Fishing Smack. sunk by a "raider" in 14-18 around the time they Shelled Scarborough.

Pete

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[PeteH]

HI

For ALL those who are affected by "Mal d mer". Take heart you are in good company NELSON. was seasick every voyage. or so it is reported.

Pete

 

[Teuchter]

HI

For ALL those who are affected by "Mal d mer". Take heart you are in good company NELSON. was seasick every voyage. or so it is reported.

Pete

Aye Pete - from what I remember when we sailed together (Nelson was my cabin boy then) he was sick as a dog at sea - liked his rum though

 

[PeteH]

Anybody know if vans are tied down on this crossing when it gets rough????? Had that happen on the DFDS amsterdam route and they damaged the ally sides on my previous van.

(In the "good old Days") It used to be a bit of a lottery. depending on the Loading Mates attitude, and whether the Co will pay the crew overtime!!, and sometimes even whether I would "lend" my Engine room Wipers to "assist"!.

Pete

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[PeteH]

Aye Pete - from what I remember when we sailed together (Nelson was my cabin boy then) he was sick as a dog at sea - liked his rum though

I did not know you where older than Me?

Pete

 

[rangi]

rangatira, wasn't that an Old NZS ship?

Pete

Yes she was launched on 1942, steam turbine, she, in her hey day could turn out 23 knots, enough to travel unescorted during WW2. By the time I served on her she was Knackered with a capital K , A fluke had worn a hole in her Bow, the decks were paper thin, when we derusted her main deck plates the sledge went right thro!. The boilers were clegged, we would shut down one, wait till it cooled off then the engineers would climb inside and weld up all the holes in the pipes, start her up and shut down the other boiler weld up the pipes etc etc etc. The Condenser was also knackered so the boilers was using the Fresh water ballast AND the fresh water destined for the Crew, the trunking that channeled the heat into the Deck crowds Accom. had collapsed, we had ice on the cabin baulkheads

BUT! She was the happiest ship I'd ever sailed on. Her sister ships were the PAPAROA and a Federal Line, I think was called "GLOUCESTER" but not quite sure about that one

 

[rangi]

Rounding the Cape can be "fun" too, Completely broke the For`ard end of a Ben Liner. she came into cape town looking like Concorde!.

Pete

That happened on the "Tongereo" or "Tekoa" she "bent" behind #3 hatch They welded bloody great RSJs to the deck to stop it going any futher

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[PeteH]

Yes she was launched on 1942, steam turbine, she, in her hey day could turn out 23 knots, enough to travel unescorted during WW2. By the time I served on her she was Knackered with a capital K , A fluke had worn a hole in her Bow, the decks were paper thin, when we derusted her main deck plates the sledge went right thro!. The boilers were clegged, we would shut down one, wait till it cooled off then the engineers would climb inside and weld up all the holes in the pipes, start her up and shut down the other boiler weld up the pipes etc etc etc. The Condenser was also knackered so the boilers was using the Fresh water ballast AND the fresh water destined for the Crew, the trunking that channeled the heat into the Deck crowds Accom. had collapsed, we had ice on the cabin baulkheads

BUT! She was the happiest ship I'd ever sailed on. Her sister ships were the PAPAROA and a Federal Line, I think was called "GLOUCESTER" but not quite sure about that one

Sounds like the Old "Armanistan" triple leg steamer, So many Patches she was called the "Thistlebondistan"!

Pete

 

[pollensabob]

SS Uganda BI Line Tilbury to Mombasa, remember the voyage with my parents, when we emigrated to Kenya 1953.