Santiago de Compostela is a stone apparition in the midst of the green forests of Northwest Spain and the nearby Galician “rias”. It was originally a stopping point on a Roman road, but the discovery of the Apostle James’ tomb at the beginning of the 9th century gave rise to a place of worship in this corner of the Iberian Peninsula, which was then dominated by the Moors.

A day trip from Oeiras
Lisbon, 15km to the east of Oeiras, is an historic port and the capital city of this seafaring nation. Just ten miles from the mouth of the River Tagus, or Tejo in Portuguese, Lisbon is blessed with a perfect natural harbour. This inland sea has provided a safe haven for shipping since the Phoenicians named it Allis Ubbo (delightful port), over 2,000 years ago.

For many in Rally Portugal, their first long passage.

Many have gleaned stories of this notorious stretch of the Atlantic Ocean from Patrick O'Brien's maritime novels set in the Napoleonic Wars, through World War II Naval histories to more recent yachting stories from books, magazines, friends and acquaintances.

In actual fact, the Bay of Biscay is like any stretch of open water when it starts to get windy. Conditions can change quickly and because of certain geographical nuances can become rather uncomfortable.