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.

At World Cruising Club we have always believed that crossing the Bay of Biscay is often seen as a hurdle for yachtsmen heading south for their first extended cruise. So this year we decided to find out how true this was by asking participants whether this was their main reason for joining Rally Portugal, shortly after their safe arrival in Bayona, having completed the first leg of the Rally from Plymouth. The answers are revealing and make interesting reading.