Live Podcast with Ümit and Thomas

Live podcast: Crossing the Bay of Biscay in winter, 1,500 nautical miles full of challenges

Crossing the Bay of Biscay in February is among Europe’s more demanding sailing adventures. Strong low-pressure systems, rapidly changing weather conditions and high waves make this route a real challenge even for experienced crews.

In our live podcast with Ümit Uzun and Thomas Käsbohrer, we talk about exactly this experience: the 1,500-nautical-mile Bay of Biscay crossing from Les Sables d'Olonne to the Canaries.

Ümit was on board as cameraman, part of a six-person crew that took on this challenge. What began as a sailing trip quickly turned into an intensive learning process with many surprising insights. The first attempt to depart failed, but that led to valuable lessons about weather routing, onboard technology, and life at sea in winter.

🎙 Live podcast with Ümit & Thomas
📅 Thursday, 12 March 2026
🕢 7:30 pm

Register here

Bay of Biscay sailing adventure: Key learnings from the crossing and weather routing: Can you really avoid bad weather?

Modern weather models and routing software promise a lot. But does that actually work in practice? The central question of the journey was: Can you really evade storms – or will they eventually catch up with you? A special moment was the attempt to reach a safe harbour in time just before a 40-knot storm. What happened and which decisions had to be made at sea are shared by Ümit and Thomas in the podcast.

The fully automated yacht. Do you even need a crew anymore?

Modern cruising yachts today are equipped with extensive technology: electric winches, autopilot systems, automated sail control and digital navigation. But does that really mean skippers and crews become superfluous? The reality on a winter Bay of Biscay crossing shows quickly: technology can do a lot – but experience, teamwork and seamanship remain irreplaceable.

When the technology fails?

At sea, not everything always works as planned. A particularly critical moment on the journey arose when the electrics of the furler system failed while a 100-square-metre headsail was set. The crucial question then was: How do you safely recover such a sail without electrical assistance? In the podcast, Ümit and Thomas speak openly about this situation and the solutions the crew found.

Seasickness in the Bay of Biscay

Many sailors underestimate seasickness, especially on long passages in winter. High Atlantic waves, strong winds and several days at sea can push even experienced crew members to their limits. Which strategies really help?

Orca encounters – reality or myth?

In recent years, orca interactions with sailing yachts off the Iberian Peninsula have repeatedly made headlines. On this route too, many crews ask themselves: How real is the risk of an orca encounter on the way to the Canaries?

Be there live: sailing knowledge, experiences, and real stories from the sea.

This live podcast is part 2 of Ümit’s travel report and offers exciting insights into one of Europe’s best-known offshore routes.

Look forward to authentic sailing stories, practical tips for offshore passages, honest experience reports from a crew and lively discussions about sailing on the Bay of Biscay.

Ümit and Thomas share their first-hand experiences with you:

Sign up for the live podcast now

🎙 Live podcast: Ümit & Thomas – Bay of Biscay challenge
📅 Thursday, 12 March 2026
🕢 7:30 pm

Experience the Bay of Biscay crossing first-hand and benefit from valuable learnings for your own sailing adventures.

👉 Sign up now and join live!

We also talk about Ümit’s latest sailing adventure in the podcast "Einfach Meer" – have a listen: 

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