The Bay of Biscay

On a rather more sombre note, from many years ago:

A retired couple, who were family friends of my wife to be, sailed their yacht out of Salcombe towards Gibraltar.  They didn't make it: I seem to remember that one body was found, but no wreckage, in the Bay of Biscay.

Never underestimate the power of the sea. 

 
Marine traffic link to Grahames ferry. It’s a fairly new ferry, lacking character versus previous Brittany Ferries vessels

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:6732128

 
I just knew Coffee Shop forum member stuving would know that precise location. 

Going back to grahame's original post,



I happen to recognise those waves , as they were also there in the Bay of Biscay when I traversed it, on board the QE2 with my wife to be, some more than 30 years ago.

She was a Merchant Navy officer on the QE2 at that time, which gave me some rather privileged access to parts of the ship which were not available to other passengers - the engine rooms, and bridge, for example.

I was enjoying a conducted tour of the bridge of the QE2, in company with just a few similarly privileged passengers, when our guide suddenly broke off from his talk, leapt across a desk and grabbed a radio handset.  Fair play to him: while delivering his speech, he had also picked up a radio message on the loudspeaker on the bridge.  It was made from an RAF Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft, asking for permission from 'the Cunard ship in the Bay of Biscay' (like there was anyone else ) for permission to do a fly-past, for training purposes.

Our guide, Steve or Simon (and I also can't remember his surname, but he was First Officer, Navigation) promptly invited them to fly past - then went on the PA system to announce to all passengers that 'there will be an RAF aircraft flying past on the starboard side'. We could almost feel the QE2 leaning over to the right as passengers rushed to that side for a view 

My only regret is that I didn't have my camera / telephoto lens with me on the bridge at that time: I merely got a couple of snaps from my mobile phone with the Nimrod appearing as just a speck in the distance.

CfN.

 

Indeed - passing la Pointe du Raz.

 

Yes, we are ... on the 22:00 last night (Friday) off Portsmouth, the "Salamanca" bound for Santander where we are scheduled to arrive at 08:00 tomorrow (Sunday).  Three buses, an overcrowded three carriage train, and now the ferry. Boarded on deck three; only telling you that because I'm looking for a three pattern through this post.  Long queue for the lifts to our deck; usual "survival of the fittest mode" which means that everyone else got up before we did, and after a pleasant chat with the ferry staff we had a lift to ourselves.

I can share a picture - taken within the last hour - that will give you a much closer triangulation onto us



I can show you some of the great features here and on open supply



And I can tell you the official view of transpotting in these parts

 
I couldn't possibly have posted such an answer, as I have inside information. 

 
As that figure in the Simpsons-themed dress looks like a Spanish one, are you crossing the Bay of Biscay on your way to Northern Spain?

 

Indeed - if you're looking at the South Coast, international ferries only from Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth these days. Gone are Sheerness, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Southampton, Poole and Weymouth even in my memory.

 
But not from Poole these days

 
The fittings and furniture that are functional rather than plush or posh do strongly suggest a ferry.

 

Indeed, and now that we have come down up for breakfast, there are more clues

 
Well, I saw a cloud formation once just like that, but can't remember where . . .

I suspect not a cruise ship because of the tacky window surround. A ferry somewhere?

 

I was expecting to be pulled up on the "Spotsman" - the Scottish Mr Blobby ... even my spell checker baulked at it until I insisted ...

 

"THE" Flying Scotsman? - Oh dear you will be in trouble when someone sees that! 

 
I'm glad to see that that's a calm sea.

But I don't know where specifically it is, nor can I identify the vessel.

 
Just one picture ...



Spolier - NOT in my home town to see the Flying Spotsman coming through, nor do I expect there to be any trains passing the window.