Advice please, for the N Brittany coast

[cadenus]

We are planning to cruise our Beneteau 393 (draft 1.9m) on the N Brittany coast in Jun/Jul from St Malo west towards L'Aber-Wrac'h. We want to marina-hop as I think anchoring in those tides will be a problem.

Any advice please on the pit-falls and delights of the North Coast? Perhaps some anchorages are OK?

 

[LadyInBed]

If you haven't got a tidal atlas for N Brittany, download this: http://montymariner.co.uk/tide-stream-charts/north-britanny/

Ed: Oh, and Cherbourg tides: http://montymariner.co.uk/tides/cherbourg/

 

[doug748]

North Brittany is not rich in overnight anchorages that can be relied upon 100% partly because of the tidal range. There are many spots that are snug at LW but 6 hours later you feel 3 miles offshore. The good news is that the winds are often offshore. Most of the good ones are covered in Secret Anchorages of Brittany, which is well worth having.

A number of areas now have buoys in some of the anchorage space and places like Ile De Brehat are worth seeing but I would always retire into the River Trieux overnight. Other spots were you might do the lazy thing and pick up a mooring are off Perros Guirec, Treburden and Ille Batz opposite Roscoff.

Spots I particularly like are: The bend in the River Jaudy below Treguier, which is deep and muddy in the Cornish mode and should not be missed. There are another couple of places on the same river. Pen Lan off Morlaix, but put out plenty of chain, I have dragged there, you can dingy ashore for a very pleasant walk to Carentec where there are good shops etc. Also Port Blanc which is an odd place, which seems very run down and stuck in 1957,and where there are few shops or facilities.

Last year I spent a couple of happy sunny days in the Bay of Lannion which is wide and sandy but not the place to be in a NW blow. At neaps you can get close to Locquirec, under Point de Locquirec, which is a grand little seaside place not much visited by UK boats.

 

[Mudisox]

Pick Marinas to go into when it is springs and use Neaps for the anchorages; Best guides by far are by Malcolm Robson, now sadly out of date but still obtainable. Enjoy and don't rush.

 

[cadenus]

Thank you Doug

 

[Tempus]

I'll let others advise on the anchorages. If Marina hopping I'd suggest

St Caast is great, easy sail from St malo and a lovely walk into town
then across the bay to St quay portrieux which is a bit soulless as a marina, but the cliff walk is lovely the others are too tide bound for moving on, but if you can stay a few days Binic is Pretty but access problematic.

around the corner and up the Triex to Lezardiuex, anchor in the river near the marina if you fancy a change, and pop all the way up the Trieux at least one evening even if you don't stay

then the Moisse passage to Trequier, easier than it looks but watch the leading marks both ways!

from Trequier we'd suggest going all the way to Trebeurden, which is worth a few days stay.

then across the bay to Morliaxa to Roscoff, don't go up to Morlaix, passed its best and a long drag. Or all the way to L'aberwach


good anchorages at Brehat, if early in the season and more neaps than springs, up the Triex and outside Trebeurden. There is a book "the secret anchorages of Brittany" which has many more, as do the French cotes pilote books if your language skills are up to it and they have great charlets anyway if not!

enjoy!

 

[Sybarite]

If your pocket and French are up to it, I would recommend these.

http://www.4-oceans.com/pilote-cotier-guide-nautique.asp

http://www.4-oceans.com/guide-nautique/pilotes-cotiers/pilote-cotier-6-saint-malo-brest.asp

 

[guernseyman]

We are planning to cruise our Beneteau 393 (draft 1.9m) on the N Brittany coast in Jun/Jul from St Malo west towards L'Aber-Wrac'h. We want to marina-hop as I think anchoring in those tides will be a problem.

Any advice please on the pit-falls and delights of the North Coast? Perhaps some anchorages are OK?

Many, if not most, of the anchorages are tucked away out of the main tidal stream.

For a unique visit don't miss Ploumanac'h. The walk up La vallée des Traouïeros is great, as is the coastal walk on the other side of the village.

 

[cadenus]

Many thanks Tempus. This sounds most helpful.
Cadenus

 

[cadenus]

Many thanks

 

[han34]

We will be doing the same this year, maybe for a couple of months, if we don't go further south. W have done this coast several times and it is much easier than it may seem. we never plan ahead more than a day or so, as we don't have time constraints, We have on several occasions set off for one place and re-planned half way. Our draft is 1.9. Where ever you are on this whole coastline the will be several other cruising sailers you can talk with, and get some local knowledge and ideas. This is especially true of the French (obviously) and from the Channel Islanders.

Although Some of the ports and rivers may look a big tricky, its worth remembering that a fair number of biggish boats use them with no problem, Treguier and Lezardrieux both have commercial coaster traffic. I often think to myself that if a thousand ton sand barge, or. Coaster can get up this river, than I should be able to on a seven ton sailing cruiser. I love this cruising area.