Aiming for La Rochelle - summer cruise ideas.

[WalshamUK]

I agree with the idea of leaving from Devon/Cornwall, this is much easier than coping with big tides on the N.France coast. Plus I also agree that time passes quickly in Summer, so aim to get to La Rochelle quickly.

Hop along the South coast of the UK to Falmouth or Plymouth
Fill up with fuel and provisions; wait for settled weather, wind with some North in it
Aim for Camaret; leave so Channel crossing is at night, Chenal du Four in daylight
Plan carefully for the Raz de Sein passage, definitely need settled weather here
La Foret
Lorient
Crouesty - perhaps explore the Morbihan
Ile de Yeu - a magical place, v.busy July/August but they fit everybody in
Les Sables
La Rochelle

Note that all of the above marinas are easy to get in/out of. No locks, no sills. This is after all supposed to be a leisure sport.

Look me up on pontoon 22, berth 64 in La Rochelle. Waterlily lives there all year round.
Hope this helps
Keith Jackson

 

[robertj]

Don't forget to pick up a new Q flag, we might need it next year.

No we wil be ok the second referendum will have sorted that dilema for sure!

 

[doug748]

Thanks all, some wonderful advice as always on here. Lots to think about.

One reason for targeting La Rochelle is Flybe do andorect service from Southampton, so family and crew can join and depart there. I shall also have a look at driving options for them.

Yes, there is a service bus direct into La Rochelle, taking about 20 mins it arrives within walking distance of the inner marina However meeting crew from an airport is always stressful; if people drive you can always alter things if the plan goes awry and a car is always a great thing to have available.
Singlehanded, you would do well to get to the La Rochelle area in ten days.

Your initial plan of attack will no doubt depend on the weather and outlook. However, in my opinion, you would need to have solid reasons to head off towards the West Country, not least because it commits you to a 100 mile+, 30 hour channel crossing.

 

[dk]

I'd just like to recommend Ile Houat as a beautiful anchorage in S Brittany and easy to run back to one of the Quiberon marinas should it blow up.

 

[Sybarite]

I am now planning for next summer as I have five weeks off work. I quite fancy getting over the channel and perhaps down to La Rochelle. I may then hang around there while various family and friends drive down and join me for a week or so.

I am thinking about how to get there from the Solent - either port hopping with one or several stops or JFDI in one long trip (most likely single handed for those who don't know me - 1961 Cheverton Caravell Mk2 - 24'6 and I plan passages @3.5kn).

I would welcome ideas, advice and suggestions.

Also suggestions re good pilot books, tidal atlases, marina guides or clubs where I could perhaps get a mooring for say, one month.

Thanks!

Here is a post that i have presented several times before. FWIW.

Sourhern Brittany as far as Morbihan (long post)

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Some things that I enjoy (in response to a pm ): (a few details updated)

In general, the islands of Brittany are worth seeing if only for the fact that the number of French people there are limited by the ferries!

Ushant, Molène and Sein (especially Sein with its narrow streets and Breton speaking population) but pay special attention to tides and currents which are very strong. Keep an eye out for the resident population of large dolphins and possibly for seals – probably one of the few places in Brittany to see them.

Brest: a visit to Océanopolis is well worth while. The town itself is nothing special. There may be interesting boats in the old port which you would see on the way in.

Aulne River. Depending on your draft you can go up as far as Châteaulin which is about 15 miles up-stream and then there is one lock to pass. I went up with 1m70 draft but you should check the sailing directions. Keep to the outside of bends.

Camaret : is a junction port for boats heading north and south. If shopping is required it’s easier to cross the harbour in a dinghy; otherwise it’s a long walk.

Heading south, the southern part of Point de la Chèvre has some picturesque little bays which are worth a swim stop in good weather. Keep an eye out though for buoyed fishing nets. Morgat is a useful if somewhat featureless port. The resort about half a mile away has some good restaurants. Douarnenez is interesting especially visiting the floating boat museum which, incidentally, nearly bankrupted the town…

Leaving Douarnenez, I would visit Sein (see above) then Audierne. I always moored in the outside harbor and so cannot comment on the approach to the inner harbor which is tide dependent.

Leaving Audierne and rounding Pen Marc'h the first significant port is Le Guilvinic which traditionally is one of the main fishing ports and not that welcoming to pleasure craft – although I had no problems.

From there I would tend to head to the Glénan islands where you have a ring of islands surrounding a lagoon which is one the few areas in Europe to have coral sand beaches (W. Ireland also have some). There are buoys at St Nicholas but elsewhere there is not much problem anchoring. St Nicholas has two restaurants, a seafood one where you have to reserve at lunch-time for the evening and the previous evening for lunch-time. They have a large vivarium behind with an impressive collection of lobsters. There is another bar-restaurant with a basic but reasonable selection. On St Nicholas, there is a fenced-off area where there is a type of narcissus which only occurs on that spot. As the day ferries only land at St Nicholas, I prefer other parts especially the SW corner of Penfret. Great places for walks.

From the Glénan I would then visit Loctudy (if you need a port but otherwise so-so) and then Bénodet and opposite, Sainte Marine. Bénodet is one of the favourite places for my kids because it has a lively atmosphere, even a casino. There are usually some beautiful boats here.

The Odet River : not to be missed. Steep wooded banks and twisting curves. Near the top and just before it opens out to a wide open bit, there is a turning off to starboard; it’s very narrow but inside it opens out into a lovely tree-surrounded pool (Anse an Toulven). Keep well to left of entrance; it may be prudent for you to wait for half-tide rising before entering though I have only lightly touched once at low tide. The centre of the anse is deep enough and mud-bottomed so no great risk. After the Bénodet area you can head to Port La-Forêt where several large racing boats are based. It’s a very good place if things need repairing. There is a golf course within (long) walking distance.

From Port-la-Forêt, go next to Concarneau. It’s not particularly practicable for shopping but well worth a visit. Visit "la Ville Close" a walled town on an island within the harbour.

Our favourite restaurants :

• Le Croquervol : 3 rue Alfred Le Ray just opposite the marina.
• La Coquille : In the inner harbour on the right bank. The owner is the former chef of the Tour d’Argent at Paris, one of Paris’ best restaurants.
* L'Amiral - just opposite the entrance to la Ville Close
Le Passe Port (atTrévignon)

After Concarneau there are several little ports along the way, Doelan, Port Mane’ch where, depending on your draft, you can go up the Aven as far as Pont Aven a very picturesque town for painters where Paul Gauguin was based before heading off to warmer places. Excellent restaurant at l'Hôtel des Ajoncs d'Or - where Gauguin used to stay. You will have to dry out against a wall at low tide. Alternatively you can explore the Belon estuary just opposite Port Mane’ch.

From there I would visit the Ile de Groix. Port Tudy is a picturesque little port and there are very good walks around the island. In settled weather and a westerly régime you can moor off the beaches to the east.

From there you can visit the Rade de Lorient where you have the choice of 5 or 6 marinas. My home base is Locmiquélic which is excellent. I read in the visitors’ book that some consider it to be the best on the west coast of France.

Two restaurants on the port : Le Cargo Sentimental (owned until recently by a circus clown) where the fare is good but has become a little pricey (the cabaret act?) and l'Arrêt o' Port. A small supermarket in the town centre (1 km) or Intermarché, Lidl and a Leclerc at the other side of the town.

The Tabarly sailing centre at ("La Base") the old submarine pens (Lorient) is worth a visit and is the base for the Banque Populaire trimaran, Gitana and many others.

You can also moor virtually in the town centre if crowds and noise are your thing.

Port Louis marina has recently been enlarged and is just past the Citadelle at the entrance.

The Blavet is navigable as far as Hennebont.

From Lorient we usually would head for Belle Ile ignoring the Etel estuary where onshore winds can render the bar difficult. The usual arrival port is Sauzon which has to be among the prettiest ports in Brittany. There is an inner harbour which dries out with a flat sandy bottom and an outer harbour where you raft to buoys. Outside this harbour, buoys are also in place. In northerly winds however it can be uncomfortable. In port, try the Bistro du Port (grilled sardines or côte de boeuf grilled on an open fire in front of you). There is another excellent restaurant to the right hand side of the church going up the hill. I forget its name. (Restaurant Roz Avel : thank you Google Earth - it was open out of season when I last visited))

Another place not to miss is Ster Wenn (pronounced Venn) which is an anchorage behind cliffs in the NW corner of Belle Ile. You enter Ster Vraz and then do a right angle to Ster Wenn. You anchor in the middle and take lines to the left bank. There is a golf green on the cliffs at Ster Vraz (9 hole course).

From there you can visit Le Palais, the main port on the island, and its Citadelle by Vauban.

From Belle Ile you either visit Port Haliguen and La Trinité (aka in France as the mecca of yachting) or the islands of Houat (“wot”) and Hoëdic (“eddick”) where you have a superb restaurant at the hotel. We also had an excellent grilled bass (bar grillé) “Chez Paul”. Houat has better anchorages than Hoëdic, and all around the island depending on the winds. Excellent walks on both islands.

Le Crouësty is a well appointed and friendly port but slightly soul destroying. It is a good stop-over point for visiting the Golfe de Morbihan; I prefer mooring to the east of Ile d’Arz but it’s not good holding ground. Better to use a buoy if possible. The island as well as the Ile aux Moines are picturesque and worth visiting.

That’s all for now folks….

 

[PhillM]

Wow Sybarite thats very helpful.

Reading through this thread and other recent ones, I think that YBW are missing a trick - with all our combined knowledge it wouldn't take much to bring out a forum led pilot book. Perhaps call it "Places that ordinary small boat sailors like to go"

 

[DJE]

We got as far as the Morbihan in bilge keel Sadler 29 a few years ago. Good spots if you csn take the ground are Sauzon on Belle Isle and Brignogan Plage about 10 miles east of l'Aber Wrach. Also managed to get a copy of Bloc Marine in advance from a French web site.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I'd just like to recommend Ile Houat as a beautiful anchorage in S Brittany and easy to run back to one of the Quiberon marinas should it blow up.

We cruised W France for 4 months and Houat was our favourite place. But be prepared to move if the wind changes direction.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Reading through this thread and other recent ones, I think that YBW are missing a trick - with all our combined knowledge it wouldn't take much to bring out a forum led pilot book. Perhaps call it "Places that ordinary small boat sailors like to go"

I do a cruising guide for European waters. See http://www.jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/channel/nw-brittany. Many forum users have sent me their opinions and updates over the years. And many thanks to them!

But it's a cruising guide, answering the question "where to go?", rather than offering "pilotage". I found the detailed pilot books just too much to read . . . and was quite happy with the CA almanac and good charts - once I'd found out where was worth a visit!

There's still a lot more to fill in around UK . . .

Is this the sort of thing you're thinking of?

JimB