Brest - Moulin Blanc or Chateau Marina

Magnum

Magnum

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We'll be heading to the med from Jersey next month and our first port of call is Brest. There are 2 options for marinas - Moulin Blanc and Chateau. We are 21.25m long and want a relatively easy berth as its the beginning of our adventure. We might be there for a few days so at least 32A shore power and a well sheltered and attractive location are important too.

Any suggestions much appreciated :)
 
For my money it would be Chateau every time, especially for a boat of your size. There is plenty of alongside berthing although it is a fair step to the Captain Harry and the marina restaurants, etc. It is well sheltered and the only disturbance we have endured has been from fishermen on the adjacent sea wall. There is also a very convenient fuel berth. The City is a bit sixties having been extensively bombed during the war but is more convenient to Chateau than Moulin Blanc.

We are heading back to northern waters from Porto starting next month so our paths may cross along the way. Are you crossing Biscay or taking the sceneic route. Either way it would we should keep an eye open for each other.

Richard.
 
I would agree le Chateau you are 70 ft.

The alternatives are Moulin Blanc or Camaret, you are probably a bit big for Camaret.

Moulin Blanc is out in the Sticks.
 
IDAMAY said:
For my money it would be Chateau every time, especially for a boat of your size. There is plenty of alongside berthing although it is a fair step to the Captain Harry and the marina restaurants, etc. It is well sheltered and the only disturbance we have endured has been from fishermen on the adjacent sea wall. There is also a very convenient fuel berth. The City is a bit sixties having been extensively bombed during the war but is more convenient to Chateau than Moulin Blanc.

We are heading back to northern waters from Porto starting next month so our paths may cross along the way. Are you crossing Biscay or taking the sceneic route. Either way it would we should keep an eye open for each other.

Richard.
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Thanks Richard. All good info. Does the marina take bookings a day in advance?

We are doing the scenic route across Biscay cutting the corner from La Rochelle to Santander. I'll certainly keep an eye on your progress too.
 
Magnum said:
Thanks Richard. All good info. Does the marina take bookings a day in advance?

We are doing the scenic route across Biscay cutting the corner from La Rochelle to Santander. I'll certainly keep an eye on your progress too.
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So far as I remember last year we phoned ahead and they told us there would be no problem but didn't actually reserve a berth. There was plenty of space when we arrived which was some time in June. I would be surprised if there would be any issues in May unless a race, rally or regatta is in town.

We shall be retracing last year's steps so we should be crossing paths somewhere along the way and look forward to meeting should things fall that way..

Richard.
 
Magnum said:
We'll be heading to the med from Jersey next month and our first port of call is Brest. There are 2 options for marinas - Moulin Blanc and Chateau. We are 21.25m long and want a relatively easy berth as its the beginning of our adventure. We might be there for a few days so at least 32A shore power and a well sheltered and attractive location are important too.

Any suggestions much appreciated :)
Click to expand...

Not sure if you NEED to go into Brest at all, but personally I wouldn't bother unless you really need to. The first marina is in the town, so an easy walk for that morning shopping but the surroundings are awful. The second marina is indeed a long way from anywhere-basically you need to get a bus to get anything, though at least you are in a marina not an ageing industrial site.
The town is very odd. There is the main shopping street and you should seek out the TINY street that survived WW2 -that is somewhat thought provoking.
A few days..eek !!A few hours will be ample.
 
Of the two, I prefer Moulin Blanc marina. Well sheltered from prevailing winds, good facilities, frequent low-price bus service into town, pleasant walks, Océanopolis.

The maritime museum in Brest is worth seeing. Also a bus ride to Pointe Sainte-Mathieu where you can go up the lighthouse and enjoy a coastal walk with fine views.
 
Hmm, Brest doesn't look that exciting does it! Perhaps it would be better to make our first port of call Bloscon Marina at Roscoff. Facilities look good and the nearby town is quaint. We could then continue to Port du Crouesty for our next stop.
 
Fwiw I would do:
Roscoff
Benodet
Morbihan and I prefer Trinite ser mer by some margin to le crusty!

We enjoyed roscoff and it's a pleasant walk or cycle from the Marina - if you call ahead from there you might get a berth booked at Sainte Marine, (north side of the Odet river), which is delightful and a good jumping point for Morbihan.

Unlike Richard, we are not heading north but if you are calling in to Portimao or Vilamoura; come say hello!
 
Magnum said:
Hmm, Brest doesn't look that exciting does it! Perhaps it would be better to make our first port of call Bloscon Marina at Roscoff. Facilities look good and the nearby town is quaint. We could then continue to Port du Crouesty for our next stop.
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Mind that current through Bloscon Marina!
 
I don't know what kind if place you like...we wandered around Roscoff for hours and couldn't find anything!
If you want some beauty then I would go for LAber Wrach. Only a few basic shops and a restaurants but the seascape is truly stunning.
Camaret is nice if you need to break somewhere.
We visited almost every marina from St Caast to Boyardville last summer so PM if you want any info any any of them...albeit in a rather smaller boat.
 
Camaret is a pleasant place with superb walks on the headland above the town, plenty of good restaurants, a supermarket, and there is a bus service to Brest, should you fancy a trip there.
 
Magnum said:
Hmm, Brest doesn't look that exciting does it! Perhaps it would be better to make our first port of call Bloscon Marina at Roscoff. Facilities look good and the nearby town is quaint. We could then continue to Port du Crouesty for our next stop.
Click to expand...

Measuring the distance it is 155 miles from Jersey to Brest.
But only another 40 miles and you could be through the Raz into Benodet.

I've just dug out my old tracks and some pics.
This was our track through the Chenal Du Four and the Raz de Sein

Brest_Small_zps5eopbikh.jpg


We only stayed one night but I think Benodet could be a safe and nice place to wait for a weather window to cross or run down the coast of Biscay.
We refuelled there as well.

IMG_5247_Small_zpsmtqzckfk.jpg


And I seem to remember this Benodet restaurant was very good.

IMG_5253e_Small_zpssjcwplxr.jpg
 
Thanks Hurricane.

I quite fancy Roscoff now as a nice short first leg to get us into the swing of things.

Benodet looks interesting but I'm struggling to find any max OAL data for Port de Penfoul.

Looks like you were berthed alongside the short pontoon annexed to E close to the shore. I believe most visiting yachts are directed to the outside of E pontoon which has a long return into the river.
 
Although I like Benodet a lot, there is not much in the town. Another alternative that puts you in town is Concarneau, just a few extra miles.
 
Magnum said:
Thanks Hurricane.

I quite fancy Roscoff now as a nice short first leg to get us into the swing of things.

Benodet looks interesting but I'm struggling to find any max OAL data for Port de Penfoul.

Looks like you were berthed alongside the short pontoon annexed to E close to the shore. I believe most visiting yachts are directed to the outside of E pontoon which has a long return into the river.
Click to expand...

Ah yes - I think that was where we refuelled.
They moved us to an inside (inside the outer pontoon) for the night.
On the inside of the long "Ponton Visiteurs" in the "Le plan du port de Bénodet" on this page http://www.benodetport.fr/fr/plan-et-acces/plan-d-eau/17/3/
It may have changed since then but these pics show where they put us.
Your P68 is not much bigger than the P67 - I should think they would accommodate you.
Plenty of room when we were there.

DSCF4081_Small_zps0emc3sc6.jpg


DSCF4077_Small_zpsmtvwpfvi.jpg
 
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