Brighton to La Roche Bernard

[Tomahawk]

You are going through two of the most "interesting" passages in the world...

The Chanel du Four.... remember that La four is the French for cooker
Le Raz du Sein.... O as Nostro calls it The Raz d'insane...
And you can also take in Cap d'Hague otherwise know as the Alderny Race if you like to make things hard work..

In calm weather they are lovely... otherwise, look up French storms especially the recent ones!
And also don't bother trying to punch the tide unless you have a really good motor...

PS hD a wonderful village supper at L'Abeer Wrach listening to the local choir singing sea shanties..

 

[DJE]

If time isn't an issue then: Cherbourg, St Peterport, Roscoff then coast hop from there.

Interesting trio. In my head I had the same first 2, and then if the weather is good go for L'Aberwrach in one hop. Too far?

We did Alderney to L'Aberwrach in a bit over 24 hours in a Sadler 29. But we were crewed for watch keeping. The full route was Portsmouth, Poole, Alderney, L'Aberwrach - Where the delivery crew had to get off and go home. After that it was just the two of us coast hopping via Camaret, Lesconil, Rosbraz, Port Haliguen, and Vannes.

 

[WalshamUK]

OP doesn't say how well he is crewed up, or his experience of the area. Roscoff is an easy 24hr access marina and L'Aberwrach from St PP might be a bit tight on the wind, so a long leg if tacking and if it is an unknown port, not the easiest of entries if you arrive at night.

There will be 2 of us on board a Beneteau Oceanis 361, well equipped. We both have many years experience each of coastal cruising. I have sailed Western France before, last time I went there I did Falmouth to Brest single-handed in a Moddy 31. It took 37 hours, and I was totally knackered when I arrived. This time I thought I'd ask for other people's thoughts.

 

[WalshamUK]

There will be 2 of us on board a Beneteau Oceanis 361, well equipped. We both have many years experience each of coastal cruising. I have sailed Western France before, last time I went there I did Falmouth to Brest single-handed in a Moddy 31. It took 37 hours, and I was totally knackered when I arrived. This time I thought I'd ask for other people's thoughts.

Or even a Moody 31. Apols.

 

[DJE]

The big decision is whether to go south first then west along the French Coast or west along the English coast then south. When we left Poole the forecast was for westerly winds going northwest later. If we had had southerlies going west later then we would probably have gone via Dartmouth.

 

[[3889]]

Interesting choices to stop. Where's Ste Evette and Brigneau? And I thought I knew W.France v.well !!

French stops weren't really planned, apart from L'Aber. Lots of choice so I just sailed 'till I wanted to sleep.
Ste Evette is the small harbour just west of Audierne entrance. Brigneau is a drying harbour between Lorient & Concarneau; I stayed afloat at anchor just east of entrance. Poor holding on rock and weed and I would not recommend it, really.

 

[LadyInBed]

This was my route in 2012

 

[Poignard]

We just carry on whilst the tide serves, (unless boredom, tiredness or the desire for a decent meal ashore intervenes )

 

[Mudisox]

http://www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=l&a...IQ0Qw&adurl=http://www.getamover.co.uk/?ref=f

 

[oldvarnish]

The intersting way to do this, as I did some years ago, is the go up the Rance, at St Malo, then through the canal via Redon which will bring you to Roche Bernard.
Some remote countryside for much of the passage.
But you need shallow draft and no mast. But good fun.

 

[DJE]

The intersting way to do this, as I did some years ago, is the go up the Rance, at St Malo, then through the canal via Redon which will bring you to Roche Bernard.
Some remote countryside for much of the passage.
But you need shallow draft and no mast. But good fun.

I'm trying to get some of the little boats from Titchfield Haven interested in that route for the next twinning visit to Vannes in 2015. We have 1.2m draft so I think we're a bit borderline to go that way ourselves.

 

[oldvarnish]

I'm trying to get some of the little boats from Titchfield Haven interested in that route for the next twinning visit to Vannes in 2015. We have 1.2m draft so I think we're a bit borderline to go that way ourselves.

you might be a bit deep for that route. With 2foot 2 inch draft, we were scraping the bottom now and again.

 

[Twister_Ken]

you might be a bit deep for that route. With 2foot 2 inch draft, we were scraping the bottom now and again.

Blimey, that's not a canal, it's a gutter.

 

[DJE]

you might be a bit deep for that route. With 2foot 2 inch draft, we were scraping the bottom now and again.

Looks only the lifting keel boats can do it then. Even a bilge keel Westerley Pageant draws 3 feet.

 

[oldvarnish]

Blimey, that's not a canal, it's a gutter.

It's the only sailing I've ever done where supermarket trolleys are hazards to navigation.

 

[WalshamUK]

The intersting way to do this, as I did some years ago, is the go up the Rance, at St Malo, then through the canal via Redon which will bring you to Roche Bernard.
Some remote countryside for much of the passage.
But you need shallow draft and no mast. But good fun.

But I draw 1.53m. Surely that makes the canal route a no-no. Yes?

Keith

 

[LadyInBed]

But I draw 1.53m. Surely that makes the canal route a no-no. Yes?

yes-no-no

 

[oldvarnish]

But I draw 1.53m. Surely that makes the canal route a no-no. Yes?

Keith

It's 20 years since I did it, but 1.5 would have been too much then. But things might have changed. Worth checking.