Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan alternative winter berthing option

[stranded]

Having received the disappointing but unsurprising news that we will have to wait a bit longer than the “few months” as predicted by the Capitainerie when we approached them in the autumn, we have for the time being taken an annual corps morts berth at Folleux

I wonder if anybody who has, or has recently had, an annual berth at a CdPdM marina knows if/how the option of winter berthing at another marina in the CdPdM group (subject to availability) works, whether there is ever in fact availability, and maybe any tips how to make it work? Sounds a bit too good to be true tbh.

Thanking you.

 

[Roberto]

Having received the disappointing but unsurprising news that we will have to wait a bit longer than the “few months” as predicted by the Capitainerie when we approached them in the autumn, we have for the time being taken an annual corps morts berth at Folleux

I wonder if anybody who has, or has recently had, an annual berth at a CdPdM marina knows if/how the option of winter berthing at another marina in the CdPdM group (subject to availability) works, whether there is ever in fact availability, and maybe any tips how to make it work? Sounds a bit too good to be true tbh.

Thanking you.

I have an annual berth with CPM, their basic contract has a framework which applies to all of their marinas, then each port can offer a number of additional options or variations. Pontoon/mooring, some months in the water some out, free months or haulouts if away >X days, Passeport Escale included or not, etc; ask Foleux first they will list their available options, even better make up your mind before and then ask exactly what you want. Of course if you ask ''I would like an annual berth at Le Crouesty'' they can only reply there is a 10-ish year waiting list.
FWIW, in my port (Locmiquelic) there is an annual berth holder who each year spends several consecutive months in Vannes, so yes it is feasible.

 

[stranded]

I have an annual berth with CPM, their basic contract has a framework which applies to all of their marinas, then each port can offer a number of additional options or variations. Pontoon/mooring, some months in the water some out, free months or haulouts if away >X days, Passeport Escale included or not, etc; ask Foleux first they will list their available options, even better make up your mind before and then ask exactly what you want. Of course if you ask ''I would like an annual berth at Le Crouesty'' they can only reply there is a 10-ish year waiting list.
FWIW, in my port (Locmiquelic) there is an annual berth holder who each year spends several consecutive months in Vannes, so yes it is feasible.

Cheers Roberto - yes, I’ve now got an annual berth at Folleux - move in in June - and am on the waiting list for several others. It’s specifically the possibility of winter berthing at other CPM marinas that I am interested in and your neighbour’s experience is encouraging. TBH I don’t mind paying for a winter berth if I have to as the Folleux berth is effectively more or less free once you factor in the Passeport Escale benefit. But if we can get winter berths in slightly livelier places for nowt, well - happy days. Sounds like there might be a winter berth near you available if the scheme operates on a one in one out basis!

 

[Bobc]

Most likely places to get a winter berth, are places where a lot of boats come out for the winter. Arzal and Port Haliguen being the two that spring to mind.

LRB is full all year round, so I doubt there'll be anything for you there.

Redon may well be able to host you for the winter as another thought.

 

[stranded]

Thanks Bob. Redon sounds good. Haliguen would be OK too. So as far as you know the ability to get a berth under the CPM winter scheme is dependent solely on whether your preferred marina has space? And does one simply approach the target marina directly or is it handled by the Capitainerie of your home port?

Sorry to push my luck - my French isn’t yet up to quizzing our Capitainerie on the phone so that will have to wait until we arrive in the summer.

 

[Bobc]

I would start by asking the Capitanerie at Folleux (she speaks good English and is not hard on the eye, which helps).

We have a mid-river swinging mooring at LRB by the way.

A big benefit of leaving it in the river, is that you don't have to antifoul and change anodes every year. Any slime build-up from the river falls off once you get out, and any fouling you pick up while cruising falls off in the fresh water. We come out every 3 years now, and just use cheap Hempel Classic antifoul.

Also, if you're away from your mooring for more than 20 days between June and September, you get 50% off lift/scrub/relaunch packages.

 

[Roberto]

As a starter, create an account here
Accueil
you can check the types of contracts available in each CPM marina, and also check waiting lists for your boat category.

 

[stranded]

I would start by asking the Capitanerie at Folleux (she speaks good English and is not hard on the eye, which helps).

We have a mid-river swinging mooring at LRB by the way.

A big benefit of leaving it in the river, is that you don't have to antifoul and change anodes every year. Any slime build-up from the river falls off once you get out, and any fouling you pick up while cruising falls off in the fresh water. We come out every 3 years now, and just use cheap Hempel Classic antifoul.

Also, if you're away from your mooring for more than 20 days between June and September, you get 50% off lift/scrub/relaunch packages.

Really useful info, thank you. Good news about the reduced lift outs - cost us a fortune on the Dart. Really looking forward to the move.

 

[stranded]

As a starter, create an account here
Accueil
you can check the types of contracts available in each CPM marina, and also check waiting lists for your boat category.

Thanks Roberto - yeah, we’ve been on the list since ‘23 - paint drying has got nothing on our rate of progress up the lists in our favoured places!

 

[John_Silver]

Thanks Roberto - yeah, we’ve been on the list since ‘23 - paint drying has got nothing on our rate of progress up the lists in our favoured places!

Did the berth, that you were investigating, over the winter, in Les Minimes / La Rochelle evaporate? Or was the Vilaine simply a better option for you? (Interested to gauge berth availability in Minimes).

 

[Bobc]

Really useful info, thank you. Good news about the reduced lift outs - cost us a fortune on the Dart. Really looking forward to the move.

My boat is just over 15m, and it cost me about £300 for lift and a week out at Arzal.

Off tomorrow to do it.

Bargain.

 

[Bobc]

Thanks Roberto - yeah, we’ve been on the list since ‘23 - paint drying has got nothing on our rate of progress up the lists in our favoured places!

There are ways round, once you are over there ;-)

 

[stranded]

Did the berth, that you were investigating, over the winter, in Les Minimes / La Rochelle evaporate? Or was the Vilaine simply a better option for you? (Interested to gauge berth availability in Minimes).

Hey John.

No, love La Rochelle when we visited for a few days (by land) a couple of weeks ago, but turns out that when they said by email last autumn that they expected to be able to offer us a berth in ‘a few months’, they actually meant 27 months for our size boat, 13m+. The link below is helpful.
Liste d'attente - Port de Plaisance de La Rochelle

 

[stranded]

Hopefully you won’t mind me tapping you for some tips when the time comes!