Gulf of Morbihan and area - any hot tips?

[brownsox]

Now semi-retired (yaroo!), so next week we're off to the boat for a month (wintered in Redon) then down the Vilaine and up to Morbihan. Will probably leave her there for a couple of weeks in July while we come home for family events, before heading south. Any do/don't tips about the area welcome, plus advice about good places to park the boat (24ft, lifting keel) for the dash back to Blighty. Cheers.

 

[duncan]

here

and

here

as well as

this thread

 

[john_morris_uk]

If you've got more questions after reading all the links/tips then fire away. We are in S Brittany yet again this summer (6th year in a row) and know it fairly well. Not as well as Robin though - he's been about 20 times!

Reference leaving the boat. You could leave it at Audierne on a mooring (below the bridge if height/draught stop you getting under like us) or at Vannes. There's a bus/train service from both.

Lots of places to stop/anchor/explore in the Morbihan. Look at the chart and explore. Most of the Islands are private, but the two big ones are OK to anchor off. If you pick of a mooring of the top end of Isle Aux Moines you will be charged as much as going alongside the pontoons (only suitable for smallish boats!). There is just room to anchor, and then its free! Best anchorage off Isle D'Arz is E side just to the right of the 'o' of Greavo in this map... Map of Morbihan

 

[brownsox]

Many thanks. Have done a cut and paste job and now have 4 pages of personal suggestions which we'll enjoy studying at leisure on the ferry over. Can't wait.

 

[JackFrobisher]

A truly beautiful cruising ground. Two tips: take warnings about the tidal streams very seriously - they are very fast in places, especially round some of the corners and edges of the narrow channels (i.e. faster than in the middle(?)); and there are some routes through the gulf that are very busy with noisy boats all day and (seemingly) all night.

 

[Roberto]

[ QUOTE ]
take warnings about the tidal streams very seriously - they are very fast in places

[/ QUOTE ]

agree
if you plan to sail inside the gulf for a while, it may be advisable to get hold of the SHOM tidal stream atlas,Cote sud de Bretagne, de Audierne au Croisic, nr. 558-UJA, the new (2005) edition has a detailed section about currents in the gulf with the usual hourly charts, and as there is a significant time lag between the entrance and for example Vannes, it may really be useful

generally though, streams tend to follow the contour of the islands, *except* at the very entrance, where more caution should be had as they flow against the two rocks "Mouton" and "Faucheur", just after Port Navalo (both have marks)

enjoy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Poignard]

Personally I think the place has a jinx on it. I have been trying to get there for the last 3 years without success. First year I got half way there and the boom broke, by the time a new one was made it was tool late. Second year found cracks in the mast just before departing, more delay. This year have to have eye operation in the middle of the season.

If I can't sail there next year I'll do something desperate, i.e. go by car!