Information Anchorages in Baie de Morlaix please

[oldjohnnyb]

Most pilot books and almanacs show an anchorage off Penn al Lann, one even mentioned three visitors mooring bouys.
Some years ago I found the area taken over by boats and machinery for tending the nearby oyster beds. Even what had been the visitors bouys had been commandeered by the fish farm.
Can anybody tell me what the situation is like now?
If Penn al Lann is no longer viable what are the alternatives?
There are anchorages marked on the large scale SHOM chart for the town of Carantec. One to NE and another in the Penze River to the W. Are these any good?
I have in the past picked up a big ship's bouy to the S of Chateau du Taureau.
Is it still there?
Many thanks

 

[steve_cronin]

the Penze River is a Miserasble, Miserable place..

... full of badly marked shoals, mudbanks and trecherous currrents. Little to see there.

Go up to Morlaix and lock through into the town marina or anchor off one of the delightful villages or pick up a mooring in the estuary.

email me and I'l send you some photos of the Morlaix river at high & low - frightening - water

Steve Cronin

 

[brianhumber]

I either tend to use a metal bouy in midstream just before the river shallows and bends to the left towards le Dourduff, (I think put there for the sand boats to wait for the tide) or I plough on though the sand and mud to pick a spare mooring up off Locquenole and go to a bar to wait for the tide.
Either way I find it best to drift up river to Morlaix a good three hours before high water keeping in the scour in between the mud banks, never had less than 2 m doing this.

 

[oldjohnnyb]

Re: the Penze River is a Miserasble, Miserable place..

Hi Steve,
Many thanks for the offer of photographs, however I know the river up to Morlaix quite well so I'll pass on your offer.
What I am looking for is a pleasant spot to stop at overnight and where it is possible to get ashore when making my way westward. I don't want to take the ground in Roscoff Harbour, nor do I fancy the moorings near the ferry terminal.
John

 

[oldjohnnyb]

Hi Brian,
I have see the bouy you mention, in fact the big ship bouy I mention is presumably also used by the sand dredger.
Thanks for the info.
John

 

[steve_cronin]

Re: the Penze River is a Miserasble, Miserable place..

Sorry I meant the Penze. I have photos of us clinging to a mud escarpment by one keel! Fortunately it held until the tide came back. However all the antifoul on that keel was missing. We took it to be a consequence of the chemical action of the evil smelling mud. You can pick up fore & aft trot moorings just below the bridge on the Penze. They are designated for visitors but there are no facilities, the current is fierce and the view unexciting.

Steve Cronin

 

[janetp]

Baie de Morlaix & area anchorages

We regularly anchor in this area when westward bound and eastward returning - it saves time and tide v. going up river to Morlaix. Anchor off Penn Lann - avoiding large buoy which is used by dredger. There are three white buoys tucked around headland - but limited by depth & distance between.
When >F5 Southerly have anchored off Terenez - but this is open to NW swell and there are minimal facilities ashore. Carantec anchorage looks tempting but crowded - hope to investigate at neaps one year.
Did notice this year that there were several buoys off Ile Tia Son opposite entrance to Roscoff - but didn't investigate in S F6.
What about trying Primel Tregastel and entrance to Lannion river?
Have you any more useful hidyholes to share?
We're dying to try the anchorage off Isle de Siec (W of Isle de Batz) but conditions are usually too horific to attempt it!

 

[oldjohnnyb]

Re: Baie de Morlaix & area anchorages

Hi Janetp,
Sorry I haven't responded sooner, I have been on a (nonsailing) holiday.
Thanks for the news about Penn Lann.
Re the bouys opposite Roscoff entrance, I used them 2 years ago. They are shown in Macmillan's Almanac.
Re Ile de Siec, My chart shows leading lights adjacent to the village of Mogueriec which makes anchoring S of the Island a good prospect. N of the Island looks too rockbound. Hope the weather lets you try it next year!
Many thanks
John