Itinerary for a one week cruise from Lorient

[bbg]

Hi all,
I used to keep a boat in Lorient, but never cruised it. So I sort of know the area but have never had occasion to find a harbour other than Douarnenez and Pornichet.

I'm hoping to charter a boat in July for 5 or 6 days with the family. Are there any harbours / ports where one can anchor with good protection? Or does one really need to use a marina in that part of the coast?

 

[Roberto]

Hello!
that's home
For 5-6 days I would head south to Quiberon gulf, go SE and turn NE through Teignouse passage into the bay. Looooots of anchorages, protected from the swell, nice beaches, marinas everywhere if you need provisions. Inside the Golfe du Morbihan particulary scenic (* very* strong currents); also Groix or Belle ile (Palais or Sauzon -sauzon was in the final X villages in the contest to the most beautiful of France) as stopovers.

 

[doug748]

The new edition of this is a lovely book:

https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Pilots+and+Cruising+Guides/IB0111-2/

Can be bought for nearer 20 quid. None of the anchorages are very secret but it is well worth having and great for planning.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I would say the islands for a short stay Belle-ile, Ile d'Groix, Ile d'Houat and Ile d' Yeu if you get that far South.

 

[Sybarite]

I would say the islands for a short stay Belle-ile, Ile d'Groix, Ile d'Houat and Ile d' Yeu if you get that far South.

You can either go the Belle Ile / Morbihan way or go west towards the Glénan / Bénodet / Odet. / Ile de Sein. In one week IMo there is not enough time to do both.

I usually choose at the last minute depending on the prevailing winds. I usually use marinas only if I need to provision. No shortage of anchorages.

Will you be popping into Locmiquélic?

 

[bbg]

Hello!
that's home
For 5-6 days I would head south to Quiberon gulf, go SE and turn NE through Teignouse passage into the bay. Looooots of anchorages, protected from the swell, nice beaches, marinas everywhere if you need provisions. Inside the Golfe du Morbihan particulary scenic (* very* strong currents); also Groix or Belle ile (Palais or Sauzon -sauzon was in the final X villages in the contest to the most beautiful of France) as stopovers.

The new edition of this is a lovely book:

https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Pilots+and+Cruising+Guides/IB0111-2/

Can be bought for nearer 20 quid. None of the anchorages are very secret but it is well worth having and great for planning.

I would say the islands for a short stay Belle-ile, Ile d'Groix, Ile d'Houat and Ile d' Yeu if you get that far South.

You can either go the Belle Ile / Morbihan way or go west towards the Glénan / Bénodet / Odet. / Ile de Sein. In one week IMo there is not enough time to do both.

I usually choose at the last minute depending on the prevailing winds. I usually use marinas only if I need to provision. No shortage of anchorages.

Will you be popping into Locmiquélic?

Thanks all. I have sailed past the coast in both directions from Lorient many times, but I've never stopped in any of the ports / anchorages. So I'm glad to hear there are lots of places to actually stop.

It would be nice to call in to Locmiquélic - I have happy memories of that port, as you know. I suppose it depends on where the boat is that we will be chartering. I'll PM you.

 

[Neil_Y]

There is a nice little anchorage just after point Plogoff, heading East from Pointe de Raz, called Anse du Loc'h.

I've anchored there for the night after getting round the corner with a few other boats, good holding in sand but there are patches of rock on the bottom.

 

[bbg]

Alright - now for a follow-up question.

I've looked through my old charts and I have a few of the area. Enough for high-level planning, at least. What I don't have is detailed harbour charts or tides / currents.

I'd like to do some preliminary planning before I get to the boat. At least identify options.

I can get a Bloc Marine for about EUR 35 where I live, which I think would give me the kind of information I am looking for. But I suspect it would also be a bit wasteful in that I am fairly sure there will be one on the boat that I charter, and I'd never use it again.

So - are there any cheap / free apps for iOS or macOS that will give me harbour details and tide times / currents?

Thanks.

 

[gjgm]

Alright - now for a follow-up question.

I've looked through my old charts and I have a few of the area. Enough for high-level planning, at least. What I don't have is detailed harbour charts or tides / currents.

I'd like to do some preliminary planning before I get to the boat. At least identify options.

I can get a Bloc Marine for about EUR 35 where I live, which I think would give me the kind of information I am looking for. But I suspect it would also be a bit wasteful in that I am fairly sure there will be one on the boat that I charter, and I'd never use it again.

So - are there any cheap / free apps for iOS or macOS that will give me harbour details and tide times / currents?

Thanks.

Not currents etc but every marina has its own website with many details,surely..Port de Xxx usually is enough. Just check it is 2019!!
Otherwise, if you have any sort of device have a look at what Navionics offers ..

 

[fisherman]

I was on hols from Ile de la Vierge near L'Aberwrach to Douarnenez to Sarzeau recently I am amazed at the exposed locations of some moorings, for instance here
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.070089,-4.6622086,338m/data=!3m1!1e3
I asked how they get on in a Northerly blow, no problem was the reply.
or here just E of Le Guilvenec
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7906902,-4.2624576,242m/data=!3m1!1e3
expand the map and see how little shelter there is and nowhere to run.
But, it's very shallow for miles out, so maybe ocean swells don't get in so much, bit like Scilly.

 

[[3889]]

On a related note, Noonsite and Navionics suggest there is an anchorage in the Rade de Lorient, opposire Pen Mané marina. There are two slightly worrisome 'hulks' charted nearby. Anybody anchored there? Thinking of heading that way today.

 

[Roberto]

On a related note, Noonsite and Navionics suggest there is an anchorage in the Rade de Lorient, opposire Pen Mané marina. There are two slightly worrisome 'hulks' charted nearby. Anybody anchored there? Thinking of heading that way today.

North from Pen Mane is a Navy restricted area, there are two permanently anchored semi-wrecks of naval ships which shelter some Navy mooring buoys. Google Earth names it "Pointe de l'Esperance"

 

[[3889]]

North from Pen Mane is a Navy restricted area, there are two permanently anchored semi-wrecks of naval ships which shelter some Navy mooring buoys. Google Earth names it "Pointe de l'Esperance"

Is that what "Mouillages Orinisés" means? Anyway, decided to play safe and anchor to the east of Groix.

 

[Roberto]

Is that what "Mouillages Orinisés" means? Anyway, decided to play safe and anchor to the east of Groix.

"Mouillage organises" has the same meaning as "Moorings" on a UKHO chart, area with more or less permanent mooring buoys. Normally it s not restricted, sometimes the buoys have their owner so in principle not available if found empty, other times they are owned by some capitainerie and all/part of them are available for daily rent: usually they have a "V" letter on them (but not always). Example to the east of Groix you have mooring buoys facing the Sables rouges beach (very East), or in front of Port Lay, a few cables NW of Port Tudy the main Groix port.

The area inside Lorient harbour opposite Pen Mane, has "Moorings", indeed there are mooring buoys, but they are inside a military restricted area. The Navionics is not clear, this is the official chart

 

[[3889]]

"Mouillage organises" has the same meaning as "Moorings" on a UKHO chart, area with more or less permanent mooring buoys. Normally it s not restricted, sometimes the buoys have their owner so in principle not available if found empty, other times they are owned by some capitainerie and all/part of them are available for daily rent: usually they have a "V" letter on them (but not always). Example to the east of Groix you have mooring buoys facing the Sables rouges beach (very East), or in front of Port Lay, a few cables NW of Port Tudy the main Groix port.

The area inside Lorient harbour opposite Pen Mane, has "Moorings", indeed there are mooring buoys, but they are inside a military restricted area. The Navionics is not clear, this is the official chart

View attachment 78083

You're right, Navionics is not clear. Nor can it spell correctly. Thanks for clarification.

 

[harry potter]

Good memories of Étel.