Keeping a boat in Vannes

[Poignard]

Does anyone here have, or has anyone had, a permanent berth in Vannes?

I have been on the waiting list for several years and must be getting near the top.

I would like to know the pros and cons of being based there.

Advice appreciated.

 

[Frogmogman]

Does anyone here have, or has anyone had, a permanent berth in Vannes?

I have been on the waiting list for several years and must be getting near the top.

I would like to know the pros and cons of being based there.

Advice appreciated.

I don’t have a berth there but (like you) I’m on the waiting list there and a few other places in the golfe de Morbihan (quite recently they introduced a new generalised waiting list, where you can apply for berths in many of the different locations around the Golfe. The date when you register is your “golden date” and applies to all of your applications as the date you joined the waiting list).

TBH, I’m not holding my breath, as when I applied I was getting quoted over 10 years on the spots I fancied, and in any case, I’m so delighted with the berth I have secured in Saint Quay - Portrieux up on the baie de St Brieuc in N Brittany, with its all-tide access, and so many wonderful places to tie up or drop the hook in easy striking distance, that I’m not sure I’d move, even if my number came up - but who knows how I’ll feel in 10 years or so.

I love Vannes as a town, and of course the marina is bang slap in the middle. Downside to that is of course noise in high season.

Easy access by TGV from Paris in 2 1/2 hours.

Downside is quite restrictive access, with not only the port lock gate opening but also bridge opening to negotiate. I attach the opening hours for June to give you an idea.

 

[Roberto]

I don’t have a berth there but (like you) I’m on the waiting list there and a few other places in the golfe de Morbihan (quite recently they introduced a new generalised waiting list, where you can apply for berths in many of the different locations around the Golfe. The date when you register is your “golden date” and applies to all of your applications as the date you joined the waiting list).

TBH, I’m not holding my breath, as when I applied I was getting quoted over 10 years on the spots I fancied, and in any case, I’m so delighted with the berth I have secured in Saint Quay - Portrieux up on the baie de St Brieuc in N Brittany, with its all-tide access, and so many wonderful places to tie up or drop the hook in easy striking distance, that I’m not sure I’d move, even if my number came up - but who knows how I’ll feel in 10 years or so.

Unfortunately Vannes marina, despite being under management by the CPM, is not included in the "golden date" scheme (mine is in 2005), they keep their own separate waiting list. I would love to have a berth there (train from Paris, and I do not make daily sails so no problem in waiting one or two days), I am looking for someone with a contract there to swap it with mine which is in Locmiquelic-Lorient, all-tide all-boat draughts all-weather accessibility, it might suit someone in Vannes going for a bigger boat for example; I asked the CPM and they said such contract exchanges are often done, provided they are in the same size category. I asked them to make a sort of web site with such requests but had no answers so far.
As an aside, Vannes post Covid (if there will ever be a post Covid time) real estate prices have sky-rocketed, some places in Conleau area have parisian prices.

 

[Frogmogman]

Further to the above, I applied for a berth in various different locations in the Golfe de Morbihan under the Golden Date system at the end of last year.

I received a call today saying that they have a swinging mooring available for me at île aux Moines.

I said I was astonished and delighted to be offered a place so soon, but that I have just contracted (and paid 4 years up-front) for a berth at Saint Quay Portrieux, so would not be taking them up on the offer this time.

The lady who called explained to me that the golden date system had allowed them to centralize the whole process, and also to eliminate a bunch of multiple applications, dead enquiries and so on, so overall the waiting times previously quoted should start to come down. She also, however, made clear that the only reason something had come up so quickly for me was the modest draught of my boat with the keel raised (1,25m).

 

[doug748]

Further to the above, I applied for a berth in various different locations in the Golfe de Morbihan under the Golden Date system at the end of last year.

I received a call today saying that they have a swinging mooring available for me at île aux Moines.

I said I was astonished and delighted to be offered a place so soon, but that I have just contracted (and paid 4 years up-front) for a berth at Saint Quay Portrieux, so would not be taking them up on the offer this time.

The lady who called explained to me that the golden date system had allowed them to centralize the whole process, and also to eliminate a bunch of multiple applications, dead enquiries and so on, so overall the waiting times previously quoted should start to come down. She also, however, made clear that the only reason something had come up so quickly for me was the modest draught of my boat with the keel raised (1,25m).

Interesting, though not the easiest place to get to for most folk.

Were you not tempted by La Trinite, Crouesty, Haliguen or any of the other spots outside the Morbihan? Or are the waiting lists there just as bad?

 

[[3889]]

Interesting, though not the easiest place to get to for most folk.

Were you not tempted by La Trinite, Crouesty, Haliguen or any of the other spots outside the Morbihan? Or are the waiting lists there just as bad?

Do you mean get to by sea or land. It is certainly the most accessible marina by public transport in the Quiberon area with direct trains to the St Malo ferry and Rennes and Nantes for airports.
The only downside is the limited window for entry, not just the port gate but the tidal gate at Port Navalo.

 

[Poignard]

Do you mean get to by sea or land. It is certainly the most accessible marina by public transport in the Quiberon area with direct trains to the St Malo ferry and Rennes and Nantes for airports.
The only downside is the limited window for entry, not just the port gate but the tidal gate at Port Navalo.

I think Doug478 is referring to Frogmogman's offer of a mooring at Isle aux Moines.

 

[Frogmogman]

I think Doug478 is referring to Frogmogman's offer of a mooring at Isle aux Moines.

It was only one of a number of places I applied for under the scheme

 

[Poignard]

It was only one of a number of places I applied for under the scheme

A nice location. Is there long term parking available on the mainland at Port Blanc?

 

[Frogmogman]

A nice location. Is there long term parking available on the mainland at Port Blanc?

There is a car park at Port Blanc. I’ve never been there in high season, so it’s not been an issue

 

[dslittle]

I’ve never parked a car there BUT I have been there in High Season - you would need A LOT of luck getting a parking place…

 

[Roberto]

Also, in most of these places the public parkings are often used for local fairs, festivals, fleas market etc, the police simply puts a warning sign a couple of days earlier and any car they find on the event morning is simply fined and towed away, to get it back one has to pay fine, tow and the daily custody fees