La Rochelle for the winter?

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brownsox

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Looking for a winter place - tried Rochefort but no luck. As far as my French goes, I understood the guy at La Rochelle to say "just turn up, there will be a place". This without asking anthing about the boat.
Has anyone wintered there? I'm slightly anxious that we'll turn up in October and it'll be full!
 
Well a lot of people crane out in winter so I would hazard a guess that you'd be ok. If not you'd get a place for sure in Port Medoc a little further south, but beware the swell (they haven't built the new mole yet) and it'll cost a bit more - oh yes, access (if commuting from UK) is not marvellous.
 
I wintered in Les Minimes in La Rochelle two years ago and yes I did just turn up and got on a visitors berth.
Luckily there was one empty when I arrived otherwise you have to wait for someone to leave so that you can take his place.If you leave the berth for a day sail or for any other reason you again have to be lucky that a berth will be available when you get back as berths are not reserved and it is a case of first arrival gets a place.
Les Minimes hosts a boat show and the visitors area is taken over at this time for display boats so check your dates.
If you still plan to leave the boat there you can hold on the waitng pontoon and wait for a berth so give yourself a couple of days in hand in case you have to wait.
On the plus side it is a lovely town and worth a stay.
 
The les Minimes situation is that you can lay up afloat on the visitors pontoon after the end of September - once the big Grand Pavois boat show is over... If you are leaving her there it may take a few days to find a spot alongside rather than rafted out which you should do unless you don't mind other people moving and tying up your boat...

The next possibility is to have her hauled and keep her in a commercial yard ashore.. Probably the best is Force 3 yard and the worst is Chantier Naval de les Minimes who have put holes in boats by accident and charge like angry bulls. Apart from the crane fees the average boat in Force 3 is around €200 a month and less for cash. 2 different friends have their boats there and it is excellent - you can live aboard for periods if you want. email me if you want more details -

After September Rochefort, St Martin & possibly Royan will probably have places but you need to check with them. Port Mecoc will certainly have places for the winter and indeed the summer - the problem is getting to and from the place. A train to Royan and across in the 'Bac' is probably the easiest as the local airports like La Rochelle, Limoges, Bordeaux would need a hire car...

If I can help do email - I live in La Rochelle

Michael
 
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