La Rochelle

[wildthyme]

I plan to spend the coming winter at La Rochelle. Is it possible to live aboard when the boat is ashore? If not, what accommodation is recommended? Alternatively, is there a better place to spend the winter on the W coast of France?

<hr width=100% size=1>P J Bartlett

 

[charles_reed]

La Rochelle is just great, but in Minimes the ZI has room for boats to be out of the water, worked on and put back again.
I've never actually seen anybody living in a boat there or for that matter anywhere in France, where the habit of having boats on the hard for the winter has never caught on.

So I think living on the boat out of the water is a fairly long shot.

Apart from Minimes and the various basins around la Rochelle, you've the 3 marinas on Oleron, of those I'd suggest St Denis as the most likely.

Alternatives would be Rochefort (perhaps too popular) or Marans, both up the rivers off the la Rochelle embayment.

La Rochelle is a far more important and vibrant sailing area than the S coast of the UK (after all there's berthing for about 3 times as many yachts in Charente as in Hants).
You'll find plenty of places to stay, but little in the way of boatparks.

If you want any further info e-mail me via the board - I know the area fairly well.

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[cynthia]

La Roch has a small but thriving community of live aboards who stay in the water. The fees are not terrifically over the top there during the winter months. Do you prefer to be ashore? The berths are sheltered, with a good (tho' eccentric) electric supply. Showers are extra to fees, but overall it is not a bad place to be in the water over winter. Although we did not live on board we spent June - March there and felt we got good value for money in Minimes - even if it can be a little impersonal at times. May be worht trying the Bassin de Flot which is closer in to the town and quieter in winter than in summer. La Roch has excellent (and cheap) air links to the UK.

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