La Rochelle

[LinTeal]

I plan to take my Sadler 29 from UK to La Rochelle by August and remain there at least over the winter.Has anyone got any experience of Marina Miramares(?) and specifically re the following:-
1.Can I assume they will have space
2.Is there much hardstanding for boats
3.Any rough idea as to marina costs.

Any other observations/thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Sea Devil]

1) In August there will be only visitors spaces and they may well be totally full for July/August

2) Effectivly there is no hard standing - there are 4 or 5 travel lifts but you can only come out to have work done via a yard or for up to maximum 1 week - for antifouling etc.

3) Most French marinas do 25% to 50% off normal prices for the winter months - for a 29 the monthly charge would be 327 euro a month for 9.5mtr to 10mtr and 287 euro a month for 9 to 9.5 mtr boat. 25% off April and May 50% off Oct to end March.

There is hard standing in Rochefort and a secure pound to leave a boat for the winter - All the prices are lower than La Rochelle but they use a crane and not a travel lift.

If you wnat further help for this area either email or post me. This part of France makes the solent look quiet in mid summer.......... Winter berths possible almost anywhere

 

[charles_reed]

Les Minimes

is what I think you mean.

Unlikely to find a permanaent berth there in July-August-September, even though they claim to be the largest marina in Europe. The waiting list was 3 years in 2000-1.

In fact during those months you'll be unlikely to find any available marina berths even for overnighting and had better practice your anchoring.

Les Minimes is probably the most expensive marina of some 24 in the area so if you like to send me a PM, with rather more detail of what you're looking for I'll do my best to give you costs/benefits of some of the alternatives.

I overwintered in that area at a cost of FF250/month, water & shorepower included.

 

[Sea Devil]

Re: Les Minimes

Charles is right - the marina is les Minimes and there is also the Vieux port which is the niceset place to be but the prices I posted are the same for both and availbilty in the summer is the same.... only for visits of a week or so.

The waiting list is now 5 years but an extension for 900 boats is planned for 2007 to add to the 3500 already exisiting!

 

[TigaWave]

Last time I was there 2003 Aug we had no problems being allocated a berth for a week whilst friends visited, there was a bit of shuffling but as the French are all off cruising there seemed to be plenty of empty named berths (ours came with custom steps to get aboard). We were there during the Figaro visit (32 extra boats) which took up quite a bit of space but there were still empty slots. The visitors berths get quite busy but nobody was ever turned away that we knew of.
Even in the small harbours in the local islands during the summer peak there was always space just that it was sometimes 7 boats deep.
The long term rates were pretty competitive in La Rochelle, and it was cheaper than Isle de Re in the peak weeks.
I'm surprised at all the comments about no space as that wasn't what we found, we cruised from La Rochelle to Fowey from July-Sept always staid in the main town harbours marinas apart from two nights and there was never a space issue. Our boat was 12mx4m

 

[charles_reed]

Vieux Port

There are 3 basins and the avant port itself.

The basins are full and getting in to the two big ones is reserved for >13m boats in the hands of the brokers.

Usually all the pontoons in the avant port are uprooted, except for the one for the bac, during the winter and there is no overwintering in the port proper.

This brings one back to Minimes who charge 50% of the summer price for vagrant visitors - this is still x3price for annual contract holders.

There are the marinas on Ré (4), Oléron (3), Rochefort, Marans and La Seudre.

 

[chrisb]

i left my tempest in los mimines for a month may-june 2002. safe not too expensive . they have a web site. several guys i met used rochefort [ query spelling] just around the corner and up the charente to overwinter. said to be cheap very sheltered as locked in, with live aboard community. cheap flights to soton/ stanstead/ birmingham. look in reeds for contact nos.
good luck
chris

 

[Sea Devil]

Re: Vieux Port - overwintering

In fact the main overwintering spot in La Rochelle for live aboards is in the Vieux Port by the town - if you want a place for the winter you need to speak to the 'Chef' du Vieux Port - Christian - his office is beside the aquarium. All 3 ports may be used for liveaboards wintering in La Rochelle. Prices as I posted earlier. The pontoons in both Les Minimes and Vieux Port are 'serviced' during the winter - bit by bit but to say they are usually uprooted for the winter is not correct.

Rochefort is also a very good place to winter in - with the possibility of hauling and keeping the boat ashore. There is a large liveaboard community there and the rates are indeed somewhat cheaper than LR. It is not quite so easily accessible as La Rochelle - it uses the same cheap flights facilities. In terms of facilities Rochefort is not nearly so well served as La Rochelle. It has only 2 small chandlers, no sail loft on site etc.

 

[Ningaloo]

Re: Vieux Port - overwintering

We are currently at Rochefort (not live-abord) and have found the marina staff very helpful. Marina and ashore storage rates are low, and there are secure compounds ashore, but our lift-out was very expensive. Tidal access via lock gate is only for 1/2 hour each day, but navigating the Charente river is charming. Train (5 min walk from marina) to La Rochelle is 20 minutes / 10 euros. We have found that the budget airlines flew to Rochefort (rather than La Rochelle) during the winter. Last flights in January (Ryanair) were basically free + taxes...
We are heading to NW Spain for the summer and will probably return to Rochefort next winter.

 

[Sea Devil]

Just a quick post to say I was wrong in saying there were no lay up ashore facilities at Le Minimes - La Rochelle. In fact there are two - both privately operated - one by the Benateau company office. Not that expensive - more than Rochefort but still reasonable - calculated LxB. Both in enclosed compounds and although you can work on the boat you cannot live aboard whilst doing so. At Rochefort you can and many do.