Les Minimes, La Rochelle

[stranded]

Looks likely we will be offered an annual contract in Les Minimes next year. While for practical reasons I would prefer us to be a bit further north, waiting lists for the more appealing marinas in Atlantic Brittany are many years long, and having a base in La Rochelle is an attractive prospect. Chat gpt tells me that:

“Additionally, while the marina offers a strong sense of community, there are reports of occasional odor issues related to nearby industries and wastewater plants, especially noticeable on warmer days. Weather in the area can also sometimes be harsh for mooring, especially with the frequent strong Atlantic winds.”

Is anyone able to offer any experience of these issues, and any others we might not be aware of?

 

[John_Silver]

Have visited Minimes most summers (for around 10 years). Usually whilst waiting for a gap on the Visitors’ pontoon / admission to Bassin Chalutiers, up the channel. Can’t say that I’ve noticed any odour or ‘weather proofing’ problems.
The wind may whistle over the seawall. But no swell gets in.
Always find the team there very helpful (and multilingual). It’s only a scenic 15 min walk into La Rochelle (or take the regular water bus). With Ile de Re and Oleron on the doorstep, for a potter. Plus the airport a taxi ride away (never looked into how ‘connected’ it is, to the UK). Lucky you, if you’re berthing there, I reckon. What a cruising base!

 

[dunedin]

Easy access from the UK, nice islands to visit, all the marine services and a lovely old town. Can’t be bad.

Check the depth of the berth offered, as sometimes silts up a bit. And be careful to book well in advance a lift out for antifouling etc, as a LOT of boats afloat and very limited space ashore. We only managed to get the lift and antifoul done because a local boat company had a personal attachment to our boat and used one of their pre-booked slots.

 

[doug748]

"Plus the airport a taxi ride away (never looked into how ‘connected’ it is, to the UK)."

It's good, probably the most handy place on the coast. There is also a service bus that takes you right into town from the airport.

 

[stranded]

Cheers chaps - all very helpful. It’s certainly a very attractive proposition and no insuperable downsides so far. We’re going to head down in the car after Christmas to see what it’s like in winter as it will be important as a bolthole for me in winter so I can experience a slightly different shade of grey for a while.

 

[Seven Spades]

I am told that there is a big British community at Port d'Arzal-Camoel in the Vilaine. I believe it is reasonable and a good place to be based totally protected.

 

[dunedin]

Cheers chaps - all very helpful. It’s certainly a very attractive proposition and no insuperable downsides so far. We’re going to head down in the car after Christmas to see what it’s like in winter as it will be important as a bolthole for me in winter so I can experience a slightly different shade of grey for a while.

We liked staying in the hotel Le Yachtman - with a room looking out through the twin towers of the old port. Have a lovely photo taken on New Year’s Eve sunset mounted on the boat main bulkhead.

 

[stranded]

I am told that there is a big British community at Port d'Arzal-Camoel in the Vilaine. I believe it is reasonable and a good place to be based totally protected.

Yes, I hear that too. But I really, really want to be able to wander into a year round town, and the Vilaine marinas don’t offer that, despite their many benefits.

 

[stranded]

We liked staying in the hotel Le Yachtman - with a room looking out through the twin towers of the old port. Have a lovely photo taken on New Year’s Eve sunset mounted on the boat main bulkhead.

Bookmarked, thanks!

 

[PlanB]

We only stayed for a few days on our way south, but don't remember any smells.

I can't find it on here now, but I think it was here that the tail end of a US storm hit a few years back and there was quite a lot of damage.

I also recall that an annual race/regatta gathers here, so you need to be sure you won't lose your berth for the duration.

Old town is great - there must be some Anglophiles about because there was a stall of cricket memorabilia in the flea market.

 

[stranded]

need to be sure you won't lose your berth for the duration

Yes, we don’t yet know what sort of contract will be offered, but I won’t be surprised if it does include a period away in peak season as that seems to be quite common over there. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but we’d need to think carefully about it, particularly as we wouldn't get the Passport Morbihan unlimited free nights as we would if we were berthed in a Morbihan marina. On the other hand maybe a way to avoid the lift out log jam Dunedin identifies if we can get out of the water for a few weeks in the summer.

 

[Bobc]

I am told that there is a big British community at Port d'Arzal-Camoel in the Vilaine. I believe it is reasonable and a good place to be based totally protected.

Waiting list, and nothing there to do either.

 

[Bobc]

Minimes will be a nice base. I've never noticed and smell or swell in there.

The town is busy and open all year, so plenty to do. There is a bus to/from the airport which takes 15 mins and costs 1.3 euros each way.

The railway station is a short walk too.

Lots of nice places within a day sail, including Re, Oleron, Aix, Rochefort, Le Sables d'Olonne.

 

[AndyDavies]

Yes, I hear that too. But I really, really want to be able to wander into a year round town, and the Vilaine marinas don’t offer that, despite their many benefits.

Bus to Vannes if a bus ride counts as wandering.

 

[stranded]

Bus to Vannes if a bus ride counts as wandering.

Ha - useful, but I am thinking more a stroll to the market/restaurants/bars (and a stagger back if I get carried away!).

Not ruling them out entirely, but would be a different sailing lifestyle - probably then opt for dry berthing so would lose the winter “cottage” option, which is attractive if we are in a town. Been offered dry or mixed options at Folleux and La Roche-Bernard but think we will try La Rochelle first - assuming the berth actually materialises.

 

[dunedin]

Ha - useful, but I am thinking more a stroll to the market/restaurants/bars (and a stagger back if I get carried away!).

Not ruling them out entirely, but would be a different sailing lifestyle - probably then opt for dry berthing so would lose the winter “cottage” option, which is attractive if we are in a town. Been offered dry or mixed options at Folleux and La Roche-Bernard but think we will try La Rochelle first - assuming the berth actually materialises.

From Les Minimes a folding bike is worthwhile for getting into town - though when we were there there were also a few free loan bikes.

 

[stranded]

From Les Minimes a folding bike is worthwhile for getting into town - though when we were there there were also a few free loan bikes.

Yes, I see it’s a bit of a hike - certainly from the furthest berths. I will enjoy that I think, though we will have bikes for when it’s purely utilitarian, and for me to explore eg the islands when the boss has let me out to play on my own.

 

[Nigel52]

Looks likely we will be offered an annual contract in Les Minimes next year. While for practical reasons I would prefer us to be a bit further north, waiting lists for the more appealing marinas in Atlantic Brittany are many years long, and having a base in La Rochelle is an attractive prospect. Chat gpt tells me that:

“Additionally, while the marina offers a strong sense of community, there are reports of occasional odor issues related to nearby industries and wastewater plants, especially noticeable on warmer days. Weather in the area can also sometimes be harsh for mooring, especially with the frequent strong Atlantic winds.”

Is anyone able to offer any experience of these issues, and any others we might not be aware of?

Personally, I think being based in La Rochelle is one of the best places to be based on the West Coast. Until 2021 I was the Cruising Association HLR (Honary Local Representative) for the Charente Maritime ie Rochefort, Oleron, La Rochelle and Ile de Re. For many years we kept a sailing boat in Rochefort and then a Rhea 23 day boat in St Martin en Re. As we were living on Ile de Re Brexit caused us to sell up and move to Poole, UK. I used to run a saiing website for the area but too it down on leaving. I'm not sure what boat you have and whether you are a day sailor or longer trips but the area offers everything. From La Rochelle, day or overnight trips to St Denis d'oleron, La Flotte or St MArtin en Re, Rochefort or further north Ile d'Yeu )beautiful) Sables d'lonne and with one night a sea you can make Northern Spain Bilbao easily. South of Oleron you have the Gironde, Royan all the way down to Bordeaux. (Watch the overfalls at the entrance to the Gironde.
Being based in La Rochelle is a 4.5hr easy drive from Caen and 5 hrs from Cherbourg and 7hrs from the Channel tunnel. La Rochelle airport has regular summer flights and the marina is close to the historic La Rochelle railway station with the a fast TGV to Paris and beyond. Minimes has many boat building companies there and it is easy to get work done on a boat with many travel hoists etc. As an aside the cheapest marina diesel is in the entrance to St Denis marina on Oleron. Nothing not to like down there.

 

[stranded]

Personally, I think being based in La Rochelle is one of the best places to be based on the West Coast. Until 2021 I was the Cruising Association HLR (Honary Local Representative) for the Charente Maritime ie Rochefort, Oleron, La Rochelle and Ile de Re. For many years we kept a sailing boat in Rochefort and then a Rhea 23 day boat in St Martin en Re. As we were living on Ile de Re Brexit caused us to sell up and move to Poole, UK. I used to run a saiing website for the area but too it down on leaving. I'm not sure what boat you have and whether you are a day sailor or longer trips but the area offers everything. From La Rochelle, day or overnight trips to St Denis d'oleron, La Flotte or St MArtin en Re, Rochefort or further north Ile d'Yeu )beautiful) Sables d'lonne and with one night a sea you can make Northern Spain Bilbao easily. South of Oleron you have the Gironde, Royan all the way down to Bordeaux. (Watch the overfalls at the entrance to the Gironde.
Being based in La Rochelle is a 4.5hr easy drive from Caen and 5 hrs from Cherbourg and 7hrs from the Channel tunnel. La Rochelle airport has regular summer flights and the marina is close to the historic La Rochelle railway station with the a fast TGV to Paris and beyond. Minimes has many boat building companies there and it is easy to get work done on a boat with many travel hoists etc. As an aside the cheapest marina diesel is in the entrance to St Denis marina on Oleron. Nothing not to like down there.

Brilliant info Nigel - thank you for taking the time. We are cruisers so would expect to be sailing for weeks or months at a time, including trips down to Spain, and probably to Tangier for VAT and Schengen purposes. But it will also be nice to have those nearby options, especially for taking advantage of any unseasonably clement weather off-season.

 

[wonkywinch]

For further input, maybe contact You Tuber Patrick Laine as I believe he's based there.

Patrick Laine