Marinas in SW Brittany

[MoonDust]

I'm thinking of migrating my 25 footer from a Solent marina to one somewhere in SW Brittany. The first French marina I tried had a waiting list of 8 years. Does anyone know if this is par for the course down there? Or was I just unlucky?

 

[Guest]

Try putting this post on the Liveaboard Forum.

 

[Sybarite]

Hi AIdan,

I thought I had sent you a long PM on this but as I can't find any trace of it I must have clicked on a wrong button.

Try calling Mme Catherine Gautier at La Capitainerie, 56570 Locmiquélic :
tel 33-2-9733-5951 fax 33-2-9733-8925.

Locmiquélic (where I am) is on the E side of the Rade de Lorient nr Port Louis. They opened a second marina (Pen Mahé) recently and I think there may still be room there. I believe they are also going to extend the first: Sainte Catherine.

The port is well situated for trips to Belle Ile (c. 4 hrs) and Glénan (c. 5hrs) and Groix is opposite 1.5 hrs).

The site of the group is www.sagemor.fr

Good luck

 

[max]

I sailed my boat (32 Westerly pentland) to Loctudy in SW Brittany three years ago.

Its a fantastic marina in a wonderful location and in my view better by far than nearby Benodet - but more on that if you are interested.

The point is that when I rung in advance I was told no chance of a permanent berth. When I arrived (July) I was told the same. Even when I left, they weren't promising a berth throughout the winter but suggested they might have to move it onto a mooring. Long and short of it was that the boat stayed on a pontoon berth for two full years thereafter with two annual berthing licenses issued to me.

Being there is nine tenths of the solution. If the worst had come to the worst I could either have had it moved to a mooring buoy ( maybe not desirable for the whole winter) or hauled it out either at Loctudy or Port le Foret about 15 miles to the East.

PS they don't speak English at the marina, the chandlers or the engineers, so I would only reccomend this approach if you (or a friend or partner) speak good French. There was, I suspect, a bit of a game going on the see if we were 'suitable' i.e. Europhiles and prepared to speak the language. My wife speaks fluent French and charmed the Capitain.

PM me if you would like more info.

Its such a fabulous cruising ground I still wonder whether I have done the right thing sailing home last spring. (Did so because it takes a long time to get there either by plane/car or train ( Eurostar waterloo Paris and then TGV to Quimper) and I just wasn't getting enough sialing in).

Max

 

[philmarks]

Buzz are now flying from Stansted to Brest and La Rochelle, cheap offers for the summer (Daily Telegraph this week). Brest £35 if you book now.

 

[max]

Oh dear - sounds like I may have moved too early!!

 

[Sybarite]

More on Lorient

Called Locmiquélic. They have currently berths available in the category 38' and up at the Pen Mahé marina. (To the extent that they are not filled you might be able to negotiate for a smaller boat). They are currently dredging and doubling the size of the Sainte Cathérine marina which will come on-stream in 2004. If you are interested you should get on to the waiting list because it is likely that the Pen Mahé boats will prefer Sainte Cathérine which is slightly more convenient to the town.

Lorient is just across the harbour and there is a cheap ferry service. There is also an airport at Lorient but I haven't checked for international flights. There is also a TGV station and it's under 3hrs to Paris.

Regards,

John

 

[MoonDust]

Re: More on Lorient

Many thanks. I think a local recce is called for!