Marinas in SW France

[Daipal]

I am having a Sunday morning daydream about retiring in 2 years time and moving to SW France. I am sure there must be a wealth of knowledge on the forum about possible marinas in this area of France, also possibly including N Spain.
As far as I can see there are 4 in France: Capbreton, Anglet, Cibourne and Hendaye. Does anybody have any information about availability, cost, etc of these and possible recommendations. Is Spain cheeper or more expensive?

I will also need to work on the boat so lifting out and maintenance facilities are also considerations. Any advice gratefully received.

Daipal

 

[Bandit]

I personally have not been around there for a long time and that was by road not sea.

Geat hold of a copy of Bloc Marine the French equivalent of Reeds about 21 Euro goes from UK to Gib / N africa. It is in French and English and has everything in it from port guides, french tides ( without cofficients) to french law etc. personally I would then get a Cruising Guide such as West France Cruising companion by Featherstone I use both and they are good.

Good marinas in this area are sparse due to the geography, probably north biscay gironde to brest is better cruising?

The obvious places are :

The Gironde Port Medoc
Arcachon basin
Cap Breton
Port d' Anglet
St Jean de Luz
Hendaye

I am sure someone will come along soon who know these well

 

[zaragozo]

I am having a Sunday morning daydream about retiring in 2 years time and moving to SW France. I am sure there must be a wealth of knowledge on the forum about possible marinas in this area of France, also possibly including N Spain.
As far as I can see there are 4 in France: Capbreton, Anglet, Cibourne and Hendaye. Does anybody have any information about availability, cost, etc of these and possible recommendations. Is Spain cheeper or more expensive?

Daipal

Capbreton is a bit challenging to enter with swell and not much in the way of draught. Anglet is really Bayonne, just up the river Adur in an industrial area. Some folk have grumbled in the past about their boats getting covered in cement powder and such.
Ciboure is achingly quaint, tiny and seems really just for locals but extremely well-situated (50m from Chez Dominique - one of the finest restaurants on la Côte Basque). Best bet I'd say is Hendaye. Pretty big, cheapish, easy getting in and out, plenty of facilities, beaches, bars, etc. Across the river and you're into Spain - Hondarribia, which has two marinas but I've never been there.
Unfortunately it's pretty dull sailing in this region. Nowhere to go, swells and sand breaks right up the Aquitaine coast.

 

[Bandit]

If you think of further north have a chat with nigelstgeorge of this parish who has a boat in the la Rochelle area.

 

[PlanB]

Agree with the comment re access to Cap Breton, although we thought it was a great place. Nice town, nice beach and, if you're not actually trying to leave or enter, great entertainment from the swell effect in the channel. Showers not the greatest, though (in 2005).
Arcachon is the pits. Huge marina, no spaces, long walk to town, poor showers, expensive.
Port Medoc doesn't have much surrounding civilisation for shops etc, although the marina facilities were good. You can catch the ferry to Royan, though, and if you've bikes, there are nice rides in the surrounding country.
There's also Zumaya, OK place, nice and sheltered once you're in, although we ended up covered in rust spots from the shipyard.

 

[charles_reed]

Suggest slightly farther N, la Rochelle area.

The places you're talking of are challenging from a seamanship point of view, fairly uncomfortable when in them and with limited sailing possibilities.