Moorings near Vannes, Brittany

[DickB]

I am planning an extended trip to Southern Brittany in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know where I could leave my precious yacht for a couple of weeks or so hear Vannes? I've looked at the charts and there are marinas around, but I don't know anything about them,

Cheers

 

[Jim@sea]

Check out Port Louis on your way down to Vannes, its opposite Lorient. Small and informal, quite cheap for visiting yachtsman. But you have to check when Lorient hold big yacht races as "everywhere" gets booked up.

 

[oldbilbo]

What about right in the centre of Vannes itself? Alongside pontoons, within a literal stone's throw from the old town's centre. Excelent communications with 'elsewhere'. If there's a space, it's cheap.

 

[[3889]]

Have PM'd you.

Edit: just seen your boat in your profile, not sure if my suggestion is of any use.

 

[Tempus]

The 2 big marinas are Crouesty and port Hauliguen. Both have lots of space and I would expect you to be able to leave a yacht there. La Trinite gets very crowded with just one visitors pontoon and there are limited anchorages in mornihan itself.

 

[Sybarite]

Locmiquélic beside Port Louis in the Rade de Lorient:

Call Cathérine who speaks English : 33 2 9733 5951.

It's a very friendly and well equipped marina.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

What about right in the centre of Vannes itself? Alongside pontoons, within a literal stone's throw from the old town's centre. Excelent communications with 'elsewhere'. If there's a space, it's cheap.

I remember it well!

 

[DickB]

Thanks everyone, I shall be chasing up these leads... This is the furthest I have taken her so it is quite an adventure...

cheers,

Dick

 

[AIDY]

I remember it well!

Muddy44 delivery trip from med.... Moa rally ?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Muddy44 delivery trip from med.... Moa rally ?

Indeed! 2007 in fact

 

[AIDY]

Wow seems only a few years ago.

 

[Playtime]

If Port Louis can't take you (it is quite small) then try Kernevel opposite (on the NW side of the harbour). There are several UK boats berthed there while the owners return to the UK, including mine.

It is a big marina with a significant number of visitors berths (50+ on individual fingers) . However, if you ask the marina staff they will try their best to find you a vacant resident's berth which will be quieter and (probably) more secure while you are away.

We return tomorrow. I'll report again if there are/were any problems.

 

[DickB]

Thanks for that, this all sounds very promising. How to you get to and from the UK, train & ferry?

cheers,

Dick

 

[Playtime]

Hire car and fast cat from Cherbourg.

There are 4 of us (2 boats) and hiring a car for a week (Enterprise rental) was cheaper than 2 one way hires. The car is currently in the secure storage area at Cherbourg ferry terminal (we hope!). It's £3:60 per day but worth it for peace of mind.

 

[Playtime]

Just to complete the story - we are now back on the boat in Kernevel and all is well.

We are awaiting the hire car lady to collect the car. This is all part of the service, included in the price. We would recommend Enterprise as they are competitive and deliver/collect for free - 1 week for a Megane cost us 230 euros without the extra insurance (which we didn't take) plus only 48 euros (37L) for diesel to Cherbourg and back (400+ miles total).

For 2 people the train might be cheaper but for 4 the car was cost effective and convenient.

Note that berthing rates in Kernevel increase from 22 euros per day for 12m to 42 euros from 1 July! The increase is much the same for all marinas in south Brittany.

Second note - Le Optimist restaurant in the marina is worth a visit. Good atmosphere and food; reasonable prices.

Good luck.

 

[Sybarite]

Just to complete the story - we are now back on the boat in Kernevel and all is well.

We are awaiting the hire car lady to collect the car. This is all part of the service, included in the price. We would recommend Enterprise as they are competitive and deliver/collect for free - 1 week for a Megane cost us 230 euros without the extra insurance (which we didn't take) plus only 48 euros (37L) for diesel to Cherbourg and back (400+ miles total).

For 2 people the train might be cheaper but for 4 the car was cost effective and convenient.

Note that berthing rates in Kernevel increase from 22 euros per day for 12m to 42 euros from 1 July! The increase is much the same for all marinas in south Brittany.

Second note - Le Optimist restaurant in the marina is worth a visit. Good atmosphere and food; reasonable prices.

Good luck.

If I had to choose between Kernevel and Locmiquélic opposite, I would choose the latter - and I used to keep my boat at Kernevel.

Locmiquélic is (at least was) cheaper and better and you normally have much less walking to do on the pontoons.

 

[Playtime]

If I had to choose between Kernevel and Locmiquélic opposite, I would choose the latter - and I used to keep my boat at Kernevel.

Locmiquélic is (at least was) cheaper and better and you normally have much less walking to do on the pontoons.

Can't comment on Locmiquélic as I haven't stayed there but there has been no problem with Kernevel. Agreed there can be a long walk to some of the berths (not too bad from the normal visitor berths) but no problem (and possibly of some benefit!) to most people. It also deters the locals from their evening pastime, in some (most?) French marinas, of strolling around the pontoons and staring at the foreign boats!

 

[SHUG]

Just to report that you can get from Vannes to Falmouth in a day.
Start with the 07.30 train (with changes) to Roscoff arriving around 1200. Get the 1530 ferry to Plymouth arriving about 2100 and catch the last train to Falmouth via Truro. (or wherever else you want to go)
Its a long day with about ten separate elements of travel but it can be done!

 

[DickB]

Thanks again everyone, it is reassuring that folk are doing this as a matter of course. We are looking to set off from Royal Clarence Marina on Tuesday week, down to Guernsey, then onto the North Brittany coast, along and around the peninsular. A bit daunting since we have not been beyond Lezardrieux. Lets hope for good weather.

cheers,

 

[Playtime]

Forgot to mention there are now free (to borrow) bicycles in Kernevel; all you need to do is leave some ID with the Capitainerie. There must be at least 20 available, some of them practically brand new. Very handy as the supermarket is about 2km towards Lorient and Lamor-Plage village and beach etc. is about the same the other way.