ncounties
Member
Hi all,
Earlier this month, I skippered an Irish-flagged Sun Odyssey 35 from Newlyn to Brest. Afterward, we continued our journey south to Lorient, passing through Camaret, Audierne, Les Glenans, and Concarneau. I'd like to share some of the valuable insights I gained during this voyage.
On Thursday, June 8th, I emailed the Préadvis shared by Sandy in this thread to the Douane and Chateau Marina, notifying them of our expected arrival around 1400 on Sunday, June 11th. The next day, we received a response informing us that the Brest Douane Office would be closed upon our arrival, and we were advised to contact them after 0930 on Monday morning. Departing from Newlyn at 1303 UTC+1 on Saturday, June 10th, we reached Brest at 1332 UTC+2 the following day, exceeding our anticipated arrival time. Arriving at Chenal Du Four just before the South Flow gained full momentum, I found myself contemplating the reasons behind the fuss surrounding it.
The passage itself was relatively uneventful, albeit disappointingly reliant on motor power due to the lack of wind. We did encounter expected episodes of fog, but fortunately, they never engulfed us for extended periods.
Upon our arrival at Chateau Marina, a woman welcomed us and directed us to the visitor berths located at the eastern end of the southern breakwater. These berths, equipped with several fingers, offer convenient access to a nearby shower and toilet block, albeit requiring a bit of a trek to reach the Marina Office. After settling in, we indulged in a celebratory Cobra or two, which we had stocked up on at the Lidl in Newlyn. Following a quick refresh, we headed to the office, where the Marina staff communicated with us in English and provided invaluable assistance. We took advantage of the evening to explore the surrounding area and town, although we opted for an early night's rest. The following morning, the crew dispersed to tackle various tasks. Some focused on provisioning, ensuring we didn't forget the must-have Breton Cider. Others visited a chandler, while I made my way to the Customs Office. Being an Irish vessel, I only needed to present a recently issued Certificate of Identity, courtesy of the ISA. Interestingly, it was my own mention that led to this requirement, and it might not have been necessary if I hadn't brought it up. When they asked if we had stopped anywhere else in France, I said no, and that seemed to satisfy them. Finally, I had to call the crew to the office to verify their IDs, which was relatively painless as they were all Irish citizens. While we waited for them to arrive, I had a good chat with a Customs Official, whilst standing outside the office, who was really friendly. He shared some great info about the town's Irish bars and even mentioned a new flight connecting Brest and Kerry. A real gent.
With the necessary formalities completed, we continued our journey to Cameret (Notic), which I thoroughly recommend, including the very interesting Notic Bar. If any of you have questions or seek information about the other destinations we visited along the way, feel free to ask.
NorthernCounties
Earlier this month, I skippered an Irish-flagged Sun Odyssey 35 from Newlyn to Brest. Afterward, we continued our journey south to Lorient, passing through Camaret, Audierne, Les Glenans, and Concarneau. I'd like to share some of the valuable insights I gained during this voyage.
On Thursday, June 8th, I emailed the Préadvis shared by Sandy in this thread to the Douane and Chateau Marina, notifying them of our expected arrival around 1400 on Sunday, June 11th. The next day, we received a response informing us that the Brest Douane Office would be closed upon our arrival, and we were advised to contact them after 0930 on Monday morning. Departing from Newlyn at 1303 UTC+1 on Saturday, June 10th, we reached Brest at 1332 UTC+2 the following day, exceeding our anticipated arrival time. Arriving at Chenal Du Four just before the South Flow gained full momentum, I found myself contemplating the reasons behind the fuss surrounding it.
The passage itself was relatively uneventful, albeit disappointingly reliant on motor power due to the lack of wind. We did encounter expected episodes of fog, but fortunately, they never engulfed us for extended periods.
Upon our arrival at Chateau Marina, a woman welcomed us and directed us to the visitor berths located at the eastern end of the southern breakwater. These berths, equipped with several fingers, offer convenient access to a nearby shower and toilet block, albeit requiring a bit of a trek to reach the Marina Office. After settling in, we indulged in a celebratory Cobra or two, which we had stocked up on at the Lidl in Newlyn. Following a quick refresh, we headed to the office, where the Marina staff communicated with us in English and provided invaluable assistance. We took advantage of the evening to explore the surrounding area and town, although we opted for an early night's rest. The following morning, the crew dispersed to tackle various tasks. Some focused on provisioning, ensuring we didn't forget the must-have Breton Cider. Others visited a chandler, while I made my way to the Customs Office. Being an Irish vessel, I only needed to present a recently issued Certificate of Identity, courtesy of the ISA. Interestingly, it was my own mention that led to this requirement, and it might not have been necessary if I hadn't brought it up. When they asked if we had stopped anywhere else in France, I said no, and that seemed to satisfy them. Finally, I had to call the crew to the office to verify their IDs, which was relatively painless as they were all Irish citizens. While we waited for them to arrive, I had a good chat with a Customs Official, whilst standing outside the office, who was really friendly. He shared some great info about the town's Irish bars and even mentioned a new flight connecting Brest and Kerry. A real gent.
With the necessary formalities completed, we continued our journey to Cameret (Notic), which I thoroughly recommend, including the very interesting Notic Bar. If any of you have questions or seek information about the other destinations we visited along the way, feel free to ask.
NorthernCounties
