River Aulne

[Paddydog`1]

Hi
I'm in Brest at the moment and fancy a trip up the Aulne to Port Launay through the canal lock and maybe to Chateaulin. We draw 1.8 metres. Has anyone done this trip and if so have you any tips?
Thanks

 

[LadyInBed]

Hi
I'm in Brest at the moment and fancy a trip up the Aulne to Port Launay through the canal lock and maybe to Chateaulin. We draw 1.8 metres. Has anyone done this trip and if so have you any tips?
Thanks

I've been up a couple of times, but I only draw 1.4
Ask at the Capittanary about draft, or phone the lock keeper at Port Launay re draft.
The chart runs out just past the bridge so you navigate by sight.
Chateaulin used to have a visitors pontoon but when I was there last year, it was a sorry affair so I tied up on the wall opposite.
Coming back, leaving when the lock opens, you can get fair tide right round anup past Le Four.

Just looked in my YM W France Cruising Companion
Lock Tel: 02.98.86.03.21
Open HW-2 to +1.5
It says "Beyond the lock the canalised river carries 3 mtrs.
As we are on springs you should be ok
Today HW Brest 04:40 6.0mtrs LW 10:56 2.1mtrs
Tomorrow HW 05:21 6.1mtrs
So get going

 

[dulcibella]

I draw 1.8m and had no depth problems last summer. Port Launay is a small village with a good patisserie but little else in the way of shops. Just moor up on the gras-topped wall and pick up some rings or bollards. Chatealan is a town with all the shopping covered. However, the bank is high and getting ashore from the boat requires some agility. We found that the best option was to moor at Port Launay but do the pleasant 45-min stroll along the towpath to visit Chateaulin.

 

[bluerm166]

Scilly Pete in one of the YouTube videos of his wine run shows a small landing stage bang alongside a Hypermarket in Chateaulin if this is of interest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dahJ2ZYJD8o

 

[steve123]

We draw 1.7 m and went up to Port Launay at neaps in early June. Its a lovely trip. We had no problem along the river, keeping to the middle and outside on the bends, until approaching the lock when we approached the bank too soon, instead of staying mid river until just before the lock. Just soft mud so backed off and tried again. We arrived 2 hours before HW, when the lock first opens. The lock keeper suggested arriving nearer high water. There was no sign of life as we entered the lock (we tried phoning ahead but just got an answerphone) and no obvious place to tie up but just as we got in the friendly lockkeeper appeared and threw down a couple of lines. The 2013 corrections for the Imray Atlantic France pilot report damage to a yacht drawing 1.92 which hit an obstruction just after the Kayak centre between Port Launay and Chateaulin. So, as said above, walk or take the dinghy to Chateaulin. We took the dinghy, moored at the slip just past the hypermarket and brought the shopping trolley back to the dinghy. Diesel and gaz at the hypermarket petrol station, although gaz is only available when the station is manned so we were unable to get any between 12.00 and 16.00.

Its free to berth at Port Launay and a few euros if you want electricity or water. On the way up and back we anchored on the E side of the river SW of Ile de Terenez to get shelter from the NE wind, which seems to have been blowing for most of the last month and looks set to continue for some time.

 

[Paddydog`1]

ty for all your excellent advice folks