dk
Well-Known Member
+1 For Camaret. Really nice place, but go for the inner pontoons if you can (although mind the sandbank!).
South Brittany Cruising Advice
- Thread starter makingplansfor
- Start date
Talulah
Well-Known Member
One other thing on Cameret. We've dried out a few times against the Town Wall avoiding marina fees.
However, along the front in the summer you usually see a tent erected. Don't dry out too close to that unless you're into street concerts.
However, along the front in the summer you usually see a tent erected. Don't dry out too close to that unless you're into street concerts.
Bandit
Well-Known Member
Brest Airport has flights to London, Southampton and Birmingham.
I am surprised that one poster has said Audierne is liable to swell in the marina, I cant imagine it getting that far up?
The new Brest le Chateau is a good marina in the centre of brest, good connections walking distance to train station but a bit soulless. Camaret nicer but I imagine logisticaly worse for trais and buses or taxi. But its only about 8 miles by sea from Brest to Camaret.
Making Plans, you say you have done CI have you done north Brittany? Roscoff, Trebeurden, Ploumanach, Treguier, St Quay, Paimpol, Dahouet, St Cast etc? Greta cruising without going around the corner?
I am surprised that one poster has said Audierne is liable to swell in the marina, I cant imagine it getting that far up?
The new Brest le Chateau is a good marina in the centre of brest, good connections walking distance to train station but a bit soulless. Camaret nicer but I imagine logisticaly worse for trais and buses or taxi. But its only about 8 miles by sea from Brest to Camaret.
Making Plans, you say you have done CI have you done north Brittany? Roscoff, Trebeurden, Ploumanach, Treguier, St Quay, Paimpol, Dahouet, St Cast etc? Greta cruising without going around the corner?
sjdtuk
Well-Known Member
Concarneau is a great place to visit but not to leave the boat.
It is very exposed in SW winds. The marina has been destroyed at least once and came very closed about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, I was there at the time.
It is very exposed in SW winds. The marina has been destroyed at least once and came very closed about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, I was there at the time.
DJE
Well-Known Member
I agree. We bailed out on deteriorating forecast for a quick thrash across to Loctudy which is much better in a South-Westerly.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Having observed some of the exciting arrivals/departures at Benodet, I wouldn't like to leave a boat there! 
Tintin
Well-Known Member
I left my boat at Camaret last summer and went back anbd forth using the plymouth/roscoff service, buses and trains.
I will probably do the same again this year at some stage BUT, if you want a quick transfer from Roscoff to your boat leave it at Brest. You can then get either a) a bus to Morlaix from the ferry port and train to Brest, or b) a bus from the ferry port to Brest via Morlaix, usually requiring a quick change.
Getting to Camaret can be challenging and I found the best way was 3 buses going via Quimper (so you go a long way, but the connections were better with good alternates if the bus was delayed).
The bus is cheap at 2 euros per journey per bus. The train is expensive and no faster with the waiting time.
I once did a taxi from Camaret to Bres tat 150 euros and later bitterly regretted it.
As a base Camaret is great for young kids with a good beach close, OK shops, and in 2 wks with a 4 and 7 year old we never had a dull moment.
There is no hard slog up the Goulet de Brest as one poster suggested - but that questionable pleasure is experienced if heading to Brest.
As someone else wrote, get your tides right and with fair winds its reasonably simple.
Port Launay up the river is also worth considering but you have the added time of getting to and from it.
Best of luck.
<edit> BTW, the French bus service was surprisingly good, and the rail system puts ours to shame. And you can get a bus direct from the ferry terminal.
A good website to plan public transport in Brittany is http://www.breizhgo.com/ - I used it to plan my journeys and it was great.
I will probably do the same again this year at some stage BUT, if you want a quick transfer from Roscoff to your boat leave it at Brest. You can then get either a) a bus to Morlaix from the ferry port and train to Brest, or b) a bus from the ferry port to Brest via Morlaix, usually requiring a quick change.
Getting to Camaret can be challenging and I found the best way was 3 buses going via Quimper (so you go a long way, but the connections were better with good alternates if the bus was delayed).
The bus is cheap at 2 euros per journey per bus. The train is expensive and no faster with the waiting time.
I once did a taxi from Camaret to Bres tat 150 euros and later bitterly regretted it.
As a base Camaret is great for young kids with a good beach close, OK shops, and in 2 wks with a 4 and 7 year old we never had a dull moment.
There is no hard slog up the Goulet de Brest as one poster suggested - but that questionable pleasure is experienced if heading to Brest.
As someone else wrote, get your tides right and with fair winds its reasonably simple.
Port Launay up the river is also worth considering but you have the added time of getting to and from it.
Best of luck.
<edit> BTW, the French bus service was surprisingly good, and the rail system puts ours to shame. And you can get a bus direct from the ferry terminal.
A good website to plan public transport in Brittany is http://www.breizhgo.com/ - I used it to plan my journeys and it was great.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
A couple of English blokes at Camaret used to have some kind of concession over the moorings there. They once came on board to see if I might be interested in taking a mooring there. The deal was, as far as I recall, they kept your boat on a swinging mooring during the summer and moved it into the marina during the winter. I think they also offered transport to/from Brest airport and maintenance services. It seemed like a reasonable deal to me.
I don't know if they still operate. Someone here might know of them.
I don't know if they still operate. Someone here might know of them.
Last edited by a moderator:
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
That's a possibility but there are things worth seeing before you get to Audierne. There are some lovely coves to the south of Cap de la Chèvre and one of my favourite places to visit is Ile de Sein. The other islands : Ushant and Molène are also worth seeing. I have also been up the Aulne River. It's ok but now having done it I'm not particularly keen to do it again. The Odet is much better.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I have used that train. Once, whilst storm bound in Morlaix for more than a week, the Old Guvnor and I decided to get the train to Roscoff and spend a day there. A biting northeaster, accompanied by heavy rain and sleet, followed close on our heels. Unfortunately there was no train back for several hours and all there is to see in Roscoff on a wet day can be seen in about half an hour. We tried to spin lunch out as long as possible, and had a D/D to pass the time, before returning gratefully to the delights of downtown Morlaix.
makingplansfor
Well-Known Member
Brest Airport has flights to London, Southampton and Birmingham.
I am surprised that one poster has said Audierne is liable to swell in the marina, I cant imagine it getting that far up?
The new Brest le Chateau is a good marina in the centre of brest, good connections walking distance to train station but a bit soulless. Camaret nicer but I imagine logisticaly worse for trais and buses or taxi. But its only about 8 miles by sea from Brest to Camaret.
This was the initial plan and since this is only my 4th season sailing a natural progression, however, memories of full foulies and kids cowering from sandstorms on the beach in August for the last two summers have kind of convinced me to head a little further south!!
I am surprised that one poster has said Audierne is liable to swell in the marina, I cant imagine it getting that far up?
The new Brest le Chateau is a good marina in the centre of brest, good connections walking distance to train station but a bit soulless. Camaret nicer but I imagine logisticaly worse for trais and buses or taxi. But its only about 8 miles by sea from Brest to Camaret.
This was the initial plan and since this is only my 4th season sailing a natural progression, however, memories of full foulies and kids cowering from sandstorms on the beach in August for the last two summers have kind of convinced me to head a little further south!!
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
Different people mean different things when they say Audierne - some mean the marina, some mean the St Evette moorings.
The marina is only accessible Hw-2/+1 and you may dry out.
Also, access is difficult in heavy weather. (Don't take my word for it, Bloc Marine Atlantique agrees).
Personally, would hesitate to leave the boat unattended on a mooring at St Evette for any length of time.
TSB240
Well-Known Member
We will be cruising again from the river Villaine for three weeks this summer. We usually visit La Roche Bernard, lock out at Arzal to Hout, Hoedic and Belle Isle and cruise into the Morbihan visiting Vannes or Auray.
In our experience you may still not reliably get the weather you are hoping for without going much further south.
I hope you make the trip at least as far as the Morbihan.
That said we find that the Morbihan is very hot when the weather is fine and offers very sheltered sailing grounds when not. It is a bit tidal but not too daunting if you do your research and passage planning.
The river Villaine is a delightful excursion that offers non tidal big river cruising with plenty of stop offs, marinas etc and is especially sheltered if the weather turns really nasty. Plenty of English boats are based there long term. It is also very cheap as there was no charge if just visiting Marinas including electricity. We were only ever charged if staying overnight. Max overnight charge 12 euros for 24 footer including leccy.
Roll on summer....
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
I find that there is a climate change south of the Loire eg at the Ile d'Yeu. However the further south you go, the fewer destinations you have.
Bandit
Well-Known Member
Perhaps I am Jaded?
The one year I went around the corner it blew and and it blew and it blew.
Some would say find out when Bandit is going on holiday and go another time to get better weather!
Last summer I had a greta first two weeks of august.
The one year I went around the corner it blew and and it blew and it blew.
Some would say find out when Bandit is going on holiday and go another time to get better weather!
Last summer I had a greta first two weeks of august.