South Brittany in the summer

[stranded]

I think that’s the answer. We enjoy the hustle and bustle of marinas and never had any trouble in the town marinas, even through peak season. One night last August we were the only boat in the visitor basin in Vannes.

 

[Leslie frank]

We were also in Vannes last year in July. There was a bit of a panic when I got to the first bridge before the lock. The measure said 1.6m and we draw 2.1.
I did a quick 180 and called the marina. The lovely young assistant patiently explained that I was looking at a gauge measuring air height below the bridge when the bridge was closed. I felt a bit of a muppet.

Lots of room though. We were alongside in the marina and didn't get rafted for two days.

My top tip would be to get hold of a large scale French paper chart for the morbihan. It can really help deciding on anchorages, of which there are loads. There are also lots of buoys which you can take. Some you pay for, others are free

 

[gjgm]

OP, I have sent a PM.
One thing that I don't think has come up is French cruising clubs, en masses. Can be pretty tricky to find them out, worth asking your current marina stop if they know, or check the notice board at HM office.
Personally,I have not had an issue, but I have modified plans having found the next marina is not accepting visitors,dates as specified.

 

[Lightwave395]

OP, I have sent a PM.
One thing that I don't think has come up is French cruising clubs, en masses. Can be pretty tricky to find them out, worth asking your current marina stop if they know, or check the notice board at HM office.
Personally,I have not had an issue, but I have modified plans having found the next marina is not accepting visitors,dates as specified.

We keep our boat in Port Haliguen, as said, if you're cruising the area it's worth checking any of your possible destinations for races, rallies or other events. We've been told to leave various marinas a couple of times due to the racers / rally's being due in, of which there seem to be an increasing number, There are usually posters around each marina with event details, fabulous area though, all at half the price or less of the UK South Coast

 

[Leslie frank]

We spent 5 days in port Haliguen last year. I have always loved it there. This time we screwed up a but by booking for only 2 nights. They did accommodate us for another 3 but we had to change berths each night to make room for berth holders.
In future I would book for longer up front.

 

[stranded]

We spent 5 days in port Haliguen last year. I have always loved it there. This time we screwed up a but by booking for only 2 nights. They did accommodate us for another 3 but we had to change berths each night to make room for berth holders.
In future I would book for longer up front.

We always go in the visitor basin - never booked and only once in maybe a dozen visits had to wait outside for a couple of hours for someone to leave. Our experience is that once you’re in you’re in - it’s a sticky place so a couple of days has often stretched to a week or two. Even when a big rally has been expected they have given us the option to stay trapped in the basin or move to a berth in the main marina - we stay - the mayhem is often a highlight!

 

[AndyDavies]

Thanks very much for the advice. I have a few more questions: first is the passeport escale only available to berth-holders in certain marinas or can one buy a passeport for a limited time? Can one stay at the 'marina' in Vannes without one? What are the islands and the rivers like for crowds? Finally I enjoyed dipping into your blog, John-Silver!

If you take out a minimum four month berthing contract with a Ports du Morbihan marina, which must include two months out of June, July and August, then you can get a Passporte Escale for a relatively small additional fee.