South Brittany / La Rochelle cruising advice

[danvan]

Hi everyone. We are thinking about putting our 60ft Prestige in La Rochelle next summer to explore around South Brittany. Places like Isle de Re look fantastic for example.

However looking at the pilot books it looks to me that finding visitor marina berths for a 60ft motorboat in South Brittany is difficult aside from in the very major cities such as La Rochelle itself. I'd be really grateful to hear from anyone with any thought or suggestions for great places with a bit of charm to visit which might be able to accommodate me.

Thanks so much in anticipation.

 

[gjgm]

We took 10 weeks that way last year but in 34 ft which certainly gives more options. I think we dropped into 35 or so marinas including some north coast.
We did alot of coastal walking and some easy cycling if that is your thing?

 

[danvan]

Sounds completey fantastic gjgm - 10 weeks away makes me jealous - but I’m really looking for thoughts on marinas etc with capacity for larger boats as this seems to be in very short supply down there (I think). In any event though where was your #1 place?

 

[gjgm]

PM sent

 

[crossy]

We've just come back from a 3 month cruise from Poole to La Rochelle and back and had a fantastic time. There are some truly wonderful places to see on that coastline and La Rochelle itself was one of our favourite places.

You might restrict yourself a little bit with that size boat but you may find that with a bit of advance planning, especially during late July and August when half of France seems to descend on the islands, that you can still get in most places. We saw plenty of large sailing boats around that length so I wouldn't be unduly worried.
One tip we received from another yacht was to time it to arrive at our destination early/mid afternoon to ensure that you beat the sailing boats in and to avoid moving on a Saturday if you could help it.

We kept a blog of our travels (www.wanderingstaradventures.blog) if you want some ideas but in summary my favourite places would be La Rochelle, Ile de Groix, Belle Ile, Ile de Glennan, the whole of the Golfe du Morbihan with the delightful city of Vannes at the top, Benodet, Pornic and the lovely small port of Audierne. That said there are many, many more places to explore and some delights which we will no doubt find next time.

We bought the Imray pilotage guides and found them really useful and if you like anchoring then the book by Peter Cumberlidge "Secret anchorages of Brittany" is worth the investment.

Hope that helps,
Andrew

 

[jrudge]

I was in La Rochelle in a Targa 40 for 4 or so years.

It is an amazing coast ... but we are 12m and got looked and pointed at as

a.we were a mobo, and the only mobos they see are Merry Fisher by the 100

b. we were huge!

60ft will be possible but It will require some advance planning / booking and power will almost certainly be 16 amp.

I think it is 100% possible, it just needs a series of phone calls / emails to arrange it.

Minimes and La Rochelle itself will have no issue, but the majority of the other ports will. Ile De Re post just keeps taking boats and rafting them until the gates shut so I assume they will take you!

Rafting is relatively normal, but they don't do it often for mobos - but given your size this maybe a challenge.

Its a great great place.

I think used Nigelpin has just done this in a 55 odd foot boat so it is possible!

Enjoy

 

[crossy]

Ile De Re post just keeps taking boats and rafting them until the gates shut so I assume they will take you!

Lol, have never seen quite so many boats crammed into one harbour as we did in the Ile de Re this year, quite a spectator sport watching them come in and get rafted up!

 

[Nigelpickin]

You’ll be fine and far easier to find a berth than in say, SW U.K.
Your boat will fit in easily at La Rochelle but consider marina Chalutier rather than Minimes, you have to plan the exits and entrances through the gate but you reallly get the La Rochelle experience if you stay there.

Ile de re is tight I believe, we only ever day ran there but I think our friends berthed there in a 50’ boat.

You have so many other options, all of the Morbihan marinas, Les Sables, Pornichet, Ile de yeu, Royan....during last years trip our routine was to get the Capitinerie to contact our next marina and secure the berth on our behalf, I think that always worked as far as I can remember....always follow up with an email. If I’m reading correctly and you want to be based at La Rochelle, the guys in Minimes and Chalutier are super helpful and I’m sure would be glad to assist...

Jrudge is absolutely correct, 32amp will be the exception but Les Sables will/would cater for that.

The only other consideration, IMHO would be to base yourself a little further North, in say, Les Sables - your reach for Morbihan is better and there’s really not much to enjoy south of La Rochelle until you get to Arcachon. You will get a great berth in Les Sable, for sure, and can really get around South Brittany and Charente Maritime with ease from there....

All very subjective of course...

 

[crossy]

The only other thing that might be worth considering is seeing whether the marinas you are considering are part of the Passport Escales scheme (both La Rochelle marina's are from memory), this saved us thousands in marina fees this year.

 

[Nigelpickin]

The only other thing that might be worth considering is seeing whether the marinas you are considering are part of the Passport Escales scheme (both La Rochelle marina's are from memory), this saved us thousands in marina fees this year.

+1

Here’s some highlights from our 2014 trip - just to get you in the mood

 

[longjohnsilver]

Great video, brought back some lovely memories of our 4 months along that coast.

I would take slight issue with your comment about there only being Arcachon S of La Rochelle., we loved the Gironde and Port Medoc in particular. Lots to do and see.

Our favourite area was the Quiberon bay, so many different places to go, the islands (our favourite being Houat), the Morbihan, spent weeks at anchor there, the Villaine, and then all the ports around the bay. And it seemed almost always to be more sheltered than further south because of all the islands. And the Glenans are a must do destination.

If keeping a boat there I would certainly consider Port Haliguen at the end of the Quiberon peninsula because of its convenient position. Quiberon town is only a few minutes away by bike and there's a great weekly market just outside the marina. So many choices............

 

[Piers]

Hi everyone. We are thinking about putting our 60ft Prestige in La Rochelle next summer to explore around South Brittany. Places like Isle de Re look fantastic for example.

However looking at the pilot books it looks to me that finding visitor marina berths for a 60ft motorboat in South Brittany is difficult aside from in the very major cities such as La Rochelle itself. I'd be really grateful to hear from anyone with any thought or suggestions for great places with a bit of charm to visit which might be able to accommodate me.

Thanks so much in anticipation.

Hi, you really won't regret it at all. The whole coast is simply delightful. We've done it twice with many more times planned. We kept a log, leg by leg with nav planning details and timings starting from Beaucette, Guernsey, down past La Rochelle to Rochefort and all the stops in between, on our website, here: http://www.playdeau.com/leg-1-2015-beaucette-to-st-peter-port/

Areas still to explore for us are the Glenans and the small islands off the Quiberon peninsula such as Houat (choose the side away from the wind).

At 60' you will not have an issue, but I strongly suggest you call ahead. The only place we couldn't enter due our length was Concarneau. otherwise, everywhere was fine. In La Rochelle we stayed in Les Chalutiers.

Any qns, send a pm.

 

[gjgm]

Great blog..you have convinced me that we are going back 2018 !

 

[Piers]

We may see you there! Boat name?

 

[crossy]

on our website, here: http://www.playdeau.com/leg-1-2015-beaucette-to-st-peter-port/

We found this hugely helpful so thanks also for taking the time.

We actually crossed paths very briefly in Camaret this year late June/early July. You arrived very early one morning on your way back while we were on our way South.

 

[danvan]

Huge thanks to everyone who replied to my post - I’m really looking forward to going through your blogs and logs over the weekend.

Have a wonderful week all.

 

[danvan]

What an amazing video - and amazing boat. Looked like a tremendous summer and just wish it was June 18already!

One question - can you tell me what folding bikes you have - they looked great fun! also do you think they would be ok for a 10year old? thanks

 

[Nigelpickin]

Dan

Here’s a link and yes, good for a 10 year old imho.
Although like many of these bikes, they are over 20kg with the battery installed
http://e-motionevc.co.uk/store/product-list.php?
pg1-cid62.html

Ours were the Dash model


We sold ours and bought full sized Bosch bikes - not at all unhappy with the Batribikes but we wanted a proper work out from a full sized bike.

How are you getting your boat to Charente Maritime btw? If you are cruising down from the U.K. then there are so many great spots on the Atlantic coast - it was folk on here, Jrudge, Piers and Hurricane in particular who got our minds set for our first trip and we never looked back!

Here’s another video postcard that we made for ourselves in one of our very favourite ‘marinas’ - Saint Marine; we spent a delightful week there alongside our friends on their, (stabalised), Trader. Your boat would look lovely parked there for a lazy few days next year

Have a great trip!

 

[gjgm]

What an amazing video - and amazing boat. Looked like a tremendous summer and just wish it was June 18already!

One question - can you tell me what folding bikes you have - they looked great fun! also do you think they would be ok for a 10year old? thanks

Just to say many locations have bike hire by the marina or where you might be going to cycle. Most of the bikes we hired for 10 to 15 euros a day were very good indeed and matched the local terrain..especially on the islands where you might be going to cover some distance.

 

[stranded]

oops