St Malo Area _ Advice Please

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cloudnine

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Thinking about a week down there early August in a 39ft fin keeler picking the boat up in St Malo. Haven't invested in the charts yet but the impression from the Channel Pilot is shallow everywhere with roocks, big tides and lots of limitations.
Gut reaction was to head for Jersey straightaway and not faff around but I may be missing something.
Thoughts and experience anyone.
Thanks
Brian

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Er. Have you seen a chart of Jersey? Big tides lots of rocks etc. etc. The whole area should be treated with respect especially on a first trip.

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Hi Brian

Yes, the area does look shallow but don't let that put you off.

Treat it with respect - but do your tidal heights and look at your tidal chartlets carefully and you won't have a problem.

Arrival at St Malo is pretty straightforward - a bit rough (possibly) around Grand Jardin (I think its called) but everywhere is pretty unmistakeable (we couldn't find the fairway buoy but you don't really need it). Bags of water all the way down the fairway and all tide entry to Bas Sablons marina (it has a tide guage over the sill but in practice it's not a problem. In any case, there are a couple of waiting buoys just outside - but if you just go round the corner to St Pere (in the entrance to the Rance) you will find a delightful mooring under the Tower of Solidor - tuck right up under the small island in the harbour to avoid large currents from the hydro dam.

Have a great time. If you want more info, PM me.

Magic

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It's a great area to sail, but you need to do your passage planning with some care. If going up to Jersey you will need to avoid the Plateau des Minquiers which sits bang on the course line from St Malo and is almost the size of Jersey. Going W from St Malo, there are some great places to visit on the French coast but big tides to contend with wherever you go.

I would avoid spring tides at the start of the holiday if you are not familiar with the area, and make pilotage notes in advance for any unfamiliar destinations. Make sure you have (and study) a good tidal stream atlas and stay up-tide of any critical waypoints.

It's a great area to explore and my wife and I are regular visitors.

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Brian,

agree the area has fierce tides but with careful planning is very rewarding. All the area from ile de Brehat to St Malo to Alderney has similar magnitudes. I looked quickly, around beginning of aug amplitude is 11m, around aug10 is 4m, 10m around aug 18th

North of st malo, the Chausey islands is well worth a visit, it changes from a norwegian like fjord at low water to open sea at HW, you can anchor or moor (surely raft in august) at some buoys in the Sound.

Then, between Chausey and Jersey there are the minquiers rocks, where extra careful planning is needed (there is the southermost loo of the british isles, if you ever need..)

a proper tidal atlas is a must!

cheers rob




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In my opinion you would be making a huge mistake heading straight up to the Channel Islands. Providing your tidal navigation is reasonable (and I assume no one would charter a boat,in that area if it wasn't) .The cruising area around St Malo and west of there along the North Brittany Coast knocks spots off anything the Channel Islands Offer.

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It rather depends wher you're headed. The two nearest 'destinations' from St Malo are probably Chausey and Granville. If you enjoy mudlarking then Cancale is an option (particularly if you fancy their oysters). Heading west there isnt anything of much significance until you get to Binic/ St Quay Portrieux (I know St Brieux is there - but nice?). Once there, there is Paimpol, Brehat, Lezardrieux, Pontrieux, then Treguier.

All benefit from strong helpful tidal streams, good marks and immovable navigation hazards (none of your nasty movable mud or snadbanks!).

Heading further north there is Jersey, and on French Coast, Carteret and Portbail.

Chausey is exquisite - take a good (SHOM) chart, and take care that the islets to the East of the Sound are bird sanctuaries in the early part of the season. If you slip on a rock and break a leg, Granville has one of the best French orthopoedic hospitals - you will see many of the patients taking the air with crutches or frames!

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Missing something? You\'ll miss everything ...

... if you just stick to the marinas! It's all about rock-hopping, finding interesting coves to anchor and explore. Get Malcolm Robson's "Channel Islands Pilot" for all the advice you'll ever need for navigating through them.

Don't forget there are BIG tides in this area. Although vast swathes of the chart are marked as shallow at LAT, in particular around St Malo, most of the time there is a lot more water than you might think, plenty for even a deep draught yacht.

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Sailing round St Malo is probably easier than Jersey. It's a beautiful area ( as is Jersey ) , but if I just had a week I'd personally stick to the French coast. The nav isn't horrendous as it looks as you can see most of the rocks, it's well marked, and there's lots to explore. Not that I've anything against the Channel Islands, but if my base was St Malo, I'd stick to France. The tides don't get any easier in the CI's either.

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