Summer Cruise

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I am planning to cruise in August next year to the Gulf du Morbihan and then on to Pornic.

Any general comments and also what is the typical weather at that time of the year?

Thank you

Geoff

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[Robin]

You haven't said from where or for how long?

This is our well worn track, every year now since 1988 so next August will make the 17th?

The whole area to me is delightful, August at least until the 15th is busy (French hols mostly between 14th July and 15th August) but you will get in somewhere and there are hundreds of anchorages to use. If you are a marina to marina hopper it will be HOT in there, we anchor mostly and go in for food/water/meal out say every 5 or 6 days, at anchor you can jump in the crystal clear water to cool off.

Winds will be predominantly NE in a good summer, SW/W in a bad one, ignore 'Biscay' forecasts, the weather off the coast is not usually the same as way offshore. Fog can be a problem off Ushant/Chenal Du Four and even Le Raz de Sein, south of that it is rare.

Tide streams are ignorable south of the Raz/Penmarc'h other than in small local areas or inside the Morbihan itself, leave and arrive at will is a pleasant change.

Give us some more info on what you are thinking and there are many of us here who can answer pretty well everything about the area.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[ChrisE]

We have been down as far as the Golf twice; once the weather was cold and wet (late July) and this year when it was hot (25+) with occasional tremdendous thunder storms (early August). Absolutely infested with French people, you'd think they owned the place.

Seriously, August is the peak month for the French and as a consequence you'll find marinas (especially the smaller ones like on Isle de Yeu) difficult to get into. The same is true of the smaller achorages like Sauzon on Belle Isle. That said, the Morbihan was quiet enough, although we only just squeezed into Vannes. Personally, I found the pressure of others a bit much and as a consquence won't return during August again but the place is pretty and there are plenty of places to noodle about.

Robin was there as well, for longer, he might have some more info.

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[ChrisE]

ta-da!

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[Robin]

We HAVE to go in August. Anchoring is the key, there are loads outside of the minimal Adlard Coles ones (French Pilotes Cotiers, pr Peter Cumberlidge 'Secret Anchorages'). Of course when the weather is really good the marinas are empty! Most people tend to harbour hop on initial visits, not unreasonably with lots to see ashore, but the real beauty IMO is in the anchorages, Glenans, Houat, Hoedic, Belle Isle, Isle De Yeu.

August weather though does seem to be good even in a bad year, I think it is by goverment decree. This year's thunder storms were spectacular and there was a mini tornado on Isle D'Houat, blew a camper over the cliffs. However, we didn't have to wear oilies at, swam almost every day and didn't have our plans altered at all, when it did rain it was torrential but very short lived and very localised.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I'm interested in this area too.

How long would you allow for a reasonable holiday, ie there and back (Solent based) with reasonable lounging around time in between?

Two weeks seems insufficient, but three weeks is a long time if one is gainfully engaged at the time (back to that thread again, sorry!)

<hr width=100% size=1>I can't be bothered with a footnote - it's usually rubbish anyway.

 

[ChrisE]

Nick,
We did it with two weeks and two days off (Thursday to Sunday+2). We felt OK for time.

First time we went from Salcombe to L'Aber'ach then onto Audierne. This time we went Keyhaven -> Alderney->Cameret, stopping at Alderney overnight then a 30 hr trip to Cameret. From either Cameret or Audierne you are only a days sail from Benodet, another day to Belle Isle. MrsE isn't over enamoured with night sailing so we didn't go direct to Isle de Yeu which is easily doable in 3 and bit days.

I think that the key is to push as far south as poss as quckly as poss then trickle back, from past experience the weather always seems to go tits up towards the end of the hol then you start the weather window scenario which is never ideal.

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[Robin]

Two weeks will leave you longing for more that is for sure.

Our route down is Poole to Dartmouth (on board and straight off first night)
Dartmouth to Camaret, straight through Chenal Du Four. (Camaret has a convenient supermarket for 1st stock up)
Camaret to Benodet/Glenans area anchorage, overnight only on way down.
Benodet/Glenans to Morbihan area (usually Houat or Belle Isle anchorages.

If we leave Poole on Friday evening we would expect to be in Morbihan area by Wednesday. After that we still have 4 weeks to hang around/go on south and then dawdle home.

Our route home (we are not hurrying remember) is via Glenans, Concarneau, Morgat, L'Aberwrac'h, Perros Guirec, St Peter Port. If delayed we can chose to go L'Aberwrac'h to St Peter Port or even straight to Poole.

These routes were the same as we did in our W33 as now in 41ft. The longest leg is Dartmouth to Camaret, 24 hours at 6kts in the W33, 21 hours now. The reason for going via Dartmouth is to put in some westing, you can then lay Le Four in a west wind on one tack, plus to avoid the strong tides along the N Britanny coast. Going into L'Aberwrac'h wastes hours going south as tides in the Four are running south whilst still east going off L'Aberwrac'h, nothing much there anyway.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>