winter in la rochelle

[lumphammer]

We have decided that instead of rushing through France we are going to take it easy and winter this year in la Rochelle
Is there a live aboard community there? What are the facilities like in Chalutiers as opposed to led minimes? What are advantages/disadvantages of the two marinas?

 

[artemis07]

A few years ago we spent a winter at Rochefort on the Charente. It is a bus or train trip from La Rochelle. Rochefort has everything you need. It would be wise to book a berth now. Lifting out was easy (15 ton) and there was a mast crane. There were floods when we were there but the locked basin (hundreds of years old) survived. Prices were reasonable.

We have met people who wintered at Les Minimes, they were not impressed. They weren't given a permanent berth and felt like overnight visitors. They were moved several times and sometimes were on rafts three or four boats out from the pontoon. This might have changed, but be prepared. Also Les Minimes has suffered from extensive damage due to surges from winter storms. The cost of lifting out was astronomical and, due to a shortage of space, was limited to a couple of days.

 

[Cspirit]

Agree Rochefort. Laid up there a few years ago. Good service and safe with reasonable costs

 

[Windy Tonique]

Personally if I had already cruised Brittany and the Vendee coast I would cross Biscay over to La Coruna and sail round some of the Rias before wintering there. Much cheaper to berth and live than in La Rochelle. Nostrodamus wintered there last year.

 

[charles_reed]

la Rochelle is OK, in which to overwinter, but certainly not cheap. As already recommended Rochefort is less expensive (though probably boasting the worst baker in France) but for my money Marans, off the Sevre-Niortaise is the most charming, inexpensive and safest place to overwinter in all Aquitaine.

 

[Nostrodamus]

We loved La Rochelle but we managed to get in the basin and was very close to everything... a beautiful city, bus 12 minutes from the airport with cheap flights and Christmas there was amazing. We made a good few French friends there who helped us and even offered the use of their rather large house as they were worried we may be cold on the boat.. any info you want then just PM me or have a look at our website.