davidj
Junior Member
Posts: 18 
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Post by davidj on Dec 27, 2016 0:33:42 GMT
hi i am looking to sail from Plymouth to Brittany in 2017 it will me my fist time can any one suggest the first port of call in a nice mariner and a few more after that thanks David
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Post by npmr on Dec 27, 2016 12:37:39 GMT
Hi Davidj,
Depending on how long you've got, the choices are huge. The Brittany cruising area is super.
For a first visit and to keep it simple from Plymouth, Roscoff could be a good start. Straight line across and easy entrance, especially with GPS. You might make it, if you can keep up a good pace, in daylight. Leave at stupid o'clock as dawn rises and you should be there before its very dark. Otherwise an overnight passage lets you arrive in full daylight. Either way, the Shipping Lanes have to be dealt with but we've never been too stressed by them in 20+ years of doing it and now, with AIS it's even easier.
The choice then is port hop, left or right, or opt for longer stretches and perhaps south. (The further south you can get, the nicer it gets, and warmer too.
From Roscoff, L'Aber Wrach is a day sail, not much there but an easy stopover. Or make it your arrival port. The river is wide and pretty easy (the pilot book makes it sound more complicated than it is in reality)
Then round the corner to Camaret/Brest (you choose) and then you have Morgat and Douarnanez. All really nice places to be, and easy entrances and easy to find.
If you've got longer then the delights beyond the dreaded 'Raz' (much hyped and in benign weather you wonder what the problem might be) and on and on.
Bars and beaches in most places and less costly than in the UK (or were before pound slump). Some anchorages available to cut costs but marinas predominate, and they can be full at times in the early season with 'Rallies', that often close marinas to visitors. Simple rule for us, check before we set off where 'the rally' will be, than avoid it. Even huge marinas turn away visitors in these circumstances and if you're a long way from anywhere else ....
We plan on going that way again this year, and I'm looking forward to it already! Late April or May and stay as long as we can afford it!
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Post by vasko on Dec 27, 2016 14:31:39 GMT
First time crossing the channel is always a scarry thing... My suggestions are - choose the shortest possible trip , start well after sun is up and the weather can be properly forecasted by your own feeling. Make sure that you arrive and are in the slip well before sunset. I have had some great and 2 awfull chanel crossing myself that I do not want ever to do again  all awfull crossings has started with nughly or evening starts and relay on the weather forecast, which was expected 15kts and I endup with 35+ and deverted to another port ... Shipping is easy dont worry |
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Post by MalcolmP on Dec 27, 2016 16:53:15 GMT
hi i am looking to sail from Plymouth to Brittany in 2017 it will me my fist time can any one suggest the first port of call in a nice mariner and a few more after that thanks David Hi David Both North Brittany and South Brittany are beautiful and within easy reach of Plymouth. Depending on how much time you have, so presuming a round trip back to Plymouth and if you just have say 2/3 weeks then North Brittany might be the simplest and also still very rewarding. You can use the programme at: www.sea-seek.com/tools/tools.php to calculate rough length of passages. As you can see from below should be within 100nm so say around 16/20 hours.  The Granite Rose coast is made up of stunning Pink granite and there are some lovely harbours. You will need to consider the strongish tidal streams especially in rivers like the Trieux, so read up on pilots /almanacs or websites. Presuming you might expect westerly winds might be good to head furthest west on your crossing first - maybe Roscoff - take care within the Marina as there can be a strong tidal set on some pontoons - then head east before crossing back to Plymouth from say the Paimpol area. Briefly some of the harbours to consider coming east from Roscoff. If in Roscoff marina - walk along the footpath from the marina across to the old harbour of Roscoff - very nice seafront town (about 2 miles). Morlaix is a charming town but up quite a long estuary that you need to go up on the tide. Good safe basin with nearby main line rail station, so good for crew changes. We over wintered there quite a few years ago at low cost. Trebeurden is great, lovely coast, quite a resort, so lots of restaurants. The entrance is simpler than the harbour plans suggest - remember there is a big tidal range so after half tide the rocks are well covered in the channels. Automatic flap gate makes entrances much easier than locks. Ploumanac'h is a must - really thrilling entrance through the pink granite and safe tidal basin on buoys when you get in. Lovely coastal walks. Perros Guirec is a safe modern marina, we didn't find the town that inspiring, but good safe port. Treguier should be a must. Lovely medieval city, great food and the estuary with oysters and some anchorages. As with most of the river marinas best if you berth and leave close to slack water. Lezardrieux has similarities, stunning estuary - in settled weather anchorage at Ile de Brehat (perfect for lift keels too) very crowded though in school holidays. Best near neaps if possible St Quay Portriuex is a modern marina that you can leave at anytime some might be a good port of departure back to Plymouth However if you do though want to go to south Brittany first I would head for L'Aberwrac'h direct. It is a good harbour but it is quite along way from the Roscoff area and that coast can be a bit bleak, - it is only say 10 miles more than Roscoff and would save you a whole day passage along the coast. For south Brittany you need to get your tidal gate planning well sorted, but as others have said with the right weather and tide time the passages are fine and very rewarding. Get prepared and do your research and you should have a wonderful time on your first adventure in Brittany. |
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Post by ianpowolny on Dec 27, 2016 17:04:19 GMT
David, We did our first crossing about 4 years ago, having sailed from Ardrossan with lots of stops along the way. We then used www.gentlesailing.com/gentle_sail_to_med.htm to sail through Brittany. It's only a fiver, a bit old but we found it was a good basis for cruising. We loved Guernsey and spent about 10 days there and won't have missed the Alderney race having sorted out our incorrect timing!!! I agree with npmr but prefered Brest to Camaret. Don't make our mistake - take your time. There's just so much to see and ports to visit. Ian |
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davidj
Junior Member
Posts: 18
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Post by davidj on Dec 27, 2016 22:45:51 GMT
First time crossing the channel is always a scarry thing... My suggestions are - choose the shortest possible trip , start well after sun is up and the weather can be properly forecasted by your own feeling. Make sure that you arrive and are in the slip well before sunset. I have had some great and 2 awfull chanel crossing myself that I do not want ever to do again all awfull crossings has started with nughly or evening starts and relay on the weather forecast, which was expected 15kts and I endup with 35+ and deverted to another port ... Shipping is easy dont worry thanks for your help what port do you sail out of |
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Post by jlasail on Dec 27, 2016 23:13:19 GMT
I sail in the Chesapeake bay USA , I have a SO 409, however I spent most of my summer in Concarneau , Brittany. I have a place there, but no boat. I will trade an "apéro dînatoire" with any of you who would take me for a sail in the baie of Concarneau around les Glenan islands. It is a beautiful area and the port of Concarneau is accessible 24/24.
My phone number is +1301 728 5581. It is my US mobile number that I usually carry all the time. Please do not hesitate I am not joking.
Great sail on Brittany.
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Post by MalcolmP on Dec 27, 2016 23:25:48 GMT
I sail in the Chesapeake bay USA , I have a SO 409, however I spent most of my summer in Concarneau , Brittany. I have a place there, but no boat. I will trade an "apéro dînatoire" with any of you who would take me for a sail in the baie of Concarneau around les Glenan islands. It is a beautiful area and the port of Concarneau is accessible 24/24. My phone number is +1301 728 5581. It is my US mobile number that I usually carry all the time. Please do not hesitate I am not joking. Great sail on Brittany. It is a bit further south, but if you could get to the River Villaine area in May you would be most welcome for a couple of nights should be able to get out to Ile de Houat or the other island south of Quiberon. PM me if you need more info. |
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Post by vasko on Dec 28, 2016 8:26:21 GMT
First time crossing the channel is always a scarry thing... My suggestions are - choose the shortest possible trip , start well after sun is up and the weather can be properly forecasted by your own feeling. Make sure that you arrive and are in the slip well before sunset. I have had some great and 2 awfull chanel crossing myself that I do not want ever to do again all awfull crossings has started with nughly or evening starts and relay on the weather forecast, which was expected 15kts and I endup with 35+ and deverted to another port ... Shipping is easy dont worry thanks for your help what port do you sail out of at the time my boat was moored in Portsmouth/Port Solent Marina e.g. my crossings always started or ended around isle of Wight my two nightmare crossings ware : 1. ( crew 4 men all experienced) started from Deauville-Trouville to Portsmouth/Port Solent - started about 2am and about 10am the weather was full blown gale - and we decided to divert to Cherbourg - (I remember counting 24 times trow-up overboard and stop counting - I have never trow-up any other time in my life sailing ) it was on 7th of august and the temperature got low to 5 degree, wind in the high 30ties , the water was freezing and the waves were closing over my head every 3-4 minutes and huge amount of water on our heads and full cockpit... in some point I remember I decided that I had enough in this life - got a bucket and trowingly in it walked down and lie wet and cold on one of the beds and did not care anymore am I going to survive or not... after about 2 hours felt better and got out and took the helm to give chance to someone else to get some sleep and recover... also in this conditions we need to check for ships and track them on the Radar which was down at the chart table... forecast was for 10kts - with gusts to 15kts.... after this I never believe forecasts for the channel and only believe my own eyes looking at the sky in the morning - if I do not feel a good nice sunny weather I do not start. 2. ( crew 3 men and one lady all experienced) second awful was from Port -Solent/Portsmouth starting in 1am towards Guernsey. - similar experience without the trowing and winds in the early 30ties... very bumpy and awful experience.. no one managed to get any sleep and the crossing ruined the next day after it as all of us were like ghosts... after this two - I stopped listening to clever plannings and wise men talking BS about how good is to start overnight or arrive overnight and used my simple rules - always choose crossing about 12h go on straight line and make sure I see the sky before starting with my own eyes and arrive before sunset. BTW: The French coast is amazing ! every single place is worth a visit ! - but be careful about some of the marinas as they do not have a lock and you can get in and out only on the high tide which may not the in the exact time that you plan to start or arrive... |
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Post by hoppy on Dec 29, 2016 20:35:12 GMT
fist time Plymouth to BrittanyThe subject has me thinking this 
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all awfull crossings has started with nughly or evening starts and relay on the weather forecast, which was expected 15kts and I endup with 35+ and deverted to another port ... 
