Brittany is rich in numerous islands relatively close to each other and it is them that we will privilege during our week of cruising. We have located the departure of our escapade in La Trinité sur mer which hosts multiple rental companies.
This one-week cruise does not require any special skills and can be done by sailboat or motorboat. In this region of Brittany, the current is quite manageable and only a few passages require you to respect the movements of the tides.
In this region, the prevailing wind is from the west, but in summer it can be thwarted or strengthened by thermal breezes .
We've chosen to set off westwards, at first sight against the wind, making small leaps and bounds upwind before heading downwind, we hope. Obviously, this "strategy" will be validated according to the weather conditions at the time.
Island of Houat, a well-kept secret
D1, Trinidad sur mer - Houat Island: 11 nm to 170°
Today, it's the takeover of the boat. Ideally, we arrived the evening before and spent the night on board. This first day of sailing should allow the crew to moor up, so a nearby destination will be ideal. The bay of Quiberon is particularly sheltered from the offshore swell, whatever the weather conditions, the sea will be calm.
One can aim for a night anchorage on the island of Houat, which offers well-sheltered anchorages from all wind and swell sectors. Here is the reign of nature, the coast is breathtakingly beautiful. The modest size of the island allows you to walk around it and before returning on board, you can go and eat pancakes at Loulou's while contemplating the bay of Quiberon.
Belle-Île-en-Mer, as its name suggests..
J2, Houat Island - Belle-Île-en-Mer: 10 nm due west
Belle-Île-en-Mer is a mythical place that benefits from an exceptional natural environment. Torn cliffs, panoramas, moors, dunes, trails open to bucolic walks. And in the evening, the port quays come alive around restaurants, rum shops and traditional creperies. The island has 2 well-sheltered harbours, Le Palais and Sauzon, but also sublime anchorages such as Ster Wen .
To reach Belle-Île, you must take into account the currents. Make sure you leave Houat Island at ebb tide to take advantage of a favourable current in the passage of the Béniguet, the Sisters' passage or the Teignouse.
Coming from the island of Houat, the two ports of Belle-Île are about ten miles apart. Palais and Sauzon, facing the mainland, are protected from the swell of the sea. If the weather conditions are favourable, don't hesitate to spend the day at sea to tour this island of high jagged cliffs. This sublime ride represents a little more than 25 nm of sailing.
Ile de Groix, you can see his joy there
D3, Belle-Île - Groix : 25 mn at 330°
For this third day, we take advantage of a moored crew to make a big leap to the island of Groix. Without being on the high seas, be aware that there is no shelter on this course. Passing near the Birvideau lighthouse, you may be lucky enough to come across dolphins before making a stopover in Groix.
This authentic Breton island is a high place of conviviality and cultural vitality. Here again, one discovers landscapes of a surprising variety: wild coast, valleys, creeks, beaches..
Gauguin had his quarters in Port Lay.
On the mainland, you'll sometimes hear, "He who goes to Groix loses his liver." It has to be said that among the legendary sailor's bars, the bistro "chez Ti Beudeff" is a true maritime institution. A tour of the island by boat or bicycle will allow you to discover the wild coast and to challenge the "hell hole" carved by the claws of Poseidon.
The Glénan Archipelago, or paradise on the sea
D4, Groix Island - Les Glénan : 25 mn at 280°
A run in Southern Brittany could not be complete without discovering the fabulous Glénan archipelago. Seen from the sky, it looks like the tropics: a string of islands in lagoon green water, transparent and bordered by white sandy beaches. The Glénan archipelago, a Natura 2000 listed site, is a real laboratory for sustainable tourism.
If you have a shallow draft, a thousand and one anchorages are within bow reach. Visitor chests are available around the island of St. Nicholas. On this tiny island, the speciality is lobster from Castric, remember to book in advance.
Someday we've got to go home..
D5, Les Glénan - Belle-Île : 35 mn at 120°
After enjoying the lagoon and the beaches of the Glénan, it's time to think about the return trip. This is the opportunity to sail a little longer, but probably not upwind. It takes a little less than 40 minutes to reach one of the ports of Belle-Île. If the thermal wind is with you, you can sail the boat in 6 or 7 hours downwind.
Return home
D6, Belle-Île - La Trinité sur mer: 18 mn
For this navigation, it will necessarily be necessary to take the passage of the Teignouse or the Béniguet, taking advantage of the hours of favorable current, this course can be very fast with the rising tide. And if you have had to get up early for the tide, before returning to port, nothing prevents a final anchorage on the island of Houat.
The week is coming to an end, it's time to return the boat, perhaps thinking about buying a used or new boat for next year.
