Introduction
The Île de Groix lies opposite Lorient, only a few miles from the mouth of the roadstead: it is the short hop par excellence for the first day of a course. An island of schist and coves, it charms with its beaches — including the famous Plage des Grands Sables, one of the few convex beaches in Europe, which shifts with the currents — and with its moorland criss-crossed by coastal paths.
Port-Tudy, on the north coast, is the main harbour and the arrival point for ferries from Lorient. The village of Groix, set a little way uphill, has most of the shops and restaurants.
Approach & access
The crossing from Lorient is short but crosses the channel used by the ferries: keep a sharp lookout for traffic. The approach to Port-Tudy, on the north side of the island, is straightforward and buoyed.
Practical notes — Port-Tudy is exposed to winds and swell from the north to north-east, which can make entering and staying uncomfortable; in those conditions it is better to choose a sheltered anchorage on the other side of the island or to stay on the mainland. The outer harbour partly dries; find out about berths and the tide before entering. Harbour details to be confirmed with the harbour office.
Harbour & anchorage
- Port-Tudy — wet basin and drying outer harbour, visitors’ pontoons and buoys; very busy in season.
- Locmaria — small harbour on the south-east coast, more modest.
- At anchor — in settled weather, anchorages are possible in the coves depending on the wind direction (Port-Saint-Nicolas, Les Grands Sables on the east side).
Services ashore
- Harbour office, water and electricity on the pontoons at Port-Tudy; fuel to be checked on site.
- Local shops, restaurants, a market; for larger needs, top up provisions in Lorient.
- Frequent ferry links with Lorient — convenient for a crew change.
- Bike hire for exploring the island.
Things to see & do
- The Plage des Grands Sables — the large convex beach on the east of the island.
- The Pointe des Chats and its lighthouse — the low-lying south-eastern tip, all schist, barely above the sea.
- The Trou de l’Enfer — a spectacular cleft in the cliff.
- The village and the ecomuseum — the history of tuna fishing, which made the island prosperous.
During the course — Groix is an ideal leg at the start of a course: a short crossing, a harbour manoeuvre at Port-Tudy or anchoring in a cove, and a first real taste of island sailing. Often a springboard to Belle-Île.
In pictures
