Overview
Vannes is one of the few towns where you can moor in the heart of the historic centre: the Vannes channel takes the boat right up to the foot of the ramparts and the half-timbered houses of the walled town. But Vannes is above all the Golfe du Morbihan — this inland “little sea” dotted with islands, renowned as much for the beauty of its landscapes as for its tidal streams, among the strongest on the coast. Sailing in the Golfe is a pleasure, but one that has to be earned: everything here is a matter of tide.
The Île aux Moines, the Île d’Arz, the Auray river and the multitude of islets make the Golfe a sailing area like no other, sheltered from the open sea yet demanding in its pilotage.
Approach & access
The entrance to the Golfe is through the narrows at Port-Navalo, where the tidal stream can be very strong (several knots). Enter preferably with a fair tide or at slack water; against the stream and with the wind against you, the sea there can be rough. Inside, the tidal stream continues to dictate your route between the islands.
Practical pointers — You must plan your passage through the narrows according to the time and direction of the tidal stream. The Vannes channel is narrow, shallow and tidal; access to Vannes harbour is via a bridge/lock with set opening times — find out beforehand. There are many shoals and regulated anchoring zones in the Golfe: chart and buoyage are essential. Details of opening times and berths to be confirmed with the harbour office.
Harbour & anchorage
- Vannes harbour (walled town) — pontoons in the heart of the town, access controlled by a bridge/lock depending on the tide and the opening times.
- The Golfe — many anchorages and harbours: Port-Navalo, Le Logeo, the Île aux Moines, Arzon/Le Crouesty at the entrance.
- At anchor — plenty of options in the Golfe, taking account of the tidal stream and the authorised zones.
Services ashore
- Harbour office, water and electricity on the pontoons in Vannes; fuel to be checked (often at Le Crouesty / Arzon).
- Full provisioning in town: shops, markets, supermarkets; railway station for a crew change.
- Restaurants and all services in the historic town.
Things to see & do
- Vannes old town — ramparts, wash houses, half-timbered houses and cathedral.
- A tour of the Golfe — the Île aux Moines, the Île d’Arz, and the nearby standing-stone alignments and burial mounds.
- A sail on the Golfe — one of the most beautiful sheltered sailing areas in Brittany.
- Markets and food — oysters from the Golfe, local produce.
During the course — The Golfe du Morbihan is a school of the tide: calculating the tidal streams at the narrows, sailing with the stream between the islands, working around the access times to Vannes harbour. A technical and magnificent sailing area that complements the offshore stages.
