Photo: Jebulon ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Tides, oysters and Belle-Île.
Southern Brittany teaches what the Mediterranean cannot: tides, currents of up to 8 knots at the mouth of the Golfe du Morbihan and timing every departure from the tables. In a week we cover the gulf and its forty islands, the Atlantic outposts of Houat and Hoëdic, and Belle-Île with the port of Sauzon and the Aiguilles de Port-Coton. The distances are short, but every leg is a navigation exercise.
- Running the Morbihan narrows on the flood
- Houat and Hoëdic: car-free islands in the Atlantic
- Sauzon and the wild coast of Belle-Île
- Oysters straight from the beds at Île-aux-Moines
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Handover
Arzon and boat handover
We meet at Port du Crouesty at 17:00, take over the yacht and go through tides and currents. Provisioning and dinner overlooking the gulf entrance.
Overnight: Yacht, Port du Crouesty - DAY 2 · 10 nautical miles
Into the Golfe du Morbihan on the flood
We leave to the table so as to enter the narrows with the flood. Between the islands to Île-aux-Moines, oysters for lunch, a night on a buoy.
Overnight: Yacht, buoy off Île-aux-Moines - DAY 3 · 15 nautical miles
Morbihan to Houat
Out of the gulf on the ebb and a 15-mile course to Houat. We anchor off the sandy beach of Treac’h er Gouréd with a view over the whole Bay of Quiberon.
Overnight: Yacht, at anchor off Houat - DAY 4 · 10 nautical miles
Houat to Belle-Île, Sauzon
Ten miles to Belle-Île. We enter Sauzon, a harbour of coloured houses, and take a buoy in the river. On foot to the Pointe des Poulains and its lighthouse.
Overnight: Yacht, buoy in Sauzon - DAY 5 · 18 nautical miles
The wild coast and Le Palais
Round Belle-Île’s west side past the Aiguilles de Port-Coton, 18 miles around the island to Le Palais and its Vauban citadel. Night in the harbour.
Overnight: Yacht, Le Palais harbour - DAY 6 · 22 nautical miles
Belle-Île to Hoëdic and Port-Navalo
Twelve miles to Hoëdic for lunch and a swim, then ten more to the Morbihan narrows. In on the flood and a night at anchor off Port-Navalo.
Overnight: Yacht, at anchor off Port-Navalo - DAY 7 · 20 nautical miles
Vannes and back to Crouesty
Up the channel to Vannes on the flood — a medieval walled town — for lunch on the quay. Back to Port du Crouesty on the ebb.
Overnight: Yacht, Port du Crouesty - DAY 8 · Check-out
Check-out
Yacht back by 09:00, transfer to Vannes station. Paris is 2.5 hours by TGV.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Berth in a double cabin on a 40–50 ft sailing yacht
Professional skipper for the whole week
Yacht insurance and the boat’s security deposit
Bed linen, towels, dinghy with outboard
Final cleaning of the yacht
Ivan’s support: preparation, watches, daily debriefs
Transfer between Vannes station and the marina; oilskins on loan
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Kitty: provisioning, marina fees, fuel, water — usually €250–350 per person
Dinners in tavernas ashore
Harbour berths at Belle-Île and Vannes
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
No experience required, but an interest in navigation helps: participants work out the tides and plot courses under the skipper’s eye. Ivan sends a short primer on tide tables before the trip.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.