Tag Archives: Beaucette Marina Guernsey

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Back home and back in the water

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Play d’eau
on holiday at M&G Engineers, Guernsey
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Play d’eau is back in the water today (hurrah!) after being on hols for almost four weeks at M&G Engineers at St Sampsons.

The full works

So whilst we’ve been on our hols in Norway visiting the Arctic Circle on Hurtigruten’s MS Midnatsol, Play d’eau’s been pampered with a full spa treatment below her waterline.

She’s been pressure washed and antifouled, her shafts have been pulled, four new cutless bearings installed, stuffing boxes removed and cleaned, shaft seals replaced, and some GRP blemishes repaired.

With new external anodes all round and a full polish from the waterline up to her caprails, she’s been spoiled.

Internally

We head out of St Sampsons harbour
into fifty shades of bright orange over Herm
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Internally, we were able to do some small jobs such as dismantling and cleaning four engine sea-water strainers, changing the anodes on the two generators (the stbd is a real pain to do), and giving the engine room a good clean up.

She was ready. Ready for launch. Ready to go home to Beaucette.

Today’s the day

The alarm was set for 0420. After a quick cup of coffee (tea for Lin) we jumped in the car and headed to St Sampsons.

It was cold. The sky was clear but it was still dark; the sun hadn’t woken. The good news was that the wind had calmed right down to almost nothing from the ferocious winds of the last few days.

Opening M&G’s gate we climbed onto Play d’eau. ‘Good morning,’ we said. Was it me or did we hear her say, ‘Come on, let’s get going!’

Lin manoeuvres Play d’eau to leave St Sampsons
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The plan was to be lowered into the water at 0630. Then, once the new fittings had been checked, we’d be released from the hoist’s strops to head for the open sea through St Sampsons harbour.

Provided the remnant of yesterday’s swell wasn’t too uncomfortable we’d turn NNE for Beaucette. If it was still lumpy we’d simply turn around and berth in St Sampsons harbour until the evening’s high tide.

Launch time

Checking all was ready, the hoist picked us up, Steve antifouled where the support legs had been, Kerin donned the remote control, manoeuvred the 75 tonne hoist and began to lower Play d’eau into the water.

We could almost feel Play d’eau shudder as her hull touched the cold water but we knew she was happy to be floating again. Steve became Captain Steve of ‘HMS M&G Dinghy’, commanding the fine vessel on its 10 metre sea voyage to Play d’eau's transom. Ship’s Engineer Shane joined us for the journey to Beaucette to check everything was working properly.

I wonder if Play d'eau shudders as she feels
the temperature of the water
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With the seals, strainers and logs checked for integrity, we started the engines. After a thumbs-up from Shane we launched just as the sun rose over Herm in a bright shower of fifty shades of bright orange.

Beaucette Ho!

Exiting St Sampsons, we turned to port and headed for Beaucette.

Although the swell had quietened it was still evident. Taking the inside passage there was only one patch of rough sea between Platte and Corbette D’Amont before it straightened itself out as we entered Beaucette’s approach channel.

Point of No Return

I had a Point of No Return (PNR) which was just before the last port hand marker where I must decide whether to continue into Beaucette or turn around and return to St Sampsons. Beyond this, I have to commit and continue.

Captain Steve commands HMS M&G Dingy
with Ship's Engineer Shane
for the 10 metre voyage to
Play d’eau
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Although the swell was creating large surges and spray against the rocks to port and starboard of the approach channel, the channel itself looked good.

Decision made. I continued past the PNR and entered the channel. Play d’eau took it in her stride, no problem. I’m so proud of her.

We moored temporarily on the Fuelling Pontoon before taking her to her berth.

Welcome home

It's great being home again. We have many warm welcomes. ‘We’ve missed you.’ ‘It's been wrong seeing your berth empty.’

Sadness

One sadness. John, from the small white yacht behind us, has died whilst we’ve been away.

Kerin, Officer in Charge of the hoist, manoeuvres Play d'eau to the launch site
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Sometimes fondly known as ‘the old man of Beaucette’, John hadn’t been well for some time, and in a way his death was expected. But it's still a shock and a sadness.

For me, he’d occasionally given me fresh lobsters from his pots.

We had one thing in common. We both had really bushy eyebrows.

His funeral’s next Tuesday. We’ll be there.

Piers and Lin
from the saloon of
Play d’eau

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

With the hoist ready to lift
Steve removes the support legs
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Twin shaft anodes
are secured in place with jubilee clips
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Shane adds the split pin to lock the prop nuts
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Shafts and props are installed
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Shane ‘encourages’ the shaft to a snug fit
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The shaft fits through both bearings
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Through the first, en route to the second
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The shaft is guided through the first cutless bearing
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Shane greases the inner cutless bearing
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Two new cutless bearings are installed
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Holidays

LHR Terminal 4 to Beaucette

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Our eldest’s son and daughter
with Papa Bear and Granny Lin
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We arrived at the hotel just before midnight, checked in, had a beer and slept soundly after a long day’s travelling.

Our eldest and his family

Having collected the car from the other side of the airport we were on our way to Coventry to stay with our eldest and his family. It was strange travelling on motorways again, let alone at 70mph rather than Guernsey’s max of 35mph.

Hugs, smiles and the general loud hubbub of two grandchildren greeted us. Not having seen them since last May it was very special. How quickly they grow up, with the elder soon to have his 11th birthday.

The sun was shining so a walk in the park that afternoon was delightful, accompanied by bike and scooter for the children.

A delicious roast pork evening meal was devoured eagerly by all.

Piers’ sister

A leap of faith into Dad’s arms
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The following afternoon Piers drove to his sister and brother-in-law in Gloucestershire whilst I stayed another night. My brain was challenged by playing card and board games. I let others win, of course.

I had an easy train journey to join Piers, Hilary and Kiffer for lunch after which we drove to Newbury to join Diccon and family for 2 nights.

Again, we had wonderful greetings from Oscar and Maia.

Board meeting

Piers had to attend a quarterly Group Board meeting on Wednesday so Charlotte and I walked into Newbury with the two ‘weasels’. It felt strange to be back; shops had changed, people seemed impersonal and the roads felt huge.

On Thursday, I went back to my previous hairdresser, Paul Charles of Thatcham, to have a trim and highlights. I was very pleased with the results.

D and M

Next stop was D & M, some dear friends from when we were neighbours at Bourne End. We all moved on in 1977 within a few weeks of each other and hadn’t met up for several years.

Grandson Oscar
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It was really good to see them again and reminisce about our ‘outrageous’ and fun times. In 1975 D had used creosote to write “Come back Piers, all is forgiven” on our side of the fence – a prophecy fulfilled?

Our youngest and his fiancée

Our last whole day in UK arrived with me visiting a friend before lunch with Toby and Amy in their ‘new’ abode. They have both worked so hard with decorating their bungalow ready for when they are married in April.

Guernsey-bound

Bidding our farewells, we travelled south to stay overnight near Portsmouth where we met Kim and Michelle for dinner at Wickham Vineyard. A great way to end to a busy week and wonderful time away.

Granddaughter Maia
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Saturday 22 February saw us at the Portsmouth Condor Ferry terminal, exactly 11 months after we emigrated.

‘Old Faithful’, the Commodore Clipper was waiting for us and we departed a few minutes early.

With breakfast eaten we retired to our cabin for a sleep after such a busy but enjoyable week visiting as many as we could in the time available.

Guernsey, and Beaucette in particular, beckoned.

Lin
from the saloon of
play d’eau

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Boarding passes at the ready
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We board ‘Old Faithful’ and are ready for breakfast
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Entering St Peter Port after a great crossing
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Living aboard Play d'eau

Intentions, intentions

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Our dear friends John and Beryl
came to stay for a week
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I’ve failed! Despite all the best intentions, I haven’t kept our website up to date.

With Play d’eau bringing us safely home to Beaucette on 26 September 2013 after a glorious 980nm summer cruise, the plan was to post at least one update a week. Have I achieved this? No. Only one, and I’ve been making all the excuses known to mankind.

There’s an old expression that I’ve used so often when mentoring businesses, “We judge ourselves by our intentions, yet we judge others by their actions.” Need I say more?

So, no excuses – but just in case…

Our dear friends John and Beryl came to see us for a week; our son Diccon and wife Charlotte brought their two children, Oscar and Maia, to see us for another week; I was asked to fly to the Middle East for a fortnight to survey some Double First schools; I attended METS 2013 in Amsterdam; du Pré (Guernsey) Ltd was contracted to produce a new website for Beaucette Marina which went live just before Christmas.

Grandchildren Oscar and Maia – ‘the weasels’
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And, we celebrated Christmas for the first time with no family which actually turned into an endless party with many Beaucette liveaboards having ‘open boats’ and sore heads, including Play d’eau; it was Lin’s 65th birthday; January was taken up with creating another new website for Beaucette Restaurant and Lin had two days in Amsterdam to meet with her sister from Australia.

Lin’s 65th birthday

Lin’s birthday? An important one, but how to celebrate it? Aha! That’s the subject of the next post.

Piers
From the Man Cave of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Diccon, Maia and Oscar
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Living aboard Play d'eau

What a blow last night

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Mr and Mrs Pigeon had hunkered down
out of the wind for the night
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By gum, did it blow last night!

…and fire lit the Heavens

Overnight, rigging screamed, Play d’eau lolloped (a nautical technical term) and the wind stirred surface water to slap the hull.

We recorded a N’ly average of 21kts with a max gust of 26kts, and that was even though we were in the lee of the marina so it must have been far greater on the exposed coast.

Having been rocked and rolled we were up at by 6am and had coffee (tea for Lin) and toast (with fig jam – gorgeous) in time to watch the sun’s rays strike the soft underside of the night’s clouds with the most brilliant red orange fire to light the heavens.

By 9am the sky had mostly cleared revealing a blue sky scattered with blobs of cotton-wool fair weather cumulus clouds, and a wind that had gradually veered and abated to an E’ly F3.

The pigeons were grounded

It was as though the sky was on fire
(The picture is completely untouched)
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It had been so gusty over night that even our neighbours, Mr & Mrs Pigeon, who have their berth (nest) on the granite wall in the creeper next to Play d’eau, had hunkered down in the lee of the rocks and foliage.

During the day, the tempestuous seas that had raged outside the marina tempered their behaviour and quietened, and the wind continued to drop.

John and Beryl

Our dear friends, John and Beryl, come to see us on Monday for a week. We can’t wait, but just hope the NE’lys don’t pay the marina a visit with their rock ‘n’ roll during their stay….

Piers and Lin
From the Meteorological Laboratory of
Play d’eau

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

The sun rose to strike the clouds after a night of strong winds
(The picture is completely untouched)
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Holidays

Meeting Woolly Mammoth – again

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Graham and Frances beloved Woolly Mammoth
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We had three clear days in Jersey during which I can report that we came, we saw, we attempted to conquer, we left.

Mind you, the sun was hot and shone brightly the whole time we were there. How brilliant was that as our summer cruise drew to a close?

Graham, Frances, and us

Having last seen Graham and Frances in May 2013 for Piers’ birthday celebrations, it was just perfect having time with them again, and, of course, their beloved yacht, Woolly Mammoth.

As ever, we talked, laughed, carried out our threat to terrorise the local restaurants, ate good food whilst attempting, unsuccessfully, to drink them dry of good wine.

But hey, what’s retirement for?

The Royal Yacht Hotel’s ‘super’ homemade burger
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The first evening, we were all treated to three of Lin’s signature dishes onboard Play d’eau. Stuffed Coeur de Boeuf tomatoes on croutons, Fettuccini with asparagus and toasted pumpkin seeds drizzled with lemon olive oil, and raspberry sorbet with raspberry coulis.

The next, we ate at Shaun Rankin’s new Ormer restaurant which, as we write, has just been granted its first Michelin star.

The last day saw us at the Royal Yacht Hotel having lunch on the terrace under a red hot sun. We chose lunch rather than dinner since we had an early start the next day to return to Beaucette.

Woolly Mammoth’s vital statistics

Woolly was conceived and designed by Graham, architected by Bill Dixon and built in steel by Slot Yachtbau of Monnickendam, Holland. At 53′ loa and an airdraft of 71′, she’s impressive.

Woolly Mammoth owned by Graham and Frances
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Over-engineered for circumnavigation and ice breaking, she has a 14.5′ beam, 7′ draught and displaces over 30 tons fully laden. The first 14′ is behind a watertight bulkhead and door.

Cutter rigged, the working sail area is a colossal 1,300 sq ft.

With 150 imperial gallons (680 ltrs) of water in 3 tanks and 450 imperial gallons (2,050 ltrs) of diesel in 5 tanks plus a 26 imperial gallon (120 ltrs) day tank, she has an under power cruising range of some 2,500 nms.

We left

Leaving St Helier marina for Beaucette, we knew we’d had a brilliant time.

Yet there was one burning question in our minds. ‘Who said Woolly Mammoths were extinct?’

Piers and Lin
from the Saloon of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Cruising

The highlights of our 2013 summer cruise

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Play d’eau
about to wake up as dawn breaks over Paimpol
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Wow.

We’ve just completed our longest cruise ever of three months and six days.

Departure from Beaucette was on June 17 in poor weather, but we returned to Beaucette yesterday in bright sunshine and flat seas. A great welcome home.

Was the cruise pre-planned? Not really, it was more a dream. Did it meet our expectations? No, it far exceeded them. Did we do and see everything we wanted? Yes, but even though we spent over three months exploring we know there’s still far more to explore along this beautiful coastline.

So is it the Baltic next year, or a return visit? Hmmm. Good question.

Play d’eau’s statistics for the summer cruise

Here are Play d’eau’s vital statistics for our summer cruise 2013 from Beaucette, Guernsey, to Rochefort in the Charente and back.

Total distance cruised 979.51 nm
Total passages 25
Longest passage Leg 2 at 105.4 nm
Longest consecutive days spent in a marina 14 days in La Rochelle ‘Les Chalutiers’
Most peaceful marina La Roche Bernard
Most nerve racking marina St Denis d’Oléron (multiple rafting without care)
Different marinas visited 22
Port engine hours used 120.08 hrs ***
Starboard engine hours used 120.6 hrs ***
Port generator engine hours used 57.4 hrs
Starboard generator engine hours used 56.5 hrs
Fuel capacity on leaving Beaucette 3880 ltrs *
Fuel consumed 2356 ltrs
Fuel consumption 1.89 nm/gallon **
Cost to refuel 64p/ltr
Average marina fees £39.90 per night
Least marina fees Paimpol
Most expensive marina fees Île d’Yeu (Port Joinville)
Best croissant Paimpol

* we left Beaucette with full fuel tanks and didn’t have to refuel until we returned.
** includes running the generators plus heating Play d’eau for the first 10 days of the cruise.
*** many times we cruised on just one engine.

Sunrise over the mouth of the river Charante
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Passages
  • Leg 1 – Beaucette to St Peter Port
  • Leg 2 – St Peter Port to L’Aber Wrac’h
  • Leg 3 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Camaret
  • Leg 4 – Camaret to Audierne
  • Leg 5 – Audierne to Port La Foret
  • Leg 6 – Port La Foret to Port Haliguen
  • Leg 7 – Port Haliguen to Vannes
  • Leg 8 – Vannes to Île d’Yeu
  • Leg 9 – Île d’Yeu to Les Sables D’Olonne
  • Leg 10 – Les Sables D’Olonne to La Rochelle
  • Leg 11 – La Rochelle to Rochefort
  • Leg 12 – Rochefort to St Denis d’Oléron
  • Leg 13 – St Denis to St Martin de Ré
  • Leg 14 – St Martin de Ré to Les Sables d’Olonne
  • Leg 15 – Les Sables d’Olonne to Pornic
    • Farmers’ markets were stacked with fresh foods
    click to enlarge
  • Leg 16 – Pornic to La Roche Bernard
  • Leg 17 – La Roche Bernard to Port Louis
  • Leg 18 – Port Louis to Sainte Marine
  • Leg 19 – Sainte Marine to Camaret
  • Leg 20 – Camaret to L’Aber Wrac’h
  • Leg 21 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Roscoff
  • Leg 22 – Roscoff to Tréguier
  • Leg 23 – Tréguier to Paimpol
  • Leg 24 – Paimpol to St Helier
  • Leg 25 – St Helier to Beaucette
The major challenge

Navigating the Charente river from Rochefort (Leg 12) with extreme mud banks either side in the pitch black night. Without the FLIR thermal imaging camera we could not have done this.

The pains

Was the inside of the croissant light, fresh and soft?
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In many cases, COLREGs appeared optional.

The two day sand storm in Les Sables D’Olonne caused when loading a coaster at the commercial quay half a mile away. The sand covered everything, both inside and out of Play d’eau. It took days to clean her.

What did we love?

Croissants.

Early morning dawns breaking over calm seas were a wonder to behold.

The evening sunshine – the light and the colours it creates are spectacular.

Navigating the still waters of the Rivre Vilaine at midnight in the dinghy. No cloud, just the stars and moon with their sparkling light in the heavens. No noise, no rush, just gentle, heavenly, ethereal.

Alain, the band’s Trumpeter emailed to say the group would like to perform on Play d’eau
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The warmth and friendships of the many people we met.

The love and respect the French have for their food, its provenance and freshness. Farmers’ markets are stacked with wonderful produce of myriad colours and aromas. Music to our taste buds.

Jazz on the bandstand.

The least expensive Brittany cider at €1.12 a bottle was the best, and some red wines at less than €1.50 a bottle were excellent ‘quaffing’ wines.

A summary?

Perhaps it’s easier to say we cannot précis the cruise. Perhaps it’s best we say our posts say it all, and just leave it at that.

Until next time, ‘Happy reading, au revoir, et bonne navigation.’

Piers and Lin
From the Memory Banks of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Cruising

Leg 25 – St Helier to Beaucette – 26 September 2013

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It was still dark when we awoke
and we had to wait for the sill to open
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We didn’t want to go home.

Having spent three months and six days of cruising to new and exciting places, the explorer bug had set in. Yet, we both knew the time was right to be back home in peaceful Beaucette, Guernsey.

The three days in Jersey were a ball. With our friends Graham and Frances of Woolly Mammoth, we ate on Play d’eau the first evening (Piers head hurt the next morning), we ate at Shaun Rankin’s new Ormer restaurant the next evening (Piers head didn’t hurt the next morning), and we’d had lunch at the Royal Yacht Hotel, in the sun, on our last day.

Learned fact: Life revolves around eating and drinking, interrupted with elements of work.

The weather

There were bursts of bright sun when the cloud allowed it through
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A whispering easterly F1/2 was all the wind could muster whilst grey clouds were interspersed with short bursts of bright sunlight. You could smell the dampness in the air which reduced visibility to just over a mile. Yet it was warm enough for shorts and T-shirts.

Pinch points

St Helier marina’s sill time was the limiting factor, but if we left as soon as it opened our time on passage would allow us to motor straight into Beaucette without having to wait at St Peter Port or hang onto one of Beaucette’s visitor’s buoys.

The nav plan

The tide would be against us for the short time from St Helier until nearing Corbière, after which it would help by pushing us along.

The journey

We left St Helier’s marina as soon as we could
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We were awake well before the alarm went off, full of anticipation.

Once out of the harbour, we turned west, passed Noirmont and close to Corbière before turning NNW for Guernsey. With no wind, the sea was glassy flat calm, even in the Little Russel where we took the inner route from St Sampson to Beaucette where the current gave us extra 3kts.

Arriving

Ricky, the marina manager, always likes Play d’eau to give a good blast on her Kahlenbergs when we enter of leave Beaucette. Today was to be no exception. Shortly before entering through the quarry walls, the Kahlenbergs let rip. The echoes seemed to reverberate around the old quarry for ages. Yes!

The tecky details

Back at our berth in Beaucette where even the pigeons were there to welcome us
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Departed St helier – 0731
Arrived Beaucette – 1105
Time on passage – 3hr 36min
Total planned distance – 30.2nm
Tide: Half way from springs to neaps
Longest leg 19.3nm from Corbière to east of St Peter Port

Tech issues – nil

Incidents – nil

Navigational info: The Little Russel can be avoided by taking the inside route from St Sampson to Beaucette which avoids the angry and sometimes tumultuous seas the Little Russell can throw up. But, it’s a route not to be attempted without local knowledge.

The end of our summer cruise

Well, we started cruising on 17 June, and finished on 25 September. The longest we’ve ever had together on holiday, let alone on the sea and in our boat.

It’s been brilliant. We’ve learned a great deal about each other, we’ve eaten well, we’ve enjoyed cooking, we’ve met some wonderful people, we’ve so enjoyed exploring and can’t wait until next year.

Now, do we go to the Baltic, or head back down to the west coast of France again to explore the areas we missed this time? Who knows? Maybe we’ll just exit Beaucette and make the decision then. North or south? That’ll be the question.

Piers and Lin
From the Pilot House of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

We passed close to Corbière lighthouse
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The sea was glassy calm
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Cruising

Croissant Competition – Summer 2013

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What do you think of these?
They come from two different bakeries
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How would you judge a good croissant?

Can you help? We’d love to know what you’d look for.

The baking hot question

Are all croissants the same? I mean, a croissant is a croissant is a croissant, n’est ce pas? Mais, peut-être pas.

One of the key elements of visiting France to which we really look forward, is our first croissant. That staple of all things French. Even more so than the Eiffel Tower, Pastis, or scary driving.

Imagine

Imagine it’s breakfast. The smell of baking is in the air. You’ve ordered, and you’re served a croissant straight from the wood oven. It’s hot and looks glorious.

Lift it to your nose. Breathe in the aroma. Prepare to take a bite…

Judging criteria

But how do you judge if it’s the best you’ve ever had?

What do think of this one?
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So far, we’ve visited over twenty ports during our three month cruise along the north and west coasts of France, and we’ve tried croissants from well over forty Boulangeries.

During this time, we’ve found croissants vary considerably from ‘Oh, yes!’ to ‘Oh, no!’ and ‘That’s a shame’.

Our judging criteria (so far) has been based on six facts,

  • Does it look good?
  • Is it the ‘right shape’?
  • As you bite, is the outside crispy and do bits of crust fly everywhere?
  • Is it buttery?
  • Is the inside light, fresh and soft?
  • Does it leave you glowing with croissant pleasure?
How would you judge the Croissant?

Please let us know how you’d judge a croissant. We’ll publish our winners at the end of September when we’ve returned home to Beaucette Marina, Guernsey.

Happy croissanting!

Piers and Lin
from the Galley of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Marina specifics

Roscoff Bloscon Marina

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Roscoff’s Bloscon marina. The commercial port and marina entrance are on the left of the picture
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Report dated: 6 September 2013

Bloscon is already a great marina, and next year will be simply superb. Here’s why.

An interview with M. Frédérie Boccou, Maître du Port

Frédérie spent forty minutes with me unravelling the creation of the Bloscon complex, and detailed the next and last developments to bring the marina to completion by May 2014.

The vision was that for €52m, Roscoff’s ferry and fishing ports would be expanded and modernised, and a new marina created.

Roscoff’s Bloscon marina is perfectly located on the north coast of Brittany. It’s 15nm from Trébeurden to the east. To the west it’s 34nm from L’Aber Wrac’h and 67nm from Brest. To the north, it’s 95nm from Plymouth and 75nm from the popular Beaucette Marina, Guernsey.

M. Frédérie Boccou, Maître du Port, Roscoff
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As well as being an ideal transit marina, a growing number of British owners are locating their boats to Bloscon permanently to save Channel crossings and marina fees; there’s so much to explore along the north coast, and for the more adventurous Brittany’s inviting west coast beckons, strongly.

Roscoff – a small town of character

The small town of Roscoff is a mile away. Its ancient buildings and small one way roads are a delight and restaurants, créperies, boulangeries (fresh croissants galore!), and small hotels abound.

Food ingredients are mainly available from the two out of town supermarkets. However, for those in Roscoff on a Wednesday morning, there’s a comprehensive farmers’ market.

Bloscon marina details – today

Marina staff are on the water in their RIBs from 0700 to 2100
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Bloscon marina’s telephone number is 0033 (0) 2 98 79 79 49. All staff are fluent in English and extremely helpful. Note: Reeds Nautical Almanac details the wrong telephone number.

Berthing costs are almost the least expensive on the north and west coasts of France, whether visiting or looking for half or full year contracts.

There are 625 berths, plus an additional 45 dedicated for visitors on the south side of pontoon B and north side of pontoon D. Thirteen berths are adapted for those with physical disabilities.

The marina’s minimum depth is 4m, regardless of tide.

Marina buildings currently house a chandlery (mainly selling clothing and fishing tackle and some basic boating items), a sandwich bar from which bread and croissants can be pre-ordered, and car and bicycle hire.

10,000 square metres of hard standing is available for storage ashore and there’s a 20m x 100m slipway to the water.

Bloscon’s pontoons have rubbing strakes to protect boats
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The marina’s large car park offers free parking.Wi-fi is also free, yet the one aerial which services the marina currently struggles to cope.

A 50 tonne travel hoist is available. The only other hoists of similar or greater lifting capability are at M&G St Sampson’s Guernsey, Jersey, Brest and St Malo.

Pontoons

The 4m wide walkway takes you from the marina buildings down to two main pontoons. The one straight ahead and against the new concrete breakwater is 100m x 4m, and is reserved for large vessels and superyachts. Its electricity supply is both 16A and 32A.

At right angles to this is another 4m wide walkway with two toilet blocks. This pontoon has nine further pontoons, A to I inclusive, all with substantial 12m fingers which are untypically French; they don’t sink when you stand on them – I’ve jump and bounce tested them.

The delightful town of Roscoff is full of ancient buildings
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Fingers and pontoons have high impact plastic protective inserts to prevent yacht damage. 16A electricity and water supplies are available to all as are substantial cow-horn cleats.

The service pontoon sports a fuel berth with a 24/7 diesel pump which accepts UK credit cards, an oil disposal unit, and a black tank pump out and flush facility.

Note that water is supplied from the new style connectors now appearing in so many marinas. These adaptors are (thankfully) available for purchase from the HM.

Approach

Just like Jersey’s St Helier marina, the approach to the marina is through the commercial ferry port where international lights control all movements.

The first set controls entry and transit through the commercial area to the marina. The lights are on the north side of the Lemaire commercial breakwater and display green over white over green when ferries are manoeuvring, prohibiting entry.

The second set controls exit from the marina and are at the marina’s entrance by the starboard hand marker. Three reds forbid exit.

Only the marina’s north entrance is to be used. The southern entrance should not be attempted where there are unchartered rocks and shoals. ‘Captain’s own risk,’ as Frédérie said.

In the marina

Alexandre Dumas of the Three Musketeers fame lived here in Roscoff for the summer of 1869 whilst he wrote his chapter on the onion in his Great Dictionary of Cuisine
click to enlarge
Marina RIBs with 30hp and 70hp outboards are constantly on the water between 0700 and 2100 to help visitors to their berths and ensure the lights are obeyed.

Ahead you will see the pontoons. To your left is a beautiful 570m long breakwater constructed from local pink granite blocks. To your immediate right is the service and superyacht pontoon next to the concrete breakwater.

A small word of warning. It’s been found that at springs, a strong current of 3 to 4 knots runs by the pink granite breakwater. Do not underestimate its effect when manoeuvring between this breakwater and the first berths of the pontoons.

Bloscon marina details – tomorrow (May 2014)

As well as restaurants, chandleries and a supermarket in the marina itself, adjacent separate buildings will house professional marine services, including boat builders, sail loft, engineers and mechanics.

A new HM complex will house marina staff and the yacht club, as well as having toilet and shower facilities.

Wi-Fi is having an additional three aerials installed to overcome the current coverage and connectivity issues.

A lift to the pontoons for those with physical disabilities will be operational.

Completion is on target for May 2014.

Piers and Lin
from the Nav Table of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Piers washing Play d’eau. You can just see Irish ferry (behind the pink granite breakwater) which is moored in the commercial port
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The exit from Bloscon marina. The three red lights (by the marina’s SHM) are lit indicating manoeuvring in the commercial port and prohibiting exit
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Cruising

When do we return to Guernsey?

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Calm seas as the sun rose
taken from the saloon on leaving St Martin de Ré
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Whilst moored in Port Garnier marina, Les Sables d’Olonne, thinking or our return plans to Guernsey, local trawlers of all sizes pass us by heading for their cooperative some 300m beyond the marina.

Since they bring fresh catch every moment of the day, we really don’t mind the noise or being tossed around by their wakes since the cooperative’s huge Poisonnerie displays the most amazing range of fresh fish and crustacea you can imagine.

None of this “it has to be sent to Grimbsy to be irradiated and tested for foot and mouth (or whatever it is)”. Straight from the sea to Play d’eau’s galley. What could possibly be better?

So what are the plans to return to Guernsey?

So, our plan is to be back in Guernsey by the end of September.

To achieve this, there are two possible neap tide windows in which to navigate the Brest peninsula and its Raz de Sein and Chenal du Four, namely the 31 August and 14 September.

Whichever we take, we’ll spend the remainder of the time exploring Brittany’s north coast before heading for Jersey to meet Graham and Francis of yacht Woolly Mammoth and finally heading home to Beaucette Marina.

Piers and Lin
from the Nav Table of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.