Brittany North Coast

Brittany Sailing Paimpol every odd numbered year. (Bi-annual)

Pilot Cutter Eve and Annabel J normally go to Paimpol ever odd numbered year.

You can enjoy sailing an eye catching pilot cutter to as many as our favourite Breton haunts as we can fit in between Brest in the West and the walled city of St Malo on the Brittany - Normandy border.

Annabel J will be sailing to Normandy and the Channel Isles in August and September from her home port on the River Hamble, near Southampton.

The photo above is not a pilot cutter, but one of the French replica's of their historic fishing fleet - the mighty Bisquine de Granvillaise by Kathy Mansfield. It is principally a lugger with lug topsails.

Paimpol music and culture festival    

Mini Brochure Paimpol

Brittany Sailing Schedules

Experienced Sailors or Adventurous Beginners

Whilst you may only experience one cross channel passage by joining or leaving in France - these voyages can be quite tiring as you will be expected to stand watches. The North Brittany coast has strong tides and interesting pilotage. These are sailing expeditions in the sense that there will be some challenging long days sailing and possibly night sailing, so that when we reach a lovely destination we can stay a while and enjoy the land too.

There is no experience needed for this adventure voyage but they are more suited to those who have sailed before and know they can cope with sailing the boat in sometimes choppy tidal waters.  Our Brittany and Normandy holidays are ideal voyages if you want to gain lots of  sea miles, pilotage practice or 60 mile qualifying passages towards RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster. This is not a suitable voyage if you have any doubts about your health and stamina.

The skipper will sail with an experienced mate who has sailed on Eve before on this voyage but we also welcome other potential watch leaders who may be interested in sailing as a mate on future French or Scilly Island Voyages.

Channel Islands and Normandy coast schedule

Granite Rose Coast & French Rivers

Treburden is a welcoming  destination with its large sheltered marina which fits remarkably well into the landscape of granite crags, pine trees and gorgeous beaches. After a long passage it is always nice to swim in the sea, enjoy a refreshing shower and head into town for a glass or two of wine or beer on 'French soil' that doesn't move after all that rock and roll accross the English Channel. If the winds are from more from the South West our first destination may be Guernsey, or we may head for the Granite Rose coast of France, sailing deep up a French River like Lezardrieux, Tregieur or into the tiny harbour of Ploumanach. Both the Channel Islands and Brittany are renowned for their fresh seafood, so no doubt we will be sampling a local restaurant as a reward for our channel crossing. If we sail first to North Brittany Eve may re visit favourites like the granite archipelago Isles de Brehat, or the National Bird Reserve of Les Sept Isles.

Isle de Brehat & Gulf of St Malo

Isle de Brehat is a bit like a French Isles of Scilly. An amazing rock garden with pink sand beaches, low stone farmhouses, hidden sheltered villages and a distinctive local community. To live on Brehat locals and holiday visitors have to plan their days to fit the tides and weather. The landscape changes drastically between high and low water and you will be amazed how we manage to wiggle into some of the deep pool anchorages when the water disappears !

Likewise Paimpol has a huge tidal range and this histoic port once famous for its Newfoundland fishing fleet looks distinctly landlocked when the tide goes out.

Annabel J - Our Normandy Specialist

With a home base in the Solent the sleek 67ft pilot cutter Annabel J has made Normandy and the Channel Isles her offshore playground. She sails there and back from the Hamble early season and has voyages in late Autumn and Septmber where you can squeeze in a French foray with style in just 5-6 days.