Brittany, Leg 1 - Port Crouesty to Saint-Malo, 09 - 18 May 2026 (10 days)

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Exhilarating sailing adventure around Brittany, Bay of Biscay and the Channel Islands, where powerful tides and shifting winds will challenge your seamanship at every turn. Navigate dramatic coastlines, tidal races, and challanging harbour entrances. This voyage offers an outstanding training experience in tidal waters.

Highlights

Wild Atlantic coastline

Boat handling in tidal waters

Navigation training

Dates

Start: 09 May 2026 (Saturday, 13:00) at Port Crouesty (Bay of Biscay), France.
Finish: 18 May 2026 (Monday, 09:00) at Saint-Malo, France.

The start and end dates are fixed.

Contribution

The whole trip (10 days) per person:

1280 Euro for a bunk. The deposit (50% of the balance) is to be paid within one week of booking, the rest 35 days before the start date.
180 Euro for consumables. Kitty is collected during the joining day for all food consumed onboard, harbour fees and diesel. This is a realistic estimation. Any remainder will be refunded at the end of the trip.

The trip is non-commercial and runs in a friends-sailing manner. The contribution per person is fixed no matter how many people have booked the trip. The trip will run regardless of the number of participants.

What is not included:

Optional expenses like rental vehicles or food & beverages consumed ashore
Travel to and from the boat
Personal travel insurance (recommended) - you can find some recommendations in the FAQ
Personal laundry (some ports have facilities to do laundry if you need it)

How much to bring in addition?

Generally, you won’t need anything in addition, but this will depend on how much you want to eat in restaurants and spend on other things like souvenirs and tourist attractions. Some people prefer to eat only on the boat and don’t spend anything on restaurants and some prefer to eat outside whenever we are on land. This is very individual.

Who can join

It is recommended to have at least 1 week of sea sailing experience to join this trip.

You will become an active member of the crew. You will not be just a passenger or a guest. During the voyage you will assist with helming, sail trimming, cooking and all the normal duties of a crew member whilst having the opportunity to learn about weather, passage planning, navigation, boat handling and many more according to your interests and experience. Above all, it should be fun and recreational for everyone.

In the course of the trip we will maintain a watch system and we will sail during the night. Therefore, there is no fixed lights-off time and your sleeping rhythm will be different than at home.

Our main language on board is English. If English is not your native language, and you don’t know the English sailing terms, don’t worry. You will learn the necessary vocabulary in no time while on board.

There will be up to seven people on board, including the skipper, allowing us to run a three-watch system with two crew members per watch.

Travel logistics

How to get to Port Crouesty

By Train: take a TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Vannes (about 2.5–3 hours).

By Air, the nearest airports:

Nantes Atlantique (NTE) - 1.5h by train to Vannes
Rennes (RNS) - 1h by train to Vannes

From Vannes, take a bus (ligne 24 or regional shuttle) or taxi to Port du Crouesty — about 40–50 minutes.

Let us know, we can help you find the best connections!

How to travel from Saint-Malo

By Train: take a TGV to Paris Montparnasse (about 2.5–3 hours).

By Air, the nearest airport is Rennes Airport (RNS) – about 1 hour by train.

Let us know, we can help you find the best connections!

Skipper

Marcin Wojtyczka: RYA Yachtmaster Ocean commercially endorsed, RYA Yachtmaster Cruising Instructor, MCA Master 200 GT Unlimited (Code Vessels less than 200GT / OOW Yachts less than 500GT)

What should you pack

You can download a complete checklist here.

The most important items:

head torch for night sailing
boat shoes with a good grip that don’t leave marks on the deck
foul weather gear (if you have one), otherwise waterproof jacket
some warmer clothes
passport
insurance policy
payment/credit cards
phone with charger
toiletries

Note that there will be bedlinen (pillows, blankets/duvet) and towels on board for everyone. You may want to take sleeping bag for additional comfort.

The trip will be focused on training and cruising in tidal waters. In total, we should log up to 380 nautical miles and 70h. We'll aim to make as many harbour entries and exits as possible to sharpen navigation and boat-handling skills.

Anticipated route:

Port du Crouesty - Ile Belle Island - Concarneau - Camaret-sur-Mer - Morlaix - Treguier - Sark Island - Jersey Island - Saint-Malo

We will try to follow the planned route, but the final itinerary will be decided in association with you, and the crew, in light of the weather, boat and crew conditions at the time. Therefore, the amount of ports we visit, and the amount of nautical miles or hours sailed may differ from what is stated in the description.

We will be maintaining a watch system to ensure everyone is well rested and meals are prepared on time and maintenance is undertaken when necessary. There will be 3 watches with up to 2 people in each watch.

Hanse 458 "Hydra", 2023

The boat is designed for fast cruising. It delivers effortless sailing, responding smoothly to the helm and remaining balanced even in challenging conditions. She is well equipped and prepared for offshore sailing.

We will inspect the boat thoroughly before the voyage to ensure that every bit of equipment is absolutely ship-shaped.

General info:

Year: 2023
Type: sailing
Hull: monohull
Length (LOA): 14.04 m (46.06 ft)
Waterline length (LWL): 12.20 m
Hull speed: 8.48kt
Berths (Bunks): 8+2
Cabins: 4
WC / Shower: 3
Beam: 4.38 m (14 ft)
Draught: 1.82 m (6 ft)
Air draft: 20.6 m
Engine: 57 HP
Fuel capacity: 210 L (Diesel)
Water capacity: 450 L
Displacement: 11.7 t
Single spade rudder
2 steering wheels
Sails: Fully battened Mainsail 59.00 m2, Furling genoa 44.00 m2, Storm Jib 9.00 m2
Plastimo drogue

Equipment:

Autopilot
Swimming platform
Refrigerator
Stove
Sprayhood
Radio/CD/MP3
Socket 12V
DSC VHF radio
Handheld VHF DSC radio
EPIRB
AIS
Radar reflector
Chart plotter with GPS and digital chartography charts
Sextant Astra IIIB Deluxe
PredictWind Offshore app
Complete set of pilot books, almanacs and charts
Pillows, bedlinen and towels for each crew member

Average weather conditions:

Air and Sea temperature

In May, weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay and Brittany are generally favorable for sailing, with mild temperatures and moderate winds. Average daytime temperatures are around 16 °C, dropping to about 10 °C at night.

Wind and sea state

The average wind speed in Brittany in May is 5 Bft. The area remains influenced by North Atlantic low-pressure systems, while the winter storms have passed, occasional depressions can still bring unsettled weather. The majority of the trip will be on the exposed North Atlantic coast of West France where moderate to rough sea state is to be expected.

The route is divided into several coastal and offshore passages with some night sailing. You will receive a certificate of passage to prove your sea time for sailing licenses. You will be an active member of the crew, and we will provide practical training on board to ensure safety and improve your sailing skills.

We give a great amount of responsibility to each crew member in running the ship so that you can gain a good experience and learn new skills as much or as little as you want. The skipper is an RYA instructor and will find it difficult not to teach or coach anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest.

RYA qualifying passages

If you are an aspiring Skipper or Yachtmaster, it will be an excellent opportunity to gain bluewater miles, practice navigation, pilotage and COLREG skills so that you can be more confident and comfortable when taking a boat out to sea on your own. During the voyage, we can evaulate your current knowledge and provide suggestions for improvement. We can evaluate whether you are at the right level to pass an RYA exam and practice any gaps in your knowledge.

The opportunity will also be there to act as a skipper (with guidance if needed from the skipper) for your RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifying 60M passages.

Main topics that you can learn or brush up:

Maneuvering under sails & engine: berthing, hoisting and lowering sails, reefing, tacking, gybing, sail trim
Safety: use of liferaft, lifejacket, EPIRB, PLB, AIS beacons, managing emergencies
Equipment: use of Autopilot and VHF
Weather forecasts and weather routing
Offshore & coastal navigation: digital and traditional (including the use of Sextant if of interest)
Tides and Tidal Streams
Night navigation
Pilotage and passage planning
ColRegs
Storm tactics and use of a drogue
Use of Storm Jib
Life on board: organization of watches, nutrition, sleep and risk management

We will try to follow the anticipated route, but on the sea, we need to remain flexible as we cannot plan and anticipate everything. Therefore, your expectation might be different than what you experience, subject to weather, boat and crew conditions and what the majority of the crew wants.

Joining day - Port du Crouesty

We will spend the first day preparing and victualling the yacht, going over the safety routines and practices, getting up to speed with the boat and learning or refreshing all the basic sailing skills before we embark on the journey. Once we slip the lines there will be plenty of occasions to practice tacking, gybing, reefing, boat handling under the engine and all the other key skills we must have.

Quiberon Bay

Port du Crouesty is a modern marina known for its large harbour, lively quays, and easy access to nearby islands. Surrounded by beaches, coastal paths, it's a popular base for sailing. Key attractions include the bustling quai promenade and the nearby Port Navalo lighthouse.

Ile Belle Island (16 NM)

Belle-Île is Brittany's largest island, known for its dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and scenic coastal paths. Charming villages like Le Palais and Sauzon offer colorful houses, local markets, and a taste of Breton culture.

Ile Belle Island

With its lighthouses, hidden coves, and cliffs, the island is a must-visit for sailors and explorers alike.

Concarneau (32 NM)

Concarneau is a picturesque walled town on Brittany's southern coast, known for its historic Ville Close and cobblestone streets. The harbour is lively with fishing boats and yachts, and the town offers markets, cafés, and fresh seafood along the waterfront.

Concarneau

Its combination of maritime activity, history, and charming streets makes Concarneau a favorite stop for sailors.

Camaret-sur-Mer (64 NM)

Camaret-sur-Mer is a small fishing town on the Crozon Peninsula, famous for its rugged coastline and dramatic cliffs. Its historic harbour is lined with colorful boats, and the town is rich in Breton culture, with markets, cafés, and local seafood.

Camaret-sur-Mer

The nearby Vauban tower and scenic coastal paths make it a popular stop for sailors.

Morlaix (68 NM)

Morlaix is a charming town in northern Brittany, known for its historic streets and iconic 19th-century viaduct. The town's cobblestone lanes and half-timbered houses give it a distinctive Breton character.

Morlaix

Key attractions include the Viaduc de Morlaix, Place des Otages, Morlaix Museum, and the peaceful Jardin de la Retraite.

Treguier (48 NM)

Tréguier is a picturesque town in northern Brittany, renowned for its historic architecture and scenic setting along the Tréguier River. Its cobbled streets, timber-framed houses, and medieval cathedral give the town a distinctly Breton charm.

Treguier

Tréguier Cathedral

Key attractions include Tréguier Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, and riverside walks that showcase the town's historic bridges and charming quays.

Sark Island (62 NM)

Sark is a small, car-free island in the Channel Islands, known for its quiet charm, rugged cliffs, and scenic coastal paths. The island offers a peaceful escape with cycling and walking as the main ways to explore.

Sark Island

A view across to Sark

Key attractions include La Seigneurie gardens, dramatic La Coupée cliff, and tranquil bays perfect for swimming and kayaking.

Jersey Island (22 NM)

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, known for its mix of rugged coastline, golden beaches, and a mild climate that feels almost Mediterranean in summer. Its capital, St Helier, offers lively shops, cafés, and a modern marina, while the countryside is filled with green lanes, coastal paths, and historic sites.

La Corbière lighthouse on Jersey

Jersey Island

Key attractions include Mont Orgueil Castle, St Brelade's Bay, cliffs and walking routes of the island's northern coast.

Saint-Malo (40 NM)

Saint-Malo is a historic walled port city on Brittany's northern coast, known for its granite ramparts and striking views over the English Channel. Its old town (Intra-Muros) is filled with narrow streets, seafood restaurants, and lively squares that showcase the city's maritime heritage.