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Normandy / Bretagne
52
boats available · live
500 € – 200,000 €
500 €200K €
1 – 42 guests
142
0 – 42 berths
042
14.76 – 56 m(48–184 ft)
14.76 m56 m
2000 – 2027
20002027
0 – 20 toilets
020
5 – 7,296 hp(4–5,436 kW)
5 hp7,296 hp
Yacht charter and Boat rental in Normandy and Brittany
52 boats available
Prices shown are each boat's cheapest available 7-night week. Choose your dates for exact prices.
Why charter a yacht in Normandy and Brittany?
The Normandy / Bretagne sailing area covers the north-west corner of France, where the English Channel meets the Atlantic. This is coastal sailing with a tidal rhythm: granite islands, working fishing harbours, lighthouses on every headland and tidal streams that reward a well-planned passage. The charter boats here are mostly sailing yachts, based in two Breton marinas – Port du Crouesty on the south coast and Port d'Armor at Saint-Quay-Portrieux on the north coast – with a few more at the small harbour of Dahouët.
Crews who already know the Mediterranean find a different kind of sailing here: fewer boats at anchor, cooler water, fresh seafood in every port and navigation that keeps the skipper busy. It suits sailors who enjoy planning with a tide table as much as with a weather forecast.
Two Coasts, Two Different Weeks
The south coast around Port du Crouesty is the gentler of the two. Quiberon Bay is sheltered from the Atlantic swell by the Quiberon peninsula and a line of islands and reefs, so the water stays relatively flat in the prevailing westerlies and the hops between harbours are short. Belle-Île, Houat and Hoëdic are all within an easy day sail.
The north coast around Saint-Quay-Portrieux faces the English Channel. The tides are bigger, the coastline is rockier and the passages are longer, but the rewards are islands such as Bréhat, the pink granite of the Côte de Granit Rose and, for experienced crews, the Channel Islands. It is the better choice for a crew that wants to be challenged.
Sailing from Port du Crouesty
Port du Crouesty sits at the tip of the Rhuys peninsula, right at the entrance to the Gulf of Morbihan. Leave the marina and Quiberon Bay opens up in front of you. Belle-Île, the largest island off Brittany, lies about 15 nautical miles away; its two harbours, Le Palais and Sauzon, are classic first-night stops, and the wild west coast is worth a day of its own.
Houat and Hoëdic are small, almost car-free islands with white-sand beaches and clear water – on a calm summer day they feel closer to the Mediterranean than to the Channel. On the mainland side, La Trinité-sur-Mer is one of France's best-known sailing towns, with a lively harbour and good provisioning.
The Gulf of Morbihan itself is an inland sea dotted with dozens of islands. Its narrow entrance next to Crouesty carries some of the strongest tidal streams on the French coast, so enter with the flood and leave with the ebb. Inside, Île-aux-Moines and Île d'Arz make peaceful anchorages once the day-trippers have left.
Sailing from Saint-Quay-Portrieux
Port d'Armor at Saint-Quay-Portrieux is a deep-water marina that can be entered at any state of the tide – a real advantage on a coast where many harbours dry out or sit behind a sill. The Bay of Saint-Brieuc has one of the largest tidal ranges in Europe, well over ten metres on big spring tides, so the scenery changes by the hour.
Île de Bréhat lies about 20 nautical miles to the north-west: a car-free island of pink rocks, gardens and sheltered moorings, with Paimpol and the Trieux estuary close by. Further west, Perros-Guirec and Ploumanac'h mark the Côte de Granit Rose. To the north and east, Jersey and Guernsey are within a long day's sail. The Channel Islands are outside the European Union, so check the entry formalities and confirm with the charter company that the boat may leave French waters. The Normandy coast – the Chausey islands, Granville and Cherbourg – is best kept for two-week charters.
Tides, Currents and Weather
Tidal planning is the key skill here. French tide tables give a coefficient for every tide, from about 20 on the smallest neaps to 120 on the biggest springs; the higher the number, the stronger the streams. Plan the tricky passages – the Morbihan entrance, the channels around Bréhat, the approaches to the Channel Islands – for slack water or a fair tide, and check the drying heights before you enter a small harbour.
In summer the prevailing winds blow from the west and north-west, typically 10 to 20 knots, and sea breezes build on sunny afternoons. An Atlantic low can bring a day or two of stronger wind, and early-summer mornings can be misty. The water stays between about 15 and 19 °C, so a wetsuit makes swimming more pleasant.
When to Go
The season runs from May to September. July and August are the warmest months and also the busiest, as French families head to the coast – arrive early in popular harbours such as Le Palais or Bréhat. June and September offer long days, quieter anchorages and often the most settled weather of the year, which makes them the favourite months of many experienced crews.
Boats and Licences
Most boats in this area are monohull sailing yachts between 30 and 45 feet, with the odd catamaran. For a bareboat charter the skipper needs a recognised licence such as the ICC or an equivalent national certificate, and charter companies here often ask about experience in tidal waters. If your crew has none, a skipper can be booked with the boat and will turn the tides from a worry into part of the fun.
Sample Week from Port du Crouesty
- Day 1: Port du Crouesty to Houat (about 9 nm) – a short first leg and a swim off the beach at Tréac'h er Goured.
- Day 2: Houat to Belle-Île (about 13 nm), overnight in Le Palais or Sauzon.
- Day 3: A day on Belle-Île – walk or cycle to the Aiguilles de Port-Coton on the wild coast.
- Day 4: Belle-Île to Hoëdic (about 13 nm), the quietest island of the bay.
- Day 5: Hoëdic to La Trinité-sur-Mer (about 14 nm) for provisions and a harbour evening.
- Day 6: Into the Gulf of Morbihan on the flood; anchor off Île-aux-Moines or Île d'Arz.
- Day 7: Out with the ebb and back to Port du Crouesty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience in tidal waters?
It helps a great deal. The distances are short, but tidal streams decide when you can pass a headland or enter a harbour. If you have only sailed in the Mediterranean, start from Port du Crouesty, keep the first days short, or book a skipper for the week.
Can we sail to the Channel Islands?
From Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Jersey and Guernsey are within reach on a long day. They are outside the European Union, so passports and customs formalities apply, and the charter company has to agree to the boat leaving French waters.
Which base suits a family crew?
Port du Crouesty. Quiberon Bay is sheltered, the legs between Houat, Hoëdic and Belle-Île are short, and the islands have sandy beaches that children love.
Plan Your Charter
Browse the sailing yachts available in Normandy and Brittany, or go straight to the boats at Port du Crouesty and Port d'Armor, Saint-Quay-Portrieux. Read how we work or our FAQ, and our team will help you choose the base, the boat and the route that fit your crew.