How to navigate with google earth

52 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com MARCH 2016

PILOTAGE

Richard Barton-Wood

discovers some

hidden gems whilst

sailing up the freshwater

River Vilaine in South Brittany

F

ancy a secluded place for a quiet

afternoon nap, a spot of wild

swimming or a private barbeque

with only ducks, geese and swans

for company? For peace and

solitude en bâteau, the delightful River

Vilaine in South Brittany has it all. The 20-

mile stretch between the barrage sea lock

at Arzal and the town of Redon snakes its

way through lush countryside, where you

can drop anchor or nose into the bank at

almost any point. The river here is deep and

wide enough to tack. Above Redon, motor-

cruisers, or shallow draught de-masted

yachts, can continue north across Brittany.

But that is another story (see Desperately

seeking summer, YM August 2014).

If you are looking for a base on the

Vilaine, there are four marinas hosting

between them a staggering 2,214 boats,

almost 10% of them British. With this

number of boats, you might expect the

river to be pretty frenetic at times. Not

so. Even at weekends in high summer,

expect to have the river largely to yourself,

especially above Foleux.

Carry on up

the Vilaine

PHOTO: ALAMY

PHOTO: ALAMY

PHOTO: RICHARD BARTON-WOOD

Vieux Port, the old port part of the marina at La Roche

Bernard. Smaller yachts may be lucky and find a berth

Aerial view of Arzal

looking upriver. To the

left of the barrage is the

lock. Marina berths can be

found either side of the river