How to navigate with google earth

Arzal

Pénestin

La Roche Bernard

Redon

Le Rohello

BRITTANY

PAYS

DE LA LOIRE

Rieux

River Vilaine

Arzal dam

Foleux Pont du Cran

START

FINISH

0 5nm

La Roche

Bernard

Channel

Islands

Morbihan

R. Vilaine

0 50nm

FRANCE

L’Aber Wrac’h

Cherbourg

Redon

MARCH 2016 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 55

PILOTAGE

Entry from the sea
The approach to the Vilaine
River is straightforward and well
buoyed (with leading lights at night) but
shallow. Carte Marine 7033L (Quiberon
to Croisic) covers the approach. The
extensive bar drops to just 0.5 m at LWS,
so enter with a rising tide to carry you up
the 10 miles to the Arzal Barrage lock. The
lock opens most hours on the hour, but
not at lunchtime or near Low Water. The
English-speaking lock-keepers are very
helpful, and famous for good-humoured
banter and bossiness! They certainly pack
the boats in at busy weekends. Annual free
booklets (French and English versions)
give full opening times, or check online
at http://www.eptb-vilaine.fr.

Arzal to Redon
Apart from the towns and marina listings,
the Vilaine gets scant coverage in most
pilotage books. The West France Cruising
Companion (Wiley Nautical, 2010)
describes it as a ‘fun trip’ and merely
details the Arzal and La Roche Bernard
marinas. For Foleux and Redon marinas,
see the current French Almanach du
Marin Breton or Bloc Marine. A handy,
free 28-page booklet called Canal Manche
Ocean is widely available. The river is
no longer used by
commercial traffi c
and is not covered
by maritime
charts. To follow
the route upriver,

What you need to know

about the Vilaine

you will need numbers 1021 SB and 1121

SB in the 1:25,000 Cartes de Randonée

land map series. It is worth knowing

exactly where you are and discovering

the many byways and hamlets that lie

enticingly just beyond the riverbank.

Hire a boat

There’s no need to miss this beautiful

waterway even if you don’t have a boat

in Brittany. Comfortable Thames-style

motor-cruisers are available for hire from

Redon. Try http://www.crisboat.co.uk or http://www.

houseboat-hire.com/Redon for details.

They may also tempt you to explore the

quiet waterways north of Redon. W

St Malo

Dinan

St Domineuc

Hédé

Betton

Pont Rean

Guipry-

Messac

Rennes

Nantes

St Nazaire

BAY

OF

BISCAY

R Loire

R Erdre

R Vilaine

Nantes-Brest R Vilaine

Canal to

Lorient

Nantes-Brest Canal

La Rance

R Rance

Redon

Blain

Guenrouet

Sucé sur Erdre

Arzal

La Roche

Bernard

Iles Chausey

ENGLISH

CHANNEL

0 20nm

Canal data and dimensions

Between Redon and Dinan there are 60 locks,

4.5m wide. The offi cial minimum draught is

1.2m, but nobody knows the accurate fi gure.

Air draught is given as 2.5m for some low bridges

but Ken Endean’s yacht, London Apprentice,

passed under them with her ensign more

than 2.5m above the water. Possibly the 2.5m

measurement is taken where the arch meets

the abutments because the old commercial

peniches had wide, square wheelhouses.

A yacht leaving one of the 60

locks between Dinan and Redon

PHOTO: KEN ENDEAN

CHARTS: MAXINE HEATH

Locks connect the canal with the Vilaine River at Redon.

Dismast here and then enter the Brittany canal system

The useful Canal Manche
Ocean booklet is free
and widely available

PHOTO: ALAMY