Gavin May report 2022
It can get a bit bouncy here, but if the slack tide is on a sunny evening and the terns skim and dive the water, you may wonder if there is anywhere else you would ever want to be. BdPort are fluent in English, and the very few shops are shut on Mondays, but the epicerie (are we allowed to say delicatessen?) and baker can doubtless get you by for a while. Eateries can do you anything from simple bread and cheese to #50 lobster. Facilities are up to date. It is all a very simple and tranquil life here.
A fine walk up the river and through the woods for pretty much as long as you wish to walk.
Take a nice stroll out to the river mouth, starting by the Poissonerie at the give-away named Rue du Phare which is a rather charming little street. After a few hundred meters, you will follow some signs down to the river that will lead you out to the lighthouse that will immediately make you wish to change your profession. A little further takes you to the fort, and make sure that you find your way to the sea for fine views. Of course, the walk can continue all the way to Ile de Tudy across the huge sandy bay and the dunes.
If you wish to cross the river, take the little shuttle ferry from about 10.30 am till 7 pm E2 p/p each way. -the marina dories do not offer a cross river taxi service.
View from Saint Marine – photo by Gavin May 2022
Guide books warn about berthing and currents and suggest slack water. The river really runs impressively fast through the marinas.
2 euro per person each way to cross the river, 2019
A very pretty wooded river with the marinas either side quite close to the entrance. St Marine has a delicatessen and further up the hill a baker, but the HM staff equips you with a little map and helps you get your bearings. A few higher-quality eateries look down on the old harbour (as it is called!). All very soothing on a balmy summer evening. Think simple.
Being a sizeable river, there is quite a current at times and at St Marine visitor pontoon it can be a bit bouncy now and again with all the leisure boats heading in and out, despite their modest speed.
Gavin May kindly provided the above report – 2021
Photo by marinas.com
We visited Sainte Marine in May 2017 and it is an amazing place. Very peaceful with some good creperies and restaurants in the old harbour.
The Bureau du Port is on the left of the photo, a few mins walk from the pontoons
The Marina office is at the far end of the old harbour and the staff are very helpful.
The visitors’ pontoon is the long pontoon to the South. You normally need to book ahead.
Opening hours in July & August: 08h00 – 20h00 every day.
Opening hours from September to June : 08h00 – 12h30 / 14h00 – 17h30 (Monday to Friday) and 08h30 – 12h00 / 13h30 – 17h00 (Saturday).
We can welcome about 50 visitors: on the visitor pontoon (the biggest one), on each hammerhead (we’ve got 5) and also on the 2 north and 2 south catways of the pontoons B-C-D (the closest of the channel).
The facilities are in the other direction and up a few steps in the wood. They are clean and the showers are free.
The boulangerie is about 10 mins walk from the marina. If you are at the old port, go past the new garden, past the car park with the tourist information and keep going. The boulangerie will be on your right and is closed on Monday and opens at 7:15 the other days (this was in May 2017).
Besides the bakery, there is also 2 groceries. One in front of the bakery, the other one at 5 minutes walk from the marina, just nearby the hairdresser. There is also a laundry in the car park, nearby the post office and the tourist office.
No fuelling at Sainte Marine, pop across to Benodet for fuelling but see warnings on the Benodet page.
Ferry
The ferry to Benodet is on 1 min walk away and leaves from Sainte Marine at 15mins past and before the hour (although the sign seems to say something different).
The journey is less than 5 mins and costs Euro 2 each way. It leaves Benodet on the hour and half hour. Starts at 10:00 and finished at 19:00 in May with no break for lunch. Very convenient. You could go across in your dinghy but there is quite a flow of water as the sea rushes in and out of the river.
WiFi is very good, free and a strong signal. No code required.
Information
www.brittanytourism.com/discover-our-des…
Interesting Blog
www.sailblogs.com/member/bigoudeneurope/…
Contact Information
Bureau du Port
VHF channel 9
Phone : +33 2 98 56 38 72
Mail: port.plaisance@combrit-saintemarine.fr
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Port-de-Plaisance-de-Sa…
Quick to reply. Good English
Restaurants – www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g1944334…