Sailing the French Coast

Begin your holiday onboard Cherokee in Brest in Northern Brittany. For more than 350 years, the port city of Brest in the bay of the same name has been an important maritime and naval base. The cityscape is characterised by fortifications, maritime buildings, and bridges.

From Brest, we sail out on to the ocean. If the weather cooperates, we can anchor and wander on the iconic Île d’Ouessant. An island west of Finistère and famous for its lighthouse and storm photo’s. Alternatively, we can sail to the cozy harbour of Camaret sur Mer, where old shipwrecks lie on the beach. A walk along the cliffs and/or a drink in the evening is definitely recommended.

The pink granite headlands are characteristic for Brittany and due to the huge tidal differences (of up to 12 meters with spring tide) the landscape is constantly changing. Quitte special and it also provides challenging navigation, ‘not for the fainthearted.’ The combination of spectaculair tides and the many remarkable rock formations are unique and the views are magnificent. But most importantly, the day starts with fresh croissants from the bakery!

On the North West coast of Brittany there are wonderful jagged inlets (called L’ Abers), such as l’Aber Wrac’h. The peaceful river inlets provide shelter and are beautiful to sail in into, such as at Treguier and Lezardrieux with beautiful trees, beaches and remarkable houses. As these entrances are narrow and shallow, it is key to calculate the tides right. Some harbours are not always accessible at a certain water level and while sailing we would like to have the current with us. A nice puzzle, especially in combination with the wind, the tide is the clock.

Luckily, there are multiple options with nice harbours or anchorages, such as the atmospheric Paimpol and Trequier with beautiful medieval buildings and nice shops, or the new marina of St. Cast le Guildo with a lovely beach. We will also anchor at Ile Brehat, a fairy-tale like island that can only be reached by boat. The weather should cooperate a bit and with some luck we might be able to swim here. We will end this sailing holiday in the old fortified town of St. Malo, an amazing destination by itself and where we will have dinner on shore.

There are currently no voyages scheduled. Please get in touch with the VentureSail team to find out what’s available, or if other upcoming voyages might be suitable.
Call us in the Office on 01872 487288 or email [email protected], and we will be happy to help you find your next adventure!

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Cherokee

Guest berths: 8 Rig: Cutter

In 2008, Jouke Lemmer purchased Cherokee after spending years sailing with his father’s ship amongst others. Cherokee was built in 2000 by award-winning boat builders J & J Design and a year after buying her, Jouke refitted Cherokee radically, transforming her into a truly comfortable charter vessel, giving her a cutter rig and space for a generator so as to offer his passengers power and hot showers!

She is a fast, 16m vessel with a stunning teak deck and spacious cockpit, and she operates with two crew members (her skipper and the bosun/chef). Cherokee is exceptionally good at what she was built to do – pure sailing. Read more about what to expect with life onboard here.

Jouke sails his ship all over the northern hemisphere, leaving Cherokee’s home port of Rotterdam in May and sailing anywhere from the Hebrides and the Channel Islands, the Faroe Islands and Ireland or even down to the North coast of Spain before making the journey back to Holland in October. Join him and his wonderful ship for the adventure of a lifetime – think exhilarating sailing, bucket list destinations and top-notch hospitality.

Deck plan

More about Cherokee

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals on board are included in the price. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and soft/hot drinks) Alcohol is not included.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes, please let us know when making your booking.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• What language is spoken on board?

  Dutch and English.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Cherokee has two twin berth cabins and two double berth cabins for guests.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  Cherokee has two toilet/shower rooms.

• Are bedding & towels provided?

  Yes

• Is there an age limit?

  No!

• Do I need sailing experience?

  Not at all.

• Is there WIFI?

  No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes charging facilities are available when the generator is running.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  You can hire Sailing suits for £35 for the week.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

Travel Planning

From: Brest

To: St Malo

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.