Loading

Port of Entry

“If you wish to come to the port of Sablons, you will have to contact us two days before your arrival so that we can see if we have a place available. Moreover, there is not a particular port to come to, it is you who choose VAUBAN or SABLON.”

This is the form préavis PAF DDTM 35

and FORMULAIREDOUANE

There are 2 email addresses that you need to send the form to. I have typed them below so you can cut and paste them as they are long! didpaf-rennes-spafp-saint-malo-uct@inter…; ddtm-dml@ille-et-vilaine.gouv.fr

There are reports in late May 2022 that the first email no longer works and bounces.

The blue arrow points to the Douane building

The customs (Douane) are where the cars check-in for the ferry.

The Douane office

It is not in the building where you buy the tickets or the passenger building.

It is not this building

It appears you either need to go into one of the marinas, or there are 2 holding buoys outside of the Sablons marina. These are not for overnight stays.

The 2 buoys outside of the marina. Not suitable for poor weather or a long stay


We love the Vauban marina. Through the large lock gates, the marina is almost in the heart of Saint-Malo, located just outside of the walls. This does mean it is a busy and sometimes noisy marina but well worth a visit.

The harbour staff are very helpful and speak very good English. They really do make it a pleasure to stay in the Vauban Marina and many marinas could learn a lot from their helpful and positive approach.

2022 – the marina facilities have been demolished

They are now based in a portacabin. Office on the right and facilities on the left. There are 2 coded doors. The men tend to use the left one and the ladies the right although there are no signs to indicate this.

The marina can get very busy in the summer, so even smaller boats may have to go alongside the wall and raft up. They do get large regattas as well, sometimes with over 100 boats. Do call them first.


The Saint Malo marinas have been split into 2 separate pages. The marinas are very different and worthy of their own page each.

Vauban Marina lock timesports.bretagne.bzh/jcms/preprod_243738/f…

The marina can also accommodate large boats along the wall. Do check though as I was told it is run by a separate company and they charge a lot more.

The lock entering the marina is huge, but so are the boats that sometimes use it.

I have produced a sped-up video of leaving the lock gates and heading for the Rance Barrage – youtu.be/XAxifYkv0LM

StMalo1

The new pontoons, taken from the ramparts. photo by Colin 2015

The new fingers with the walls of Saint Malo behind – very idyllic

stmaloV1a

Les Bas-Sablons marina, note Bassin Vauban marina just outside of the walls of Saint Malo at the top left of the picture – photo by marinas.com

stmaloV1b

Vauban marina, this is the old layout. The pontoons now come off the pier on the right of the photo – by marinas.com

Entering from the sea. Make sure you have a big loop at the end of your rope. People on land will normally take your rope. We found they were on the port side as you enter

stmaloV1d

stmaloV1e

Turn left as you come through the lock gates and the marina is in front of you. Some very large boats may need to go along the wall. This is fine but ensure your boat is secure and be aware that the height of the marina does drop a little and so if you are not tied to a pontoon, you need some slack in your ropes

On the way out of the lock – the lights can be quite hard to see

They are planning to add an extension to the portacabin to provide more facilities.

The plan is to demolish the cafe/restaurant and build a new office and facilities, but that will not be completed until 2024.

The man or lady in the dinghy comes to meet you as you arrive at the marina

2019 There is a new pontoon alongside the wall which runs alongside the marina. This will be useful and will save having to adjust the ropes as the water level rises and falls.

New pontoon, photo by Neil Robert July 2019

Official website www.saintmalo.port.fr

Pilot Guide
St Malo lock and lots of other information, wind speed, Vauban lock, Rance lock nautisme.lefigaro.fr/bloc-marine/fiche-p……

The lock operates as follows and is based on Saint-Malo HW. The time listed for Entry is the time the lock gate opens to the sea. It‘s better to arrive 15mins before.

Normally the lock opens at the time stated and lets the boats in the lock, leave. It then lets you in. After about 10 mins the lock closes and the water height is adjusted. At the set time for the next opening, they open the gates and let you out, so you will normally be in there for half an hour.

The people on the wall of the lock now throw down a line with a ball on the end. You need to do a simple knot and connect it to your rope so you can pass the rope up. Make sure it has a big loop ready so they can put it over the bollard.

When the exit gate opens, you can just leave, there are no lights.

Entry
  • 2.5 hours before HW
  • 1.5 hours before HW
  • 0.5 hours before HW
  • 0.5 hours after HW
  • 1.5 hours after HW
Exit
  • 2 hours before HW
  • 1 hour before HW
  • High Water
  • 1 hour after HW
  • 2 hours after HW

The above is based on my calculation based on the lock times in 2015. Please check with the Harbourmaster or other sources of information if the timing is critical for you.

www.noonsite.com/Countries/France/StMalo

Marina Office

Email address: portplaisancevauban@ille-et-vilaine.cci….

Telephone 02 99 56 51 91 

Facilities

2022 – there is no WiFi

Tides
tide.frbateaux.net/52

Restaurants

www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g187104-…

Bakery

There is now a bakery just inside the main gate. More upmarket and great croissants and pain au raisin etc. They have their croissants delivered soon after 8am so are effectively closed until the first delivery. Nice croissants though!

bakery

stmaloV1l

Another bakery – perhaps better for bread. Go in through the Grande Porte (not the main gate) – and keep walking straight. About the 2nd shop on the right.

Yacht Club de Dinard
On the food + sailing topic the restaurant of the Yacht Club de Dinard has now reopened.
Knowing the chef, the lunch menu will be competitive and the food very correct. Dinner 35/40 € but in long days May June you can enjoy the sea view and the club atmosphere. Not so many tables so reservation preferably. Denis

Forum information
www.ybw.com/forums/index.php

Market day
Tuesday, Friday

Dinard Markets – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays mornings all year round on Esplanade des Halles, Place Rochaïd.

Extra information
Wind graph at Saint Malo – www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regio…

Weather – www.meteo.fr/marine/naviweb/bulletins/13…

Weather
www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=112

www.windfinder.com/forecast/dinard

Saint-Malo weather forecast from xc weather – www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/saintmalo

9 day – Saint-Malo – www.weather-forecast.com/locations/StMal…
france.meteofrance.com/france/meteo?PREV……