Entrance to Etel – photo courtesy of marinas.com
Etel marina – photo courtesy of marinas.com
Colin’s visit May 2025
We really liked Etel, so much so, we visited twice – read on.
We visited in late May 2025. We approached on a 92 coeff tide and we arrived just after HW. Etel has a famous sand bar which moves on a regular basis. As such, most british boats avoid the marina. The tide was still running into the estuary. We called up the Semaphore on VHF13 expecting to be told gauche, droit or tout droit but received no assistance. The person at the Semaphore spoke no english and spoke too fast for us to be able to translate most of the french.
The marina has a pontoon outside of the wall on the river side for visitors. This is now the main mooring. Almost everyone moors with their bow facing South, not sure why, probably the tide.
The first boats on the pontoon are for ferries and the lifeboat, so best moor further down. There is also mooring on the outside of the pontoon just past the marina entrance (K). The facilities are at the middle of the back of the marina, so distance wise, there is probably little difference in how far you have to walk.
The marina office is helpful, but the other side of the marina, and facilities are modern and good. You can use your passport escale card to get in. Only one shower was open, the others were locked. It is mixed use. The facilities are smart and hopefully there are more open mid summer. A single washing and single drying machine is available which worked really well. Euro 6 for washing and Euro 3 for dryer.
The visitors moorings are in the tide, but even on a spring tide were OK. However, the passing boats do not keep to the 5 knot speed limit and there is no policing or control. So they go whatever speed they wish and have no respect or thought for the visitor boats. This means it can be quite bumpy with the swell from passing boats. It does quieten down in the evening but starts again at 6am, depending on the tide. This aspect is very disappointing. It was OK in our Princess V50 but some of the smaller boats did get tossed around.
Electric has a button which goes off every 24 hours so you have to press the button again. Wifi code is available from the marina office and you need a code per day as they last 24 hours.
Croissants and bread from Boulangerie in Liberation Road were burnt and dry and the worst of the trip. There is another boulangerie at the top of the road by the church, but we did not try it.
There is an interesting boat trip up the river is well worth doing. It leaves at 10:30 and 15:30 with more in the summer. Commentary in french only.
Saint Cado
We rode to the Island of Saint Cado. The roads were quite busy but a lovely place to visit. Lunch at the nearby restaurant was OK.
Menhirs and Dolmens
We also did a long cycle ride to see the Menhirs and Dolmens. They were impressive and there was a good cycle route around the stones. About 25km.
We had lunch in Erdeven from a boulanger – great sandwich and nice town.
We actually visited twice as we visited again on our return journey as we had new guests on board and we loved Etel. This time the Semaphore guided us in and out and could not be more helpful. We left 2.5 hours after LW and did not hit the sand bar!
The market in Rue Liberation on the Tuesday was actually very good and good quality. Second only to Vannes. Well worth seeing.
The Port of Etel website reports:
Come and stop in one of the most beautiful South Brittany Ria. Formerly frequented by a flotilla of Tuna boats, you will not encounter any difficulty to enter the estuary, the semaphore will guide you in the passes on VHF channel 13 or by telephone (02 97 55 35-59). In August, during the tuna party, you can enjoy grilled and with all the sauces on the good tables near the port.
The beach is two steps away…
Semaphore schedules from 15/06 to 31/08: 3.5 hours before the High Water and 2.5 hours after the High Water!
> BY THE SEA
Access to the port is easy to access if you take the precaution to contact the semaphore to make sure that crossing the bar will not be a problem.
Contact – ETEL Semaphore: Tel. 02 97 55 35 59, VHF Channel 13.
Distances
– Etel / Lorient => 10 miles
– Etel / Port Tudy (Groix) => 10 miles
– Etel / Quiberon => 13 miles
– Etel / Port Haliguen => 17 miles
– Etel / The Palace (Belle-île) => 19 miles
Contact information
- Director of the Port: Michel Le Bras
Telephone: 02 97 55 46 62
E-mail: etel@compagniedesportsdumorbihan.fr - Website: www.port-etel.com
Information
www.passeportescales.com/fr/port-etel
Weather forecast
marine.meteoconsult.fr/meteo-marine/bull…
Sail Blog
www.sailblogs.com/member/taransaymhor/?x…
Tide Tables
Restaurants – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g2004191-Etel_Morbihan_Brittany.html