Anchorage

Anse de Bertheaume

Shelter: SW, W, NW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Roadstead east of the Pointe Saint-Mathieu at the entrance of the Brest channel, between Plougonvelin and the Fort de Bertheaume.

Mooring buoys
Visitor buoys

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter from the south between the Pointe du Petit Minou and the rocky islet of Bertheaume. Anchor on sand north of the fort and clear of the moorings; the bottom carries weed in places, so the anchor may not bite first time and should be reset if it drags. Sheltered from SW through NW but fully open to E and SE, with strong tidal streams running into the Goulet de Brest at up to 4 knots on springs, often stronger than the wind. VHF channel 9.

Practical

About 450 moorings in the anse, many of them light tackle laid by the Parc naturel marin d'Iroise for small local boats and not sized for heavy visiting yachts. A nominal fee of about 6 euros a night applies but is seldom collected. No services on the water; land at the slipway and small pontoon by the beach, fending the tender off the stones. Fast day boats make it busy in season. Le Conquet 3.3 NM W for supplies and shelter, Camaret-sur-Mer 5.6 NM SE across the Goulet, small shops and restaurants in Plougonvelin 1 km inland.

Ashore

Fort de Bertheaume, a 17th century Vauban outwork perched on a 37 m islet, linked to the mainland by a footbridge, open to visitors in season. Sandy beach of Trez-Hir 1 km E of the mooring. GR 34 runs west to the Pointe Saint-Mathieu, where the abbey ruins and lighthouse stand 3 km away on foot.

History

Fort de Bertheaume was fortified by Vauban from 1689 to close the southern approach to the Brest roads, paired with the Pointe des Espagnols battery on the Crozon side. The fort was held by a garrison of 30 men and saw action against the English during the 18th century.