Harbour

La Turballe

Maximum length: 59 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 9 ft

Fishing and leisure harbour of 329 berths on the Guérande peninsula, between Le Croisic and Piriac-sur-Mer, first sardine port of France.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the west, between the Plateau du Four and the coast. Entrance marked by a green light on the south mole and a red light on the north mole. Maximum draught 3 metres at the leisure pontoons. Tidal port with no sill, accessible at all states of tide. The port has been extended with an outer harbour that now takes most visitors, so use up to date charts and enter with care, as a moored catamaran can narrow the channel. Berths in the new basin lie beam-on to the prevailing westerly, so arriving in a fresh west wind is tricky and can set boats down onto the rock armour, and help is not always on hand. The outer harbour shelters well from west and southwest but is uncomfortable in a south or south-east wind. VHF 9.

Practical

329 leisure berths alongside the active fishing fleet. Water, electricity, diesel at the fuel berth. Shore power and water run on a 12 hour timer that needs resetting. Bikes can be hired at the capitainerie. Offshore wind-farm work boats berth just outside the marina and run noisy day and night. Capitainerie, boatyard with slipway. Fish auction hall on the commercial quay. Shops, bakery and supermarket within 400 m in the town centre.

Ashore

Salt marshes of Guérande 4 km east, classified Ramsar wetland with guided visits. A sandy beach lies right beside the port, and a bus reaches Guérande in about 20 minutes. Sentier des Douaniers coastal footpath to Piriac-sur-Mer, 5 km north. Sandy beach of Pen Bron 2 km south of the port.

History

La Turballe became the first sardine port of France in the 19th century after the construction of canning factories from 1854. The fishing fleet still lands sardines, anchovies and mackerel at the daily auction.