Harbour

Port de l'Argol

4.2Hoedic, FranceMorbihan

Maximum length: 32 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 2 ft

Small drying harbour of about 35 places on Hoedic, a Breton island of roughly 100 inhabitants south of Quiberon.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the north, leaving the Grands Cardinaux lighthouse to starboard if coming from the east. The harbour dries, with only about 0.9 m near high water, and the depth falls off from north to south, around 2 m at the pontoon. Mooring is mainly on communal buoys where boats tie up in a daisy and raft together, with a small pontoon and drying berths as well, so some skill in tying to a shared buoy helps. It is strongly discouraged in a NE wind, when it becomes rolly and boats knock together. Watch for ferries and launches leaving the harbour, seen late and setting up wash on the hour. Entry between two short piers, not lit. Anchoring in the bay is a calmer alternative. VHF 9.

Practical

Around 35 places, mainly resident boats and small visiting yachts. The harbour team helps crews take a buoy, but can be overwhelmed and the office often opens only in the late afternoon. Reckon on 26 to 30 euros a night including water and electricity. One WC for visitors and showers now charged, with a berth-reservation system so a boat keeps its place after a day out. No WiFi and poor mobile coverage, and the shore shuttle is unreliable, so carry a tender. Water on the quay. No fuel or chandlery on the island. Grocery, bakery and a few restaurants in the village about 400 m from the harbour.

Ashore

Village of Hoedic at 400 m, with its fort built under Napoleon III now housing a small museum, the restaurant Le Jardin d'Augusta and the Trinquette bar. Coastal footpath circles the whole island in about 8 km, passing beaches at Plage de la Croix and Plage du Gardour. The island is part of the Natura 2000 area Belle-Ile, Houat, Hoedic.