Anchorage

Anse du dellec

Shelter: N, NE, NW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Cove on the north shore of the Brest roadstead, in Plouzané, opposite the entrance to the Penfeld river and the city of Brest.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Sand bottom, good holding. Sheltered from N, NE and NW, fully exposed to the SW where the fetch across the rade builds a short sea in strong winds. Strong tidal streams across the roadstead, springs reach 4 to 5 knots at the Goulet de Brest 3 NM to the west.

Practical

Forain anchorage with no infrastructure. Brest Marina du Château lies 3.3 NM NE, Camaret Port Vauban 4.6 NM S. Small slipway at Le Dellec hamlet for dinghy landing.

Ashore

GR 34 coastal path runs above the cove toward the Pointe du Petit Minou lighthouse 2 km west, a navigation light commissioned in 1848 that marks the northern side of the Goulet de Brest. Océanopolis aquarium at Moulin Blanc 4 km east by road, with sections on polar, temperate and tropical marine fauna.

History

The Goulet de Brest has been the fortified entrance to the French Atlantic naval base since Vauban designed the coastal defences in the late 17th century. Forts of Mengant and Petit Minou, facing across the Goulet, still stand above the water.