Anchorage

Plas Errot

3.9France

Shelter: SE, S, SW, W
Seabed: sand, algae, rock
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off the Île de Sein in Finistère, mixed sand, weed and rock bottom, sheltered from SE through W.

Water
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach requires caution in the Raz de Sein tidal race; cross at slack water, typically HW Brest minus 3h or HW Brest plus 3h. The island is surrounded by rocks and strong streams; use the marked channel leading to Men-Brial. Exposed to north and east winds.

Practical

Water point available. Port du Men-Brial 0.5 NM SE for shelter and the island's only harbour facilities. Audierne 13 NM E on the mainland for full services.

Ashore

Île de Sein village is a few minutes' walk from Men-Brial, with bakery, restaurants and the 1950 Ar-Men lighthouse museum. The island is 2 km long and flat, fully walkable. The Abbé Le Gall monument commemorates the 114 men from Sein who sailed to join Free French Forces in June 1940.

History

In June 1940 nearly all the men of Île de Sein, 128 of them, crossed to England to join General de Gaulle, representing at the time a quarter of Free French Forces. De Gaulle awarded the Cross of the Liberation to the island in 1946.