Today we decided that we would leave Port des Minimes (La Rochelle) as it is too big and busy a marina for our liking, and head over to St Denis on the Ile D’ Oleron.
The marina on this island has very narrow approaches and you need to ensure you have enough tidal height to get over the rocks and the natural sill into the marina. There are three waiting buoys a bit off the entrance where you can wait to ensure the tide is right for your draught. It’s only about 12-13 miles from La Rochelle but we were looking forward to visiting a nice quite little island, and using modern parlance chillaxing.
On the approach it looked like a few boats were also heading into the marina from the south. When we got in the place was so busy we had to raft alongside another boat. We had just got ourselves sorted out and made a cuppa, when suddenly it seemed like the whole sailing world was descending onto St Denis. Within a short time we had a further two boats raft onto us making it four deep the full length of the visitors pontoons!

Turns out it was a holiday weekend – you have to laugh…………..it was a whole lot busier than Port des Minimes!

The inside boat was leaving early next morning to get out, and so were the ones rafted outside of us. That suits us fine because we have to get out early next morning to head for Royan, as the weather looks good for that leg. We need to arrive off the river entrance at a particular stage of the tide, and the extra time will enable us to ensure this is the case.

Our friends in the pilot book have our attention once again regarding the entry into the Gironde!