Location: Les Sables-d’Olonne, France
Duration: 4th – 22nd July 2019 (Live aboard 11th – 22nd July)
Cost: €63.50/day (as at July 2019)
This marina is well situated for travelers and yachties. Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, chandleries are all close by, with the centre of town, post office, banks, pharmacies only a short walk away. A range of transport options are also available including ferry, bus, train, taxi, Uber and Bolt. For more information check out http://seagoddessadventures.com/more-about-les-sables-dolonne/
As discussed in our previous blog, http://seagoddessadventures.com/catamaran-launch-handover-set-up/ this is a very busy marina. The area designated for Lagoon catamarans post launch, locally referred to as the ‘Lagoon Dock’, was packed while we were there which had both advantages and disadvantages. The dock is close to chandleries and the Lagoon commissioning agent. Staff from the Lagoon factory are also often around for a quick chat or to resolve any immediate issues. There was also a real sense of camaraderie amongst the boat owners with lots of chats and sharing of information and experiences, where to go for stuff and where not to go for stuff. The main disadvantage of the Lagoon dock was the number of docked catamarans with minimal space between boats, and rafting was common. So much so that heading out for a sail and berthing on return was challenging. We moved to ‘C’ dock after a few days, and whilst it was ‘quieter’ it wasn’t ideal.
The Port Olona marina is very tight, pens are quite small and the wind is blustery and swirly for most of the day. As a result berthing can be difficult. We observed a number of near misses and even a full on bow crash into the dock by one guy who got caught out in the windy conditions. The main channel caters for a range of craft including large cargo ships, fishing trawlers, recreational boats and personal water craft (Sea Doos). The latter were a nightmare. Most were newbies and based on their skill level had minimal tuition prior to setting off. As a result they were all over the place, chatting on their mobile phones, taking piccies, checking out what their friends were doing. Honestly at times they were so close to our boat we could have easily reached out and shook their hand. Then there is the issue with a ‘sand’ depot which is located on the boundary with the marina. Initially we didn’t notice any impact, but after a few days the boat gel coat was covered in hundreds of small rust spots. We successfully removed most of the spots with rust remover but are still finding patches we missed some months on.
Staffing
Staff are located at a central office alongside the main channel, and you will see them at least 2 – 3 times per day in a tender zipping up and down, ignoring the 4kph speed limit in the channel, to check boat stays. The cost of berthing our boat in the marina for the first five days was included in the catamaran purchase price, if you want to stay longer, as we did, you will need to go to the central office and inform them of your additional length of stay (make sure to take passports, credit card and the marina document provided by Lagoon staff at handover). Staff speak minimal English so having Google Translator on your mobile phone is useful. NB Staff do not provide berthing/docking assistance at this marina.
Amenities
Secure access: Yes, keypad code provided.
Secure parking: Parking is available but is not ‘secure’.
Bathrooms: One set of bathrooms available, accessed via keypad code (same code as for dock). Unisex – 6 toilets, 10 showers, 1 toilet/shower for persons with a disability, 2 urinals tucked around the corner, 2 large sinks for washing up/baby bath (bring your own plug). Cleanliness is average.
Laundromat: Private facility across the road from the marina. Soap powder can be purchased on site. Cost of washing machine per load ranges from €5.30 – 11 depending on the size of the machine.
Fuel Dock: Petrol and diesel available, payment via credit card only.
Gas: There are no gas refill facilities in this marina. The two gas bottles supplied by Lagoon were inadequate for our needs given we were about to embark on a long passage. Peter hunted around within the town and was able to purchase 2 x 10kg gas bottles from the Carrefour supermarket which were much more suited to our needs. (The bottles were €25 each including gas). NB The base of the bottle may need modification to fit, dependent on the size of the onboard gas locker. We gave the small Lagoon supplied gas bottles to an Aussie family headed for the Med.
NB The European gas regulator connections are different to that in Australia. Additionally, Europe uses butane gas.
Pump out: Yes, see marina staff.
Wifi: Yes but painfully slow.
Noise: Can get noisy at night due to music from local restaurants/cafes.
Overall we rated this marina 6/10.
For more information about Les Sables-d’Olonne check out http://seagoddessadventures.com/more-about-les-sables-dolonne/