An island on the edge of Brittany, not so easy to reach
"Who sees Sein, sees its end." says the saying. The island of Sein is indeed a stopover that is often avoided by yachtsmen passing through the Mer d'Iroise, because of its difficult access but also because of the exposed nature of its anchorages. It is located just in front of the Raz-de-Sein, which extends between the island and the Vieille lighthouse. To reach the island, you will have to be careful with the currents of the Raz, and prefer to reverse the current to pass, in order to reduce the drift. Three different channels allow you to progress through the belt of rocks surrounding the island, to come to anchor: the Oriental Channel, the Ar Vas Du Channel and the An Ezodi Channel. In each of the channels, there is a line-up indicated on the map that will allow you to pass serenely without having to pilot with your eyes riveted on your phone.
The different anchorages
Once you arrive at the island, you will have to choose an anchorage. There are four options for spending the night.
- Anchoring in the harbor: If you have the possibility with your boat, to run aground, then this solution will allow you to be close to the coast and protected from the wind and the swell. A quick search for a spot will allow you to find without too much difficulty an area of sandy bottom.
- Anchorage in the outer harbor: If, like most of you, you have a keelboat that cannot be beached, then a mooring in the outer harbor at the level of the Guernic breakwater is possible, but this solution is complicated to implement, knowing that there is very little room before reaching the rocks, and that you must leave room for the boats to maneuver to dock at the breakwater.
- The deep water anchorage in front of the Ar Gador point. This anchorage is easily accessible, at the buoy on the map, and around the three buoys present in reality. You will have here a large space with a nice depth, between 5 and 10 meters, allowing you to spend the night with a good anchorage and not too much wind. This anchorage has the advantage of being easier to access, but it only protects you from South to South-West winds, and the swell, even from the West, will come around the island to tease your hull. It is therefore recommended to anchor there for the night only in light conditions. Moreover, as the island is somewhat far from a docking point, it is recommended to have a motorized dinghy - or a good bottle of elbow grease - to access the island of Sein.
- The anchorage of the lighthouse. This anchorage, located in front of the beach west of the lighthouse of the Ile de Sein, also allows you to anchor in small conditions, with the advantage of being more convenient to access with a dinghy for landing. Protected from the South and West sectors, here too, the swell will make your boat roll, so be careful to keep an eye on the forecasted swell conditions.
The visit of the island
In any case, the island of Sein is a stopover to be privileged in small conditions: the ideal is a day of calm in your discovery of the Iroise Sea, where, because of the weather, the navigation is of little interest anyway, where you can enjoy the island under the sun and the more quiet anchorage. On land, you can go around the island in only a few hours, and discover the sumptuous landscapes of the Chaussée de Sein. If you are lucky, you will come across seals splashing around quietly, outside the high tourist season. Among the famous stops, we note the Case de Tom where you can taste lobster specialties, or the Tatoon where you can have dinner or a drink while watching your boat, if you have the opportunity to run aground here!
After a good day spent on the island of Sein, it is time to leave again, and why not explore the other treasures of the Iroise Sea: Ouessant, Molène, Tas de Pois, Camaret-sur-Mer... Before leaving this small paradise, don't forget to give a small coin in the piggy bank on the door of the SNSM base on the harbor, which discreetly watches over us when we cross the Raz-de-Sein...
