From Guernsey to Southern Brittany: A Princess V50 Adventure (Part 1)

There’s something special about setting off on your first major voyage in a new yacht. For Colin and Linda Le Conte, that moment came with the open waters between Guernsey and Southern Brittany, a region often described as a boater’s paradise.

But as with any great adventure, there were questions to answer. Could a 15-metre yacht comfortably access the smaller marinas of the Morbihan? Would fuel logistics prove challenging? And what would it really feel like to explore this iconic cruising ground aboard a Princess V50?

There was only one way to find out.

Seasoned cruisers know the value of covering longer distances early, and this journey was no exception. Departing Guernsey on a May morning, the couple set course for Brest Chateau Marina, 140 nautical miles away.

Conditions were lively but manageable, with north westerly winds building to Force 5 in gusts. The V50 proved its pedigree immediately, delivering a smooth, confident ride even as the Channel flexed its muscles. Timing their passage through the Chenal du Four perfectly, they enjoyed one of the calmest stretches of the trip, completing the journey in just 5½ hours, at an average 25 knots.

Brest provided a practical and efficient stopover for fuel, customs clearance (as crucially this is an approved port of entry to clear passport control), and a chance to pause before continuing south. It also offered a taste of local culture, from its maritime heritage to a well-earned visit to a favourite boulangerie.

From Brest, the route led south toward the Raz de Sein, one of the most notorious tidal passages in the region.

Careful timing was essential. Known for its sharp overfalls, the Raz demands respect, but with the tide slackening on arrival, conditions proved manageable. Echo Beach handled the short seas with ease, reinforcing confidence in the boat’s capability.

With the iconic towers fading astern, the journey continued toward the gentler waters of Southern Brittany, enjoying a calm run towards Benodet and completing 70 nautical miles in 2.5 hours.

Arriving at Sainte Marine felt like entering a different world. The coastline softened, the pace slowed, and the atmosphere shifted to something unmistakably relaxed.

Mooring on the visitors’ pontoon, Colin and Linda found themselves perfectly placed to explore both sides of the Odet River. Days were filled with simple pleasures, cycling coastal paths, discovering local patisseries, and enjoying quiet anchorages.

It’s here that the versatility of the Princess V50 truly shone. With space to store bikes in the tender garage and the comfort to entertain onboard, the yacht adapted effortlessly to a more leisurely cruising style and gave them so many options, including cycling 7km from the customs path to Ile Tuly, and a ferry trip to treat themselves to cakes in a lovely patisserie in celebration of Linda’s birthday. 

An early start to beat a forecasted arrival of a force 5 wind took them 27 nautical miles and a short hop to Port Louis, a place Colin and Linda had heard good things about and seemed to be a boaters’ marina of choice. From here, the journey blended exploration with history, submarine bases, maritime museums, and island excursions.

Even when conditions freshened to Force 5, the decision-making remained easy. The V50’s performance meant flexibility, whether pressing on or choosing the more relaxed option of a ferry to nearby islands.

Etel, often skipped due to its shifting sandbar, rewarded the extra care required to enter. Colin and Linda timed their arrival for high waters on a 92-coefficient tide and arrived at new marina facilities and a quiet, scenic, and authentic place that offered a glimpse of Brittany at its most unspoiled.

The next section of their journey placed the couple in Vannes in two days’ time to meet up with friends. As the crow flies, the journey is less than 20 nautical miles but for this journey they needed to go around the southern tip of Quiberon, increasing the distance to 25 nautical miles.

Colin and Linda did consider some of the inside passages around the tip of Quiberon but opted to go around the Phare to la Teignouse where they were already pre-warned it would be busy in Crouesty due to the Arman Yacht Race. It is a stopping off point for lots of boats but well set up with plenty of facilities with the couple’s Passport Escales card proving useful to access the facilities. Once settled, they enjoyed a walk to Port Navalo to see the full force of the Semaine du Golfe festival of traditional boats. 

A simple turn to starboard from the marina entrance marked the beginning of one of the most memorable legs of their journey, entering the Morbihan. Despite its calm, lagoon-like appearance, this vast inland sea is anything but passive. With more than 45 islands scattered across its expanse and an entrance barely half a mile wide, the tidal flow here is a defining feature.

Careful planning paid off. Colin and Linda entered around half an hour after high water during neap tides, where there was still a noticeable push of around 2–3 knots carrying Echo Beach smoothly through the narrow gateway. The unique tidal dynamics of the Morbihan mean that water continues to flood toward Vannes long after high water at the entrance, creating a helpful current for those heading deeper into the bay.

With the tide working in their favour, the journey became effortless. Cruising at just over 5 knots, the reduced engine load delivered remarkable efficiency, so much so that the Garmin system suggested a theoretical range of over 1,000 nautical miles. A rare and satisfying moment that highlighted just how rewarding well-timed passages can be.

Their destination, Île aux Moines, soon came into view, an island often recommended by fellow cruisers for its natural beauty and sheltered moorings. Approaching the visitor pontoons required a watchful eye, particularly with increased traffic from a local festival, but availability proved better than expected.

Once secured alongside, the pace shifted completely. With minimal facilities on the pontoon, the focus turned back to the essentials of cruising, self-sufficiency, simplicity, and the surroundings. As evening settled in, the couple enjoyed dinner on board watching the many boats passing through the passage between them and the mainland only 700m away, but a world apart in terms of tranquillity. 

The next day was a big one as it would take them to Vannes, the furthest point of their cruise. They timed the one-hour journey to arrive 30 minutes after the gate was due to open.

The Vannes marina team had been very helpful in advance and on arrival a RIB met them to guide them to a waiting pontoon and then followed the marine attendant in. It’s not the widest channel but they made it through fine and were watched by a number of visitors as they spun Echo Beach round and moored perfectly. With a sense of satisfaction and pride they had reached their destination. After a successful first adventure that confirmed both the capability of their V50 and the magic of the cruising grounds they had chosen to explore, they were looking forward to meeting their friends the next day for the return leg of their adventure. 

This is only Part 1 of the journey.

In the next instalment, the return voyage brings new discoveries, unexpected challenges, and valuable lessons learned along the way.

Read the original feature in the March 2026 issue of Motor Boat & Yachting.