Accessible at all states of tide but the entrance is 1m chart datum so perhaps be careful at low water springs
Loops at pontoon ends then cleats
UK hose connectors
Electric stays on and sturdy pontoons if you’re on a finger.
The Visitors pontoon is alongside, or call and they will allocate a berth and there’s usually a boat person to guide you.
Note that the top half of the marina including the visitors pontoon and the top of E pontoon where some visitors are placed are exposed to the west, and so it’s often too windy, but there is little or no wind in the inner part of the marina and at the bars.
Usual showers – quite tight.
Commercial laundry behind Capitainerie – one large and one small washing machine, one dryer.
Rubbish provision is in a locked yard near the end of the visitors pontoon – same code as sanitaires.
In June 2025 there was a new building development near pontoons E and F next to the Capitainerie which should be finished September 2025 – looks impressive.
Very tiny mini market on site. Otherwise quite a long cycle ride to Talmont St Hilaire where there’s a Super-U.
There used to be a smaller supermarket a short walk away as reported earlier on Digimap, but in June 2025 it was closed, and that looks permanent.
There are a good couple of restaurants along the front at the marina, and a couple further back.
We liked the Automobile museum which is about half hour cycle ride away and is very good although 18 euros per person, but we enjoyed it.
A half hour coastal walk brings you to Veillon beach where there is a nice beach bar – although tourist pricing.
Update June 2025 with thanks to John Strudwick
Bourgenay is a man-made modern marina around 8Nm SE along the coast from LSD. It’s tempting to leave Les Sables D’Olonne and then head straight along the coast towards Bourgenay but this track passes close to many shallow patches, often with breaking waves. So, we always track to pick up the safe water mark buoy which is 1Nm offshore of the Bourgenay leading marks and the entrance. If the entrance faces a SW swell, and as the depth shallows, the last 200m can be quite entertaining! Once in the small marina, visitors are usually allocated the long pontoon on the starboard side after the entrance where there’s a fuel pontoon at the far end.
However, as with most of the harbours we visit, we find it usually helps to contact the Capitainerie a few hours before arriving.
There are several cafes and restaurants around the marina. We’ve enjoyed good evening meals at both the Le Cap Horn and the Le Vintage both of which are on the road 50m outside the marina. A small supermarket is a 10-minute walk up this hill.
Elsewhere, the marina is surrounded by a large holiday village, multiple camp sites and a golf course. The beaches towards the south are spectacular and there’s a coastal footpath.
Article by Nick Fletcher 2021
The rather austere boulders that form the marina walls make you wonder what tempests might hit this place, and there was a surprising swell on the way in, even on a reasonably calm day. There is also large written warning on your way out regarding swell.
Harbour Master staff are very friendly and helpful and speak English. The marina is clearly peche promenade heaven, with chandlery, dealerships, cafes to hand, and a semi-empty supermarket ten mins up the hill, and a small fishmonger, baker etc another few minutes. Small holiday village and campsite hidden in the pines suggests things might be busier once the holidays start. An unassuming place then, perhaps an escape from the scale of Les Sables, but rather limited in its attraction other than a perhaps convenient break.
Gavin May kindly provided the above report – 2021