
Yacht Charter La Rochelle
From our base at Marina Minimes in La Rochelle, sail the Atlantic Ocean and the Charente-Maritime with its 280 miles of sandy coastline and idyllic beaches.
What’s on this pageHighlights
La Rochelle sailing

Running from La Rochelle to the Gironde estuary north of Bordeaux, the Charente-Maritime is a beautiful region on the southwest coast of France. With a rich history, peaceful islands and many hours of sunshine, it’s the ideal location for a sailing vacation.
The old port of La Rochelle, once one of the most important in France, is flanked by two impressive towers, all that remains of the ancient ramparts. During your La Rochelle sailing vacation, be sure you make time to climb to the top of the towers, after which you can enjoy a meal at one of the old port’s many restaurants.
While sailing La Rochelle, the small island of Île de Ré with its sweeping sandy beaches and charming villages should be on your itinerary, as should Île d’Oléron. It’s here you’ll find notable vineyards, fishing villages and pine forests.
To get away from it all on your La Rochelle sailing vacation, venture to the more remote Île-d’Aix and explore its many beaches, coastal paths and hidden bays ideal for swimming.
While you don’t require a license to rent a boat in La Rochelle, good sailing experience is recommended. If you’ve no experience, you can always hire a skipper.

Available charter types
Things to do in La Rochelle

Explore Île de Ré
There are many things to do in La Rochelle, but we would definitely recommend climbing to the top of the Lighthouse of Île de Ré for an amazing view of the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. After descending the hundreds of steps of its spiral staircase, call in for lunch at Saint-Martin-de-Ré, or take a tour of the walled city and fortress
The nature reserve of Île d’Yeu
The island boasts over 700 species of wild plants, many of which flower year-round. The coast, moors and wooded area are protected, with its dunes and rocky coast noted for their biodiversity.
Visit Île d’Oléron
One of our favorite things to do in La Rochelle is touring the oyster capital of Le Château d’Oléron with its multicolored fishing huts. While on the island, relax on the fine beaches of Vert-Bois and La Rémigeasse, or head to the seaside resort of Le Grand-Village-Plage.
Go bird-spotting at Île d’Aix
With just 200 residents, this small island is a secluded spot which offers perfect shelter for seabirds and hundreds of other species.
Head out to Fort Boyard
During your yacht charter in La Rochelle, sail around this Napoleonic Fort Boyard. Built in the 1800s, it once housed 250 soldiers and is now a popular shooting location for movies and TV shows.
Weather insights

When is the best time to go to La Rochelle?
The best time to visit La Rochelle is between May and October, when you will enjoy the best temperatures. Summers are sunny, dry and hot (between 77ºF and 86ºF) and there can be a strong wind in the afternoon. Temperatures in spring and fall are mild (around 68ºF) and the weather is sunny with a little rain.
What are the sailing conditions in La Rochelle?
The sailing conditions in La Rochelle include northerly prevailing winds in summer, becoming southwesterly when there is low pressure coming in from the Atlantic Ocean.

La Rochelle sailing with Dream Yacht Charter
Yacht charter La Rochelle
Sail from La Rochelle and explore the nearby islands of the Charente-Maritime coastline. Take the helm and plan your dream vacation on one of our catamarans or monohulls.
Skippered yacht charters La Rochelle, France
You don’t need experience to enjoy a sailing vacation in La Rochelle. We can find a skipper to sail your yacht while you enjoy the best of the region while relaxing.

La Rochelle sailing itinerary
Take a look at our La Rochelle sailing vacation suggestions

Useful information for yacht charters in La Rochelle

Where is La Rochelle?
La Rochelle is a coastal city located in the west of France. It lies on the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean.
How do I get to La Rochelle from the US?
To get to our base for your yacht charter in La Rochelle, fly from the US to Paris or other European cities.
You can get a connecting flight to La Rochelle’s regional airport, Île de Ré Airport (LRH), which receives several direct flights a day from Paris, Portugal, the UK, Belgium and Switzerland. See the airport website for more information.
We can arrange airport transfers to our marina.
What language is spoken in La Rochelle?
The official language of La Rochelle is French.
What is the currency for La Rochelle?
The currency in La Rochelle is the Euro (EUR).
What documents do I need for a La Rochelle sailing vacation?
US citizens must have a passport issued within the past 10 years. This must be valid for a minimum of six months at date of entry and for additional three months beyond the planned date of departure. Visas are not required for stays of less than 90 days.
Talk to us to make sure you have the correct documents before you travel for your La Rochelle sailing vacation.
How do I get around La Rochelle?
You can get around La Rochelle by rental car, taxi, bus or train. We can arrange airport transfers, so please contact us for details.
What is the Wi-Fi like in La Rochelle?
There is free Wi-Fi at our marina and internet access is available via cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots, but you may need to pay. Cell phones can work depending on zones, but don’t forget the roaming fees.
Where can I find weather forecasts in La Rochelle?
You can find weather forecasts on the Windguru website for your La Rochelle yacht charter.
What provisioning is there in La Rochelle?
There are plenty of choices for provisioning in La Rochelle. Please refer to the base guide.
What baggage can I take on my La Rochelle sailing vacation?
Please take only soft bags and not suitcases as they are too cumbersome on board.
What is the electrical current in La Rochelle?
The land electrical current in La Rochelle is 220V.
What is the dialing code for La Rochelle?
The dialing code for La Rochelle is +33.
FAQ
See all our FAQsWhy should I book with Dream Yacht?
Dream Yacht Worldwide is now the world’s leading yacht charter company and offers you:
- A diverse fleet of yachts with a wide variety of models and manufacturers to suit every type of sailor.
- We have +60 exciting destinations and we’re a pioneer in finding new sailing grounds.
- You can be assured of our commitment to customer service excellence.
- You’ll receive a warm and friendly welcome from our base teams who will share regional tips, recommendations and advice.
- We’re also a trusted seller of new and used boats and an innovator in charter management options – sailing is our business.
What licenses do I need to hire a yacht and sail myself?
The skipper of a yacht has primary responsibility for the safety of the crew and yacht at all times. Many destinations require just relevant experience demonstrated by a sailing resume.
To charter in the Mediterranean, it is mandatory that you hold a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities for bareboat charters in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Malta, Montenegro and Turkey. Other destinations that require a license include Madagascar, Seychelles, Thailand, Brazil and Sweden. For Belize, the port authority will issue a certificate of competency and an application is made on arrival.
You must take your proof of competency and original certificate with you on your charter. We advise you to contact our team about your qualifications and destination requirements before booking.
By accepting the yacht contract you are confirming that you and/or members of your crew are capable and competent to sail the yacht in the conditions and cruising area of the charter. We reserve the right not to hand over the yacht if, after inspection, it is the opinion that the charterer is not, or may not be competent to be in charge of the vessel.
What is a skippered yacht charter?
A skippered yacht charter is when you rent one of our boats for you and your guests and a professional skipper sails it for you. No sailing experience is needed.
You will need to choose a yacht with a cabin for your skipper to sleep in as they are responsible for your yacht for the duration of your charter. We will find the skipper for you once you have found your perfect destination and yacht.
You will need to pay for your skipper’s food. You can invite the skipper to dine with you on board or out at a local restaurant.
What is the difference between crewed and by the cabin charters?
Our by the cabin charter charters offer exciting destination tours on a set itinerary crafted by our destination experts. You can book a double cabin and private bathroom and will share the boat with other guests who have booked the other available cabins. You will be looked after by a professional skipper and hostess with itineraries ranging from three to 11 nights. There is a set menu and included meals and drinks vary depending on location.
Can you tell me about your yachts?
Our super premier yachts are less than 12 months old from their first charter date, while premier yachts are less than three years old from their first charter date. Our yachts are well maintained and undergo regular, scheduled technical inspection.
In case of emergency, you can rely on our hotline, at any time, seven days a week. If you experience a technical failure affecting major and important parts of the yacht, we will repair the failure within four hours of receiving your call during working hours (8am to 5pm). If you lose more than four hours (during working hours), we will compensate you for one full day. If the repair takes more than one day, we will provide you with a similar boat or compensate you on a pro-rata basis. If restrictions to this guarantee apply in specific areas, this will be detailed during the charter check-in at the base.
Do I need insurance?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits. Please make sure you have personal travel insurance that covers sailing.
We will insure the vessel throughout the charter with first-class insurers against all risks, to provide permission to charter as under contract terms and to cover third-party liability.
The following options are available in limited locations:
- Security Deposit: This varies on the size of the boat and when the boat is returned without damage it is refunded.
- Damage Waiver: The charterer agrees to pay a non-refundable damage waiver at the time of booking, as well as a reduced damage deposit on embarkation that is refundable upon completion of the charter should no damage occur.
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