The Goulet de Brest is a 3 km long strait linking the roadstead of Brest to the Atlantic Ocean. Only 1.8 km wide, it is situated between the Pointe du Petit Minou and the Pointe du Portzic to the north and the îlot des Capucins and the Pointe des Espagnols to the south.
At each turn of the tide, the ocean refills the roadstead in a current that can attain 4 to 5 knots.[1] Sailing ships would thus wait in the cove of Camaret-sur-Mer for a favourable current to carry them into the goulet.
As the only opening into the roadstead of Brest, and thus the only access to the town and thus is lined with military installations to protect the town and the naval fleet based there and to keep a watch on shipping using it. The geography of the goulet also favours the defenders, since it has a spine down its length in the form of the Le Mengant rocks, forcing ships to sail either to the north or south of them.[1]
Zone of Brest
Zone by île de Roscanvel
Zone de Camaret-sur-Mer