Port de Minimes name is derived from the establishment of a convent of the Frères Minimes in this area during the 1550s. The Hermits of the Order of the Minimes was founded by St Frances of Paola in Italy in 1493. They were an order that not only adhered to the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience but also the perpetual abstinence of meat, eggs and dairy products. The name minimes is from the Italian minimo meaning smallest or least. They wanted to be lesser than the Franciscans who were known as minor. Theirs was a medicant order which meant basically that they were allowed to beg.

The number of boats in La Rochelle is between 5000 and 6800 according to my research. Whichever it is, it is a massive and glorious site to cast your eye over. It is the largest pleasure boat marina in France and according to one site the largest in Europe. There are boats of all sizes, shapes, repair and disrepair.

The tides are huge in La Rochelle, today the 10th March 2019, the tide chart reads,
1.04 PM CET 1.44 meters (4.72 ft)Low Tide 6.34 PM CET 5.63 meters (18.47 ft)High Tide.