Anchoring Northern France?

[stu9000]

Hi all,
I am doing the fine planning on a 3 week jaunt from the Thames estuary to Boulogne Sur Mer and onto Dieppe, St Vals and who knows how far Ill get.

It occurs to me that, along the French coast, there is little in the way of anchoring.
So its marinas all the way is it?
I like a marina, especially after a long hop, but anchoring in a quiet corner is also a joy to the eye and wallet.

Unless I jump past Cherbourg, or turn to port out of the Thames, there are no real anchoring opportunities are there?

Thanks

S

 

[Wansworth]

Saint Valery surSomme………anchour Ed in a coaster and dried out vast expanse of sand

 

[LittleSister]

Note that Boulogne is no longer a convenient place to arrive in France, sadly, unless you and all your crew have EU passports. For UK (and other 3rd country) passport holders you have to travel from Boulogne to the ferry port at Calais by public transport (v time consuming), taxi or hire car to get formally checked into Schengen. You'll also need to find somewhere practical to check out of Schengen on your return.

I'll be interested in any suggestions for anchorages on that French coast. There are anchorages marked on the chart at Coursueille and in the Isles Marcouf, though I've no experience of them (we almost stopped for lunch at the latter), though I imagine they are only tenable in settled weather. There are a few places along the north facing coast where one might find (or not!) a nook to tuck into in good weather, and it looks like one could perhaps find a suitable spot somewhere around the bay in the entrance to Carentan and Isigny, though beware of the channels and banks shifting from the positions shown on charts.

Once you get to St. Vaast and onwards there are a lot more possibilities. I've anchored in the approach to St. Vaast, there are marked anchorages off Barfleur, etc., etc.

On the English side there are marked anchorages off Ramsgate (I've used that one), and one, probably rarely comfortable, east of Beachy Head. I imagine one could also anchor in Sandwich Bay, and perhaps east of Dungeness (the latter rather rolly, I imagine.

 

[stu9000]

Note that Boulogne is no longer a convenient place to arrive in France, sadly, unless you and all your crew have EU passports. For UK (and other 3rd country) passport holders you have to travel from Boulogne to the ferry port at Calais by public transport (v time consuming), taxi or hire car to get formally checked into Schengen. You'll also need to find somewhere practical to check out of Schengen on your return.

Hi
thanks for the feedback.
I have just been checking my notes on 'port of entry' and current rules.
I think there is a new form called 'Preavis Immigration ' which some even 'non' port of entry destinations may offer.
This probably deserves its own space so I will check my facts and and start a new thread.

S

 

[doug748]

You can fill in the form, send it off and land where you like but you might have a long , tedious and potentially expensive journey overland to get your passport stamped. Probably better to use a Port of Entry.

This has been covered some detail in a number of recent threads, ? eg,,:

Cherbourg (in)formalities experience

.

 

[LittleSister]

There was also a couple of threads specifically on Boulogne recently, one reporting actual recent experience. I can't find the latter thread though. If someone could post a link to it that would be helpful.

Hunting for it did remind me, though, that the pontoons at Boulogne were damaged a while back and they weren't accepting visitors a few months ago. I assume the pontoons are now fixed, but best call or email them to check that before heading there.