Arzal?

[dgadee]

I am booked to be lorry lifted to Arzal in the new year. They seem to be offering me a berth, but nothing is in English and my French is non existent. What, for example is a "Dead Body" ("Corps Mort")? Google Translate usually comes to my aid but it's not working on the port handbook.

Anyone know how things work? I might - if a berth is available - use it for a year and then go north, or move up the coast this Spring and come out somewhere further north.

The advantage of France appears to be the long term visitor visa, as well as Morbihan is a pleasant cruising area.

The target is the Baltic over the next year or two.

 

[Talulah]

I am booked to be lorry lifted to Arzal in the new year. They seem to be offering me a berth, but nothing is in English and my French is non existent. What, for example is a "Dead Body" ("Corps Mort")? Google Translate usually comes to my aid but it's not working on the port handbook.

Anyone know how things work? I might - if a berth is available - use it for a year and then go north, or move up the coast this Spring and come out somewhere further north.

The advantage of France appears to be the long term visitor visa, as well as Morbihan is a pleasant cruising area.

The target is the Baltic over the next year or two.

Corps Mort = mooring buoy.

 

[Bobc]

They only have mid-river swinging moorings available at the moment. There is a waiting list for pontoon berths. Best bet is to take what they offer you and immediately put your name on the waiying list.

 

[dgadee]

It seems you can only be ashore for 2 months. Why is that?

 

[dunedin]

If I were you I would join the Cruising Association and post some questions on their Biscay Forum. I believe they have a lot of members who keep their boats in this area - as well as various locals (HLRs) who can often assist. Not cheap but worth it for the knowledge?

 

[Bobc]

It seems you can only be ashore for 2 months. Why is that?

As part of the package, you get up to 2 months ashore free during the summer. If you want more, of you want to come out in the winter, you have to pay. However, if you are away from your mooring for more than 20 days during the summer, you get 50% off the lift out packages. With the discount, it costs me just under £300 for lift and a week ashore, for a 50ft boat. Not expensive.

 

[dgadee]

If I were you I would join the Cruising Association and post some questions on their Biscay Forum. I believe they have a lot of members who keep their boats in this area - as well as various locals (HLRs) who can often assist. Not cheap but worth it for the knowledge?

Thanks. I will ask there. I am a member of the CA but have been Med based for several years.

 

[Lightwave395]

I was in Arzal for 2 years, it's a bit confusing as to the number of different contracts available, my contract was the 'Izzynav' which was an annual contract giving 10 months on a pontoon in the water and being required to either come out or disappear somewhere else for any two months of June / July / August / September. The lift out and storage was all included. I have the same contract at Port Haliguen since last year and I'll be coming out of the water in July at Arzal so I can get the bottom blasted clean - they have a large purpose built facility.

One definite plus is that it consistently pays to appear in their face and discuss rather than email of phone

If you haven't already then this website allows you to join as many waiting lists as you wish and explains them all it will also tell you where you are on your favoured waiting list:

Accueil

 

[Bobc]

Thanks. I will ask there. I am a member of the CA but have been Med based for several years.

Local captain is Nick Sexton. He keeps his lovely Nicholson there.

 

[dgadee]

I was sent a link to the waiting lists and have added my name, but Arzal says they can deal with me on a monthly basis anyway. We will see.

 

[dunedin]

Thanks. I will ask there. I am a member of the CA but have been Med based for several years.

I see you already have 3 replies on the CA Forum - including important information about the Arzal barrage closure.

 

[dgadee]

I see you already have 3 replies on the CA Forum - including important information about the Arzal barrage closure.

Thanks. Not coming to my email. I'll reset things.

 

[dunedin]

Thanks. Not coming to my email. I'll reset things.

You don’t need emails to see the CA Forum - simply login and look

 

[dgadee]

I have been offered an annual contract with the Passport thingy. Bit of a surprise. Not sure what exactly they are offering (I suppose swinging mooring) but life is too short not to take up a year around the Morbihan,

 

[stranded]

I have been offered an annual contract with the Passport thingy. Bit of a surprise. Not sure what exactly they are offering (I suppose swinging mooring) but life is too short not to take up a year around the Morbihan,

The Passort thingy is great. Especially during peak season prices!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I have been offered an annual contract with the Passport thingy. Bit of a surprise. Not sure what exactly they are offering (I suppose swinging mooring) but life is too short not to take up a year around the Morbihan,

To quote Monty Python’s Life of Brian… you lucky, lucky b*****d!

 

[Roberto]

These are the waiting lists for the yearly contracts in two categories; 9-12m they are offering places to people having registered in the waiting list during 2020, it roughly means a 5-year wait if one registers now. Note the list is in pale blue.
The 12-13.5m list is offering contracts to people having registered in 2022 so roughly a 3y wait if one subscribes now. The list is greyed which means that present owners of a yearly contract can register using the date (golden date they call it) when they first had a yearly contract; for example mine dates back to 2005, should I register there I would be immediately top of the list.
I am tempted too, it's a nice place, the river is beautiful, fresh water so less fouling and salt crud, it just takes some time to arrive in the open sea but I quite like the lock entertainment and then I hardly do any day sails

 

[dgadee]

I just registered a few weeks ago. 11.2m.

 

[Roberto]

I just registered a few weeks ago. 11.2m.

Do they offer you pontoon or mooring? Anyway, there must be something going on, until recently I was 220ish at Vannes, slowly dropping a few tens of places a year, all of a sudden I am 80-90th, all registrations dated 2018 2019 2020 basically disappeared during the past couple of months.
The new salinity regulation lock will improve things, plus I think they have lenghtened the pillars holding the floating pontoons, this was taken last winter when spring tides coupled with strong fresh water river outflow meant they could not discharge enough water, imagine 20cm increase in water level..
Also, judging by the language being more widely spoken, La Roche Bernard could soon claim extraterritoriality and hoist a Union Jack at its entrance

 

[dgadee]

I really don't know. Google translate is our Comms medium. I go there start of next month, by lorry, so can clarify then.