Cherbourg marina berths

The visitor berths are more or less straight ahead as you go in, behind the waiting pontoon, Pontoons 'N' 'O' 'P' etc.

However you might find it very difficult to find on this weekend because the Tall Ships are in 15th -17th I think and Bastille Day is 14th July, start of the French Hols. You might want to ring the Capitanerie and ask, they are pretty good at fitting everyone in, otherwise lots of rafting on the waiting pontoon, the outside of the eastern visitor pontoon or on the hammerhead berths or you can anchor outside the marina wall.
 
The Harbourmaster's boast is that he has never turned a visiting yacht away, so hopefully some room will be found for you.

Regarding the shopping bit, there seems to be an arrangement with the supermarket/hypermarket that you can wheel your trolley all the way back to the Port du Plaisance (forgive my spelling if it is incorrect) and leave it at the top of the walkway to the pontoons when you have unloaded. They seem to come and collect them regularly, or at least they did last time I was there.
 
There is usually a large inflatable with marina staff on patrol when the marina is busy - they will usually help find you a spot. There is often an empty finger that people miss right close inshore by the ramps, there is plenty of water there but it doesn't look like it as you come in. Apart from the berths already mentioned there are other visitor berths close by the fuel berth in the SW corner or you can wait till the lock gates open near HW and enter the fish dock where there are more pontoons

If you have never been to Cherbourg before one thing to remember is that the pontoon fingers are very short , low and narrow. Its best to have a line made fast midships as that will be closest to the end of the finger, there are no cleats on the pontoon only hoops so short lines are best.

On the booze front, there is a wine shop in the maritime that sells good quality wine at reasonable prices, they will deliver to the boat so make sure that you note your berth number for them. Last year the Cherbourg visitors guide available in the capitainerie included a 10% off voucher for booze from this shop
 
One of the sherbet shops in the hypermarket gives you a free taxi back to the marina if you spend over a certain amount (I think it is £100)


W
 
Ah! Chanteryne

Used to go there regularly with male friends and our small boys in early 80s when I kept a boat in Poole opposite Sherry's wharf.

On one occasion, 2 massive Dads, both over 6'5" leapt onto the pontoon simultaneously. Pontoon promptly disappeared below surface of marina and one Dad, unable to see it, walked off the edge.

Another occasion we were stormbound (well anything over a F6 appears to be a storm in a 22') and discovered the oyster stall in the marché, run by the St Vaast cooperative. When we finally tried to get out over the reef of discarded oyster-shells round the stern of the boat... Fortunately iy had a lifting keel.
 
Many thanks to all for the good advice and help. The last time I was at Cherbourg was 1967! when on a shakedown trip for Spirit of Cutty Sark before she set off on the single handed trans-Atlantic race - not with me on board.

We hope to leave Falmouth early Saturday morning, and our route will depend on the wind and weather.

We don't know if we will try it in one go, stop off at Salcombe, stop off at Alderney, or go to Guernsey first and Cherbourg on the way back. No real plans until we get underway.

Oh, yes, one plan - go fill up with French goodies, including wine!!
 
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