Cherbourg (Port Chantereyne) Marina security probs

Cherbourg (Port Chantereyne) marina security

Hi Magali

I posted a response to you, timed 2006 on the 8th January (posting number 10). It wasn't entered on the forum until the 10th January but was then entered in chronilogical order on page 1 despite postings by that time having reached 3 pages. I presume this was because I was a new user but I am concerned that due to the method of placing, you may, on your visits to the forum merely go to your last read and therefore miss my posting. As a resident, I have taken a number of steps to protect my boat but surely there exists a partnership between the boat owners and the marina authorities and each must play their part. I would therefore very much like to receive your comments on the points raised in my posting, especially on the specific questions asked.

Grumpygramp
 
Calais marina is fully enclosed by a fence with gates opened by a number pad.

OK OK so there are some just none I ever visited mind, between say St Vaast and La Rochelle, I haven't been outside of those in recent years. I will get back to writing out my lines....

I must not make sweeping generalisations
I must not make sweeping generalisations
I must not make sweeping generalisations
I must not make sweeping generalisations
I must not make sweeping generalisations
I must not make sweeping generalisations
 
Last edited:
Since my last post I have received correspondence from the Chebrourg Boat Owners Association...........as least they had the courtesty to reply to my letter - however I have also heard that a member of the association confronted "visitors" on a pontoon - when challenged as to what they were doing there the member was physically picked up and thrown into the water!! The association has been campaigning for a long time to have a security system installed - not just for residents but for visitors also.

No reply has been received to my correspondence to the Mayor - who I believe is elected into the post - nor from the Director of the marina - who I am led to believe has the job for life!! I alway understood that the French were men of honour, and expected better of two people in high office! Perhaps the people of Cherbourg should be made aware of the situation that is on-going on the marina

Today both the MBM and MBY have been advised of the security issues here in Cherbourg

ccMayor Cherbourg mairie@ville-cherbourgfr
 
One of the many reasons why I anchor off the marina and row in. Alternatively go alongside the pontoon that is not attached too the shore if you want to keep your anchor clean.- it has water available from the tap.
 
Can LEWSD and AGGIER contact me direct via email on magali.hamon@ville-cherbourg.fr so that we can follow up this issue? Thanks and happy sailing to all for the New Year.

Hello Magali
You mentioned that "we can follow up on this issue" That would be fine with me, but who are you? are you a decision maker? I would dread to think that honourable French Gentlemen are hiding behind a lady - not that this would surprise me as they certainly do not reply to letters sent to them! However I do feel that a meeting would be of value so perhaps something could be arranged to suit all interested parties.

Continuing from my last posting - my French friend whose motor cruiser was vandalised (twice) at the same time as my own boat in November, has decided that the best place for his boat to be whilst he is on holiday is ashore, as his confidence in the marinas ability to care for his boat in his absence has been lost - This I understand is spreading -probably brought about by the amount of bad press the marina is getting at the moment. I am currently seeking an appointment with the editor of La Presse -Cherbourgs local newspaper
 
Hello Magali
You mentioned that "we can follow up on this issue" That would be fine with me, but who are you? are you a decision maker? I would dread to think that honourable French Gentlemen are hiding behind a lady - not that this would surprise me as they certainly do not reply to letters sent to them! However I do feel that a meeting would be of value so perhaps something could be arranged to suit all interested parties.

Continuing from my last posting - my French friend whose motor cruiser was vandalised (twice) at the same time as my own boat in November, has decided that the best place for his boat to be whilst he is on holiday is ashore, as his confidence in the marinas ability to care for his boat in his absence has been lost - This I understand is spreading -probably brought about by the amount of bad press the marina is getting at the moment. I am currently seeking an appointment with the editor of La Presse -Cherbourgs local newspaper


Magali
Having made contact as requested - I still await the promised meeting to discuss the security problems on the Marina and am still awaiting the letter supposedly posted to me on the 12th January - today is the 25th and I only live 16 miles away from Cherbourg!!
 
A would think twice about going back to Cherbourg after an incident there about 3 years ago. Swmbo arrived back at the boat in tears following a solo shopping expedition in town.

She had been repeatedly propositioned and asked if she wanted to go for a ride in a local's car, this occurred at 4pm as she was walking across the park hinterland between the shops and marina foreshore. I reported this to the marina office but they had heard the same before and demonstrated zero interest.

There is a growing immigrant/vagrant problem in Cherbourg which has been reported in the UK press. Local authorities do not seem inclined to fix anything, I say vote with your wallets.
 
The frenchman

We Arrived in Cherbourg April 2006 from the UK after negotiating with the marina office for a year,we arrived & were told there was no permanent berth
for us & we would have to go on the waiting list?after a few heated xchanges
& the production of our paperwork we were magically on the waiting list & would be charged berthholders rates not visitors rates after several months
on the visitors pontoons we were then allocates a berth on G pontoon.

We had then decided to live aboard our motor cruiser on G pontoon
we did this from June 2006 until 2010.In that time due to our efforts we stopped all fishing by unauthorised people mainly not French,stopped a number of break ins thefts etc etc,we also rescued a number of boats in bad weather condition.
I will not go on xept to say the only fact that boat owners had to get used to
were increased mooring fees general decline of services showers toilets etc
in very poor condition & visitors being charged to use these very poor services,the night watchman is a joke he spends most of his nights on the phone or sleeping as for patrolling it rarely happened the so called CCTV
is no better than useless,the manageress was never available,I managed to see her once after she took over & she wa civil but only just.
The marina has some xellent staff but they are equally as frustrated as the
berthholders.
the berholders were promised better security starting in 2007 the toilets
were going to be 'upgraded' starting in 2008 if we were still in residence the
questions I would be asking is what has happened to all the berthholders fees
why I am I being asked to pay more every year when security is such an issue & services are still so poor,we still have our boat but it is now back in the UK at no difference in mooring fees........BON COURAGE
 
Top