Coming Home

[Guest]

This summer I'm sailing back to Britian after 9 years in the Med. I want to do the French canals, but it's been 12 years since I last did them. Does anyone have any advise on costs, routes etc.
I basically want to do Port san Louie to La Harve.
Questions.
Whats the cost of lowering and raising the mast. Or is there any davits you can use?
I remember there was a davit you could use in Rouen. Is it still there and is it free?
Diesel prices ?
Licence cost?
Can you buy the pilot booklets from Britian or will I have to get them in France?
Etc.

Many thanks

Roy

 

[LadyInBed]

You don’t say what size engine or draft.
If you don’t have a big engine to push you up the Rhone, I would come back via Agde and the Midi.

 

[Guest]

Draft is 1.5 m and the engine is a 42 hp merc. Plenty of power. She's only 9.5 m.

 

[vyv_cox]

I think summer/autumn on the lower Rhone are usually OK. Friends doing it in spring were forced to turn back as the Alps meltwater had raised levels and flow rate a great deal. Middle section seems to get very shallow in mid-summer but recovers in autumn.