Fecamp - what's it like?

[dickh]

Fecamp - what\'s it like?

Am considering going to Fecamp in about 10 days time - what's it like, facilities etc. for a 27' keel boat drawing 4'-6". I will of course get the relevant charts etc - will be travelling from the East Coast - River Deben, and will probably make Ramsgate my first stop.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Spacewaist]

Well....it\'s in France....

- so that makes it very French.

It is where the Benedictines make their Liqueur and free tours are available. However, other than that there is not much to the town beyond it being a typical French one. Good food, a cave du vins etc and a couple of excellent restaurants. Worth the stop, but en route to say Honfleur rather than my destination.

The harbour is very sheltered once you get behind the breakwaters. They are about 50ft high so they blank out the wind from any directon other than NW so you can safely drop you sails in the harbour.

Now therein lies the rub. The sea bed shelves slowly all down that coastline until the Seine there and there is a strong tidal current across the entrance at springs. If the wind is in the West thru NW and is above F5 it can be very lumpy in the approaches - positively dangerous in 30kts or more wind.

Need to have a plan. Le Harve is not that far south and possible your best bet.




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[Vara]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

Pilot books and charts cover all the boring nav bits but basically no problem for a boat drawing less than 1.5 metres except in extreme low tides and high sea states when the scend in the entrance causes problems.
All pontoons have water and electricity, shower blocks are reasonable.
Small self service on Quay-side open on Sunday morning.
Superstore on edge of town(Taxi ride,arrange for taxi to drop you and pick you up as trying to get a taxi to do a one way can result in long wait at supermarket.
Good maritime museum ,nice beach(shingle),stunning views from Coast guard station,and all the normal offices of a medium sized French town.
I dont recommend restaurants as when I do it always turns out to be a disaster,suffice it to say there are loads of them.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.fecamp.com/>Information in French here</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

Been there several times at the end of X-Channel races. I remember anchoring off to wait for enough water in the entrance channel which is a bit iffy for depth on a deeper draught boat but might be OK for yours. Usual warnings for that coast of not bothering in strong onshore winds. Good place for a run ashore.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[milltech]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

I had an entirely un-French dinner in a restaurant on the quayside there more than a few years ago, hopefully the managements changed.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[jimking]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

Visited there about 2 years ago, suggest that you do what we always do and visit the local tourist office,, they have maps of walks round the town which will take you to places you wouldn't find on your own in a month of Sundays.
We liked the place. Plenty of good restaurants.

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[bumblefish]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

The Sussex Yacht Club like it so much they go every year! Admittedly as a part of the Royal Escape Race, allegedly the port of entry of the future King Charles II after he legged it from Shoreham-by-Sea, via Brighton, apparently not much happening on the club scene that weekend?

<hr width=100% size=1>...If you can find the simple solution to a complex problem, you've got it wrong!.........

 

[Vara]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

They like it so much that they go twice a year!(Royal Escape and Pactolus races).
Which reminds me of the big minus of Fecamp is that it is a very popular rally destination and you can turn up on a summer weekend and find it chock a block with British boats,which if you are a miserable anti-social git as I am, can be bit of a downer/forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[Spuddy]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

was there on Friday.
Had to raft up 6 deep. Always a problem finding an alongside pontoon berth at this time of year.
pleasant town on the west side - usual fish restaurants.
East side looked prosperous; detached villas and chalets nestling in the woods - quite entertaining cos they looked like radios.
Wouldn't plan to enter with an onshore blow.


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[billmacfarlane]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

I've been going to Fecamp for the best part of 20 years. The entrance is fine except for a blow from the NW especially with an ebb tide. Under these conditions, with winds above NW6, go elsewhere e.g Le Havre. I went in last August one hour before LWS and had about 2.5 m depth. Inside you'll tie up to a pontoon in the outer basin, and it's a very easy walk into the town if you can get past the various bars and restaurants on the way. My favourite restaurant is the Progres.

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[stephenmartin]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

Hi

I went there as my first cross channel trip and again last week because we liked it so much....this time we took push bikes and cycled all over the lovely town and stopped for beers and cakes....also took my bike trailer and stocked up on wine and beer from carre four hyper market....

It is a reasonably unspoilt town with pleasant locals who are used to seeing english sailors....

Well Recomended

<hr width=100% size=1>Don't make the same mistake twice...Make a different one

 

[pyrojames]

Re: Fecamp - what\'s it like?

I was there about three weeks ago on passage from the Hamble to Ipswich. Best place that we stopped on the french side. Others were Dieppe and Boulogne. Better food, less touristy town, fabulous oysters.

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