France without French (language!)

[blueglass]

Taking the boat over to France this season for the first time and nobody on board speaks more than a few lines of Franglais. How big a problem is this? I'm thinking mainly of VHF traffic with marinas etc booking berths - we can mug our way through after that. Any comments/ experiences?

 

[cameronke]

Easy !

Speak slowly and clearly in English.

If they still dont understand, Shout !!!!


Regards
Cameron

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Do any British marinas speak French? No, they dont. The French in particular appreciate it if you try to speak to them in their own language. Its worth trying to learn a few words of French if only to start off a conversation which can then degenerate into English gradually. The other words worth learning relate to food and wine. You will miss an awful lot if you can't navigate your way around a menu and a wine list

 

[hlb]

Well cant say it's ever caused me a problem. Anyway my sister tought me french when I was about ten.

She said.

Vu set urm cashawn. Or sumate like that.

Never found I needed any more french /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[mikewilkes]

Was that not the answer when we had colonies?

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[blueglass]

We aren't colonial types and have been to France many times, sans batteau and can do food and wine OK It was the marina bit I was concerned with. Maybe we can pick up some key phrase like "do you have a berth, mooring,space,?" Which pontoon do we go to etc. Once in there no problem. I guess we can just blag it somehow or other.

 

[tcm]

no problem - you drive in you park where you find a space, you go to the HM and they say if it need to be vacated - which it hardly ever does. None of this megomanic vhf checking in thing as per the uk. A smile and "bonjour" and er..."parlez vous anglais par hazard? " (par hazard is a nice touch "by any chance?" _ and of course yep they speak english no prob.

Same thing with a ligth aeroplane cos agion there is not much traffic - just drive in bosh and land - trty and callem on radio and they say er yes, what?

 

[oceanpro]

I'll try my best please excuse any grammatical errors..

Most 'ports de plaisance' (marinas) are on CH 9 in the Med presume its the same on the channel coasts, check in your pilot book.

Start with something like 'Je voudrais une placement pour ce soir/la nuit/ dejuner etc. SVP (Lunchtime berths are usualy free down here, you wouldn't get that in the Solent!)

The key things asked for:

Bateau a moteur ou voilier (raggie)?

Quelle est le longeur (Length), Largeur? (Breadth), profoundeur (draught). Try to have your dimensions ready in French.

Also have your port plan ready so you can follow any directions easily.
Useful to know left and right & port & starboard (babord, tribord) and straight on. These can be found in your phrase book.

The dockies here sometimes come out on there bike with a handheld VHF which is great, you just follow them. Also most ports have a 'quai d'accuiel' (reception key, sometimes the fuel berth) so you can always go in and ask!

Bon courage!

Phil

 

[oceanpro]

NB:

Use 'ici' for 'This is' and 'a vous' for 'Over'

 

[tcm]

as oceanpro says, learn the length of theboat - just round it to metres and don't mess about with 8.34m - "longeur - huit metres"

 

[blueglass]

Thanks Phil /ocean pro,
Nice to have some constructive advice - useful stuff & all noted!
Dave