French Cruise Routing Advice Sought?

[rays]

Planning to cruise to Brittany (and possibly stay there) and undecided about best route to take:

(1) originally thought would leave Harwich for Ramsgate and cross Channel to Boulogne and day hop down the coast hoping to reach Brest later in the summer. The problem with this route seems to be that the tides are not helpful and there is a long stretch of relatively uninteresting coastline with few non-tidal harbours, so timing becomes very crucial with few ports of refuge. So therefore looked at:

(2) Harwich, Ramsgate, South Coast, Eastbourne, etc, Isle of Wight then cross to Cherbourg and continue from there. Possibly detouring to Channel Islands and spend time around Morlaix.
Does anyone on the Forum who has knowledge of these places and of cruising them, have any suggestions to make. The above observations are from someone who has not cruised this part of France so is only going on passage information in almanacs and pilot books. If we skip the Boulogne to Cherbourg part, are we really missing anything? If so, what? Is that coast really as dull as it appears from the chart?

All comments and observations welcome! Thanks.

 

[jonjo]

A jumble of thoughts.

Brighton to the Solent is a lengthy hop along an equally dull section of coast.

Honfleur is a delight but an unwelcome eastwards detour if you are viewing the trip as a delivery.

Cherbourg is going down hill, St. Vaast is better but has a tidal restricted lock and entrance.

Ouistreham is average.

Cutting through the Channel Islands is the sane route if sticking to the French side of the Channel.

I will be doing Portsmouth to SW Brittany in 3 weeks time and will observe my standard operating rule No.3= "When in doubt copy Robin". So expect my route will be Portsmouth, Dartmouth, somewhere on the northerly bump of Brittany then a day sail down to a suitable jump off point for the Raz.

But if the wind has a northerly slant it will be St. Peter Port, Lezardrieux, then as above.

As a single hander I tend to go for longer hops and I am happy to trade additional marina parking maneuvers for a few overnight passages. Your objective is different.

In your position I would be inclined to set Brighton as my first objective and then depending on wind direction I would do:

Brighton, Cherbourg, CI, North Brittany.
Brighton, Solent, Yarmouth, CI, Ditto
Brighton, Solent, Weymouth, Dartmouth, North Brittany.

 

[dratsea]

If you have sails then go with the wind! We are also planning S Brittany this year, tides for 0600 on 18/7/09 suggest going South, last time went South and had great time (xpt too many from Paris in Morhiban). But time before also planned to go South but so did winds and plan B Scillies but wind went west off Lizard so 3 weeks in Ireland instead (and a good place to stay!) Boulogne is OK, Cherbourg is not. Etaples and St Valerie can be a bit of a challenge (but love them), Dieppe is poor, Barfeur (dries) is a favourite, watch out for buoys in Omonville and... oh just get French equivalent of the old Reeds (?called Bloc-note or something), about 1/3 in English and for anyone staying more than a couple of months on the French coast a bargain.

Good luck and let us know by PM if we might be in same area from 18/7 to 9/8 and will look out for you,

John

 

[bromleybysea]

Heading down that way myself in a couple of weeks. not been down the Normandy coast for a few years- interested in your view of Dieppe which I always rated- lively and interesting town and a reasonable berth- has it deteriorated lately? Also, any views on St Valery en Caux and fecamp welcome, as again it's been a few years since I last visited them.

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
If we skip the Boulogne to Cherbourg part, are we really missing anything? If so, what? Is that coast really as dull as it appears from the chart?

[/ QUOTE ]

- Dieppe's nice, but a tad expensive. Facilities, shelter, shopping, bars & restaurants are good though.
- St Valery en Caux is the hidden gem of that part of the world. France as you would like it to be without the crowds. A fixture on the Guapa calendar any year.
- Fecamp was, is and will always be a dump. Some people actually have something nice to say about the place - go figure.
- Boulogne - nice stopover for a day or so. The aquarium is well worth a visit.
- St Valery sur Somme - very pitoresque. Get your tides right or you won't get in.

 

[michael_w]

Much easier to make your westing down the English coast. Just about every worthwhile harbour has all all-tide access.

Work your way down to Dartmouth then step out for L'Aber Wrac'h. Catch your breath here for the Chenal du Four and all the delights of South Brittany await.

Do the French channel coast on the way home. It is much easier to cruise West to East as the tidal access works in your favour.

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
Much easier to make your westing down the English coast. Just about every worthwhile harbour has all all-tide access.

Work your way down to Dartmouth then step out for L'Aber Wrac'h. Catch your breath here for the Chenal du Four and all the delights of South Brittany await.

Do the French channel coast on the way home. It is much easier to cruise West to East as the tidal access works in your favour.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hear hear - except don't waste time stopping at L'Aberwrac'h when heading south, go straight through Chenal Du Four to Camaret. L'Aberwrac'h is fine going homewards as there is an extra 2hrs of inshore tide around the corner going east from the top of the Four but that same 2hrs means that from L'Aberwrac'h going west to the Four you lose 2hrs of possible favourable tide. This is because the tide goes south in the Four about 2hrs before it turns west in the Channel.

Not only does the tidal access to harbours work in your favour going east along the North Brittany coast but you gain favourable tide hours too as it turns foul later as you move east. This works against you if you try the west route along the French coast because going this way it turns foul sooner the farther west you go. Also wind against tide with a prevailing westerly makes it more uncomfortable potentially, going from the UK side from Dartmouth or points west generally allows a free wind and you don't see the strong tides until say 20mls off the Four and then they are more on the beam than the nose.

 

[shmoo]

Harwich -> Dover (just anchor, its free) -> Maybe Eastbourne -> Anchor East end of IOW -> Weymouth. Then start looking for weather window. Maybe CI. or on to Devon then a beam reach to Chanel Du Four. If weather nice don't miss Ushant - its quite magical.

Normany is a bit dull.

 

[chanelyacht]

Well, I am a bit biased, but I'd agree with heading to Camaret and then heading further south - Douarnenez is welcoming and sheltered in most conditions, and gives you another good stopoff before running through the Raz du Sein (not nearly as fierce as it's reputation if you time it right) and then a good stop off here in Audierne. Don't bother with Le Guilvinec, it's a nightmare to get in if you don't know it. If you're coming in August, Benodet will be heaving with both Parisiens and Rosbifs (not sure which is worse so keeping south for Etel or even down to Les Sables or La Rochelle would be a good plan.