French Cruise

[saltyrob]

Hi,

We are kicking around some ideas for our 09 holiday. Wife fancies France , as have we have enjoyed many no boaty holidays there in the past.She is not the most robust of sailers ,although willing to give it ago and prefers short hops , hense inland Holland has been successfull.Therefore would appreciate your advice as as to whether a cruise along the coast from say Boulougne to Honfleur will fit the bill.Also would a mast up, cruise up the River Seine to Rouen be worth doing.

Many thanks

Rob

 

[Piers]

Fécamp and St valerie en caux are both excellent (I prefer the latter). Le Havre is OK - bit barren - but a useful 24 hr port. The Rouen trip is well worth while (get the timings right!) and there's a new marina at Rouen, excellent by all reports. New Marina at Rouen

 

[Pete7]

Rob, why not head a bit further south to Brittainy and Morbihan. So many pretty little harbours all within a days sail of the next. The Islands also not to be missed.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

Rob even Cherbourg is a long way from Harwich for a 3 cruise for short handed family crew /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[saltyrob]

Hi

Should have noted that were based in the River Deben, have three weeks avalaible, and 28 foot yacht ,so range is a bit limited

Many thanks for your responses

Rob

 

[Rivers & creeks]

We are also on the Deben and fancy ringing the changes for 2009 after three years of Belgium and Holland. Deben to the Swale (fast trip with tide); Swale to Geavelines (first half is very fast with tide); Gravelines to Boulogne; Boulogne to St Valery-sur-somme (fair bit of tidal assistance); sur-somme to st valery-en-caux (good tide to help). Looks like a nice trip. We are only 27 feet so also need nice short manageable hops and even across the channel we're never out of sight of land.

I'd like to get as far as Honfleur but the last 4 years we have had a right pain with the weather getting back, so I wouldn't want to risk being that far away with a slightly nervous crew (or a wife, 9 year old and 2 year old in my case). I need to add a week to any itinerary to allow time to get back and would rather spend 2 weeks in France and a week exploring the East Coast as the buffer. 4 years ago we got stuck after a month in Holland and term about to start. We ended up leaving the boat in Belgium for the winter (which was very cheap at £200 all in) but then we lived in Kent and it was easy to pop over. Not an option now.

 

[ebbtide]

The attraction - and excitement - of going up the Seine to Rouen cannot be overstated. As the one who 'found' that new marina on a French website for Grehan who was returning from the Med I can confirm that it really is possible in a day, mast up, provided you can make 5-plus knots through the water.

I did it both ways in September taking copious notes and pics which are available if you PM me.

 

[binch]

You should have a lovely time. We sailed Lowestoft to Gravelines in one long day last summer. Small marina and good welcome. Arrival time from 2 hrs before to 2 hrs after HW. Visitors berths do not dry at LW but you may be aground, but bottom is very soft and even deep keel boats stay upright. Lidl supermarket on quayside.
From there you can short-hop. Both Calais and Boulogne are vey busy in summer and Calais is now expensive. St Val/s/Somme needs above avergae navigation, especially if drawing more than 5 feet. Critical ETA and very strong tidal streams in narrow winding approach channels. If you can take the bottom you would enjoy Le Crotoy nd Hurdel in same estuary. Very good for fish, especiaally small pub near lighthouse at Le Hourdel. But watch tides: big range and when God pulls the plug it drains the estuary very fast.
Le Treport is excellent, but you have to lock through to stay afloat.
Depending on draught etc, Etaples can be a good sstop.
You'll be lucky to get a berth at Honfleur. We've only ever made it in winter, but we are a big boat. Don't recommend Le Havre.
Don't know the new marina at Rouen, but we have always got a mooring there after easy passage upstream with a fair tide. The tide and early start are important. Rouen is worth a visit.

If, being an east-coaster, you have mast in tabenacle, and if weather turns windy, go up the river Somme from St Valery. Delightful.
But France is no longer cheap. We are there now for the winter and the exchange rate hasn't half knocked some of the pleasure out of it.
Good provision markets in Gravelines, Calais and St Valery. These are well worth it.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Second Piers suggestions.... we did both this summer past, and enjoyed them enormously.... St Valery en Caux is pretty, small and quiet, and worth a night, Fecamp a little larger, and more to do, and also has the lovely Benedictine Monastry, which is worth a visit, but can suffer from swell coming into the outer harbour, so if its rough, then lock through.

Along the way, Bolougne is a decent stop.... the Sealife centre is extraordinarily good, even for adults.

 

[kacecar]

Hi Rob

No one has mentioned Dieppe yet. If you are going to go as far as Honfleur then don't miss out Dieppe - access at all states of tide, easy approach, a big town and loads to do even if it's raining.

 

[sailorman]

very nice + good facilities BUT it is Expensive.
As you enter the Hbr the first building on the stb side is a very good Restaurant with fixed price menu's that are very good value mid-week

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Yes, good point.... we liked Dieppe too.... and as per Sailorman's recommendation above, the restaurant is very good!

 

[Rivers & creeks]

[ QUOTE ]
We sailed Lowestoft to Gravelines in one long day last summer.

[/ QUOTE ] sounds promising for us, what's your boat and cruising speed? The route looks pretty much due south so tide is guaranteed to be foul for at least half the way?

 

[sailorman]

there is also a superb Italian Deli (Husband Italian Wife French ) on one of the side streets @ the western end of the Hbr.
Meat Balls in tomato & basil sauce with fresh pasta absolutely wonderful
If you get a chance Dives-Sur-Mare on market day wonderful fresh food in the medieval hall

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

The market inn Dieppe was very good while we were there too..... typical French..... loads and loads of fresh produce.... and some meats that were highly dubious! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[sailorman]

[and some meats that were highly dubious]

Wot with Real Fat from the same animal /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Greenwichman]

Hi, Rob.

We sail out of Tollesbury on 28.5 feet. Last year we had three weeks and managed to reach Deauville/Trouville, via Dieppe (brilliant), Fecamp (charming) and St Valery en Caux,(lovely, tho small). Heed the warnings about onshore winds along this coast, the seas kick up in the entrances of all of these places in anything over F5; can be dangerous if combined with a strong ebb.

This coming year we have invested in a couple of folding bikes and are planning on taking more time to see the Somme via Boulogne (if the wind serves), or (if it doesn't) Calais, Gravelines, Dunkerque and Belgian ports.

To keep marital harmony, we go via Ramsgate/Dover and my wife takes the ferry for the X-Channel leg, and French trains whenever the coastal hops look likely to be "lumpy" (defined as F3 and over!).

Wouldn't dream of going further afield in a 3 week window, unless next summer is going to be MUCH better than average!

BTW we hired a car in Dieppe, which gave access to pretty inland towns, coastal scenery and other must-sees. Europcar weekend rates Recommended.

PM me if you need more details.

Roy

 

[Seanick]

Did Paris and back in '92. Stayed in Paris for four weeks. Fantastic trip up the river, varied scenery, exciting locks and generally plenty to look at. Came back via Honfleur just when they had built the 'new' lock, which was a suprise as our (out of date) almanac did not mention it. We were not sure if we were really in Honfleur!!
( That was pre GPS, all done on DR, and the light didn't match the (in date) chart.
You can get to Paris in about 3 days, but in retrospect I would take much much longer next time, as there are so many nice places along the way.

 

[saltyrob]

Many thanks again for all your responses, fantastic and much appreciated

Rob

 

[PeterGibbs]

I'm at Walton so know the route westwards well. Some thoughts:

Ramsgate with the tide is a good first step

Dover for a light canter next day.

Boulogne is easy from Dover

From Boulogne you face the problem of the retreating tide: it's 55nm to Dieppe (now very expensive but good eating) You can put in at Le Treport to shorten the leg but need a rising tide to enter.

Fecamp is nice and easy going.

Rounding Le Havre Anitfer heading south looks a bit daunting but is easy with the tide. There are few big ship movements there. Le Havre is a dump, sadly, better to head on over the bay to Oistreham where you can tie up outside the lock whilst waiting. The marina inside is very pleasant as is the village.

Looking for a trip inland for the wife? - take the canal inland from Oistreham to Caen. Travel with the convoy - usually a 10am departure, very civilised, passing the bridges that open in sequence. Very good value, very historic and good eating.

Otherwise pass on along the coast to St Vaast (might have to wait for the tide before entry) everyone's favourite, with a final stop in Cherbourg. Tides move so fast there you'll be there in no time.

The Seine to Rouen is a spectacular ride up - the water moves very fast, but can be a slog down (shorter tide). Rouen is a great city - why not visit by public transport, so much easier. Honfleur is of course the picture town, with a great market - a bit of a hassle to get parked there, as you might expect.

Good hunting!


PWG