French marinas and radio

Wiggo

Wiggo

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Don't laugh, but for various reasons, every time we have tried to go to France we've ended up diverting elsewhere. So this time, we're going to make it.

Question is, how much will I have to work on my atrocious schoolboy French to get by with marinas, harbourmasters and coastguards? What's the score with marinas? turn up and report to the marina office? call ahead? What chanels do the marinas use? Can I get by calling in English?

Anyone got a list of suitable French translations?
 
Most marinas replied to us in English, so clearly they decided my french wasn't up to it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif In general, the visitors pontoon was signed, so just find a berth and throw it in. Schoolboy french was enough to get me by in the captainerie too - they were all pretty tolerant.

I found Frank Singleton's list of met words useful for the weather forecasts.

Rick
 
Mostly just turn up and go to the signed visitor area. In some places you will be met and shown a berth if they are busy, but not during Le Lunch 2 hrs! Generally they monitor VHF Ch9 and they nearly always understand English, if not they don't bother to answer the radio just like a UK HM if getting a call in French.

French Coastguards ALL speak English. 'CROSS' is the name of the CG, CROSSMA (MA =Manche) is the central Channel one, CROSSMA Joburg the one nearest Cherbourg. If you listen on Ch16 you will hear them and see which one is in the area you are in.

You will hear:-

A Vous (over)
Termine, pronounced terminay, (out)
Canal (channel)
Ponton (pontoon but not finger berth)
Catway (finger berth)

BTW Diesel is 'gasoil' pronouced gazwarl, you might need it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Enjoy!

Robin
 
Ok I am off to Carteret tomorrow for lunch. Will pick you up any info you may require if I have time to get to the capitanerie.
 
Only place I had problem with was Honfleur, called up (in English) to request lock opening as nearly low water....completely ignored me!! Fortunately French boat also waiting to go in, so presume he got thru on vhf. Once inside inner harbour some foreign raggies wouldn't take lines, how friendly I thought. Eventually tied up and nice english raggie neighbour gave me some of his english tea bags as I had run out! What a beautiful place tho..well worth the visit.
 
When you first get to France buy something called Livre on Bord (or something like that) from the local chandlers for about €20 I think. It's the official French almanac and certainly French sailors have to carry one by law. It will give (in English as well as French) all the marina info you want and lots lots more
 
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