French waterways Seine, where is start point for a Vignette

[blampied]

Next month I will take my Aquastar 38 Motorboat from Jersey to Gibraltar
via Paris and the French inland waterways.
So will enter the Seine at La Havre and aim to pop out at Port Louis into the Med.
I know I need to purchase a VNF Vignette licence, but where does the licence area start from.
Do I need the Vignette from the start of the Seine at La Havre, or is Rouan the start point for requiring one.

I did a similar trip with a boat about 13 years ago and seam to remember the vignette not being required until Rouan, but maybe my memory is wrong and I can’t see anything on line to indicate from where it starts.

I will get a 30 day vignette licence, and I’m hoping 30 days might just be long enough to reach the Med via the canals? I’m thinking 30 days will be tight on time, so don’t want to take out the licence any sooner than I need to.

With the EU Schengen 90 day rules I’m wanting to get to Gibraltar (which is outside Schengen) with the 90 days.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[westernman]

Why not get a visa for a longer time and take time to do the trip as there really is plenty to fill a lot more than 30 days traversing France and then there is a lot of med coast which is worth dawdling over?

 

[ingenious]

Next month I will take my Aquastar 38 Motorboat from Jersey to Gibraltar
via Paris and the French inland waterways.
So will enter the Seine at La Havre and aim to pop out at Port Louis into the Med.
I know I need to purchase a VNF Vignette licence, but where does the licence area start from.
Do I need the Vignette from the start of the Seine at La Havre, or is Rouan the start point for requiring one.

I did a similar trip with a boat about 13 years ago and seam to remember the vignette not being required until Rouan, but maybe my memory is wrong and I can’t see anything on line to indicate from where it starts.

I will get a 30 day vignette licence, and I’m hoping 30 days might just be long enough to reach the Med via the canals? I’m thinking 30 days will be tight on time, so don’t want to take out the licence any sooner than I need to.

With the EU Schengen 90 day rules I’m wanting to get to Gibraltar (which is outside Schengen) with the 90 days.

Any advice appreciated.

I am sure I read somewhere when I was looking at doing that, that the VNF responsibility is from where the Seine ceases to be tidal and is canalised which is Rouen where you go through the first big locks. I think it may even have been on the Sailing Options YouTube site. It's a great source of into for that trip.

 

[blampied]

Why not get a visa for a longer time and take time to do the trip as there really is plenty to fill a lot more than 30 days traversing France and then there is a lot of med coast which is worth dawdling over?

Hi Westernman, thank you for the suggestion.
Yes a longer visa would be great, we did a similar trip with a smaller boat a decade ago, that took three and a half years, that was before Brexit when there was no time limit restrictions.
I looked into longer visas last year, unfortunately longer visas now require health / travel insurance, we are oaps with various issues making that problematic and expensive. On top of that, the time and cost involved in travelling from Jersey to the French consulate in London to apply then again a couple of weeks later to collect the visas make it all a none starter.

I’m thinking 90 days, (3 months, most of the summer) should be sufficient to get to Gibraltar, we will then over winter in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar being right at the entrance to the Med we hope to use Gibraltar as our base to spend all next summer (well the 90 days) cruising the Med, before returning to over winter once again in Gib.

 

[westernman]

On top of that, the time and cost involved in travelling from Jersey to the French consulate in London to apply then again a couple of weeks later to collect the visas make it all a none starter.

Are you sure that you need to physically go to the consulate?
France is getting very good at being able to do almost everything online.

 

[st599]

Are you sure that you need to physically go to the consulate?

They have outsourced it like most other countries. It's a biometric visa, so you need to attend for them to take fingerprints and scans. Then you need to do the same to pick it up again.

https://fr.tlscontact.com/visa/gb/gbLON2fr/home

France also has a higher funding requirement for non-hotel accommodation, 90 days would require proof of over £10k per person.

 

[st599]

Hi Westernman, thank you for the suggestion.
Yes a longer visa would be great, we did a similar trip with a smaller boat a decade ago, that took three and a half years, that was before Brexit when there was no time limit restrictions.
I looked into longer visas last year, unfortunately longer visas now require health / travel insurance, we are oaps with various issues making that problematic and expensive. On top of that, the time and cost involved in travelling from Jersey to the French consulate in London to apply then again a couple of weeks later to collect the visas make it all a none starter.

I’m thinking 90 days, (3 months, most of the summer) should be sufficient to get to Gibraltar, we will then over winter in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar being right at the entrance to the Med we hope to use Gibraltar as our base to spend all next summer (well the 90 days) cruising the Med, before returning to over winter once again in Gib.

If Gib is full, S'mir is nice too.

 

[Amerella]

Hi, you need a vignette upstream of Rouen.

You can buy online www.vnf.fr or in person at the VNF office in Rouen - Avenue Jaques Chastellain 76000 Rouen.

I hope this helps.

 

[CJTurner]

Exiting at Sete, or just before it and it's bridge, would save a few sea miles. And it's an enjoyable journey down the Petite Rhone.

 

[blampied]

Hi, you need a vignette upstream of Rouen.

You can buy online www.vnf.fr or in person at the VNF office in Rouen - Avenue Jaques Chastellain 76000 Rouen.

I hope this helps.

Thank you that’s what I was hoping, so I’m ok until I reach Rouen.
Getting excited, Only 2 weeks now until we hope to start our journey (as long as the weather is playing ball in 2 weeks)

 

[blampied]

Exiting at Sete, or just before it and its bridge, would save a few sea miles. And it's an enjoyable journey down the Petite Rhone.

Thank you.
Will keep it in mind.
However after a month plus travelling at 4 or 5 knots through brown water canals and rivers.
I’m thinking both me and the boat’s engine turbos will be craving some salty blue for a quick 20 knot blast.