stuartw
Member
French yotties use a \"W- Sea\"
Whilst on my recent trip to Cherbourg and St. Vaast, I witnessed my first experience of how the nautical French relieve themselves - in public!
Last Monday, a French yacht came into St. Vaast, around 1030, as the gate opened, and berthed two pontoons from myself.
I was sitting in the inside helm, surveying the world, as one does, whilst SWMBO cleared up after our usual late breakfast. The new arrivals had been tied up for no more than 5 mins, when one of the crew, sauntered along the pontoon, towards the sharp end, and stood there, facing, the boat, and me, with his back to the harbour wall. I said to SWBO, "If I didn't know any better, this chap is having a wee in the marina" She looked and agreed. His hands were by his crotch, and he was looking down. He looked up, and must have seen me, but just continued. Now at this stage, there was a bit of a blustery wind, so he must have sprayed his boat. After a minute or so, up comes the zip, and back into the boat.
I was quite prepared to accept this was a one off, and there was a queue for the heads, but you can imagine my surprise, two days later, another French yacht, on the same berth, went one better.
This time the man, again obviously desperate, went to the stern, braced himself against the guard rail, down with the zip, and peed over the side. However, there was another difference. Although possibly out of deference to me, who again was watching the world go by, had turned his back to me, but was on full view of the harbour. I suppose he thought there were far enough away as not to see much.
Imagine my surprise next morning when all the crew were going to the showers, one of them does it on the pontoon.
Have I lead a sheltered life and this is common practise? Or is this a rare occurrence.
I have to say, the crew members of both these boats were in their early to late fifties, or even older. One often sees this practise in the countryside, but not on full view in a marina. Don't French yachts have a sea toilet?- maybe the cheaper ones don't
I would be interested to see if anybody else has experienced this - seeing it, that is.
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Whilst on my recent trip to Cherbourg and St. Vaast, I witnessed my first experience of how the nautical French relieve themselves - in public!
Last Monday, a French yacht came into St. Vaast, around 1030, as the gate opened, and berthed two pontoons from myself.
I was sitting in the inside helm, surveying the world, as one does, whilst SWMBO cleared up after our usual late breakfast. The new arrivals had been tied up for no more than 5 mins, when one of the crew, sauntered along the pontoon, towards the sharp end, and stood there, facing, the boat, and me, with his back to the harbour wall. I said to SWBO, "If I didn't know any better, this chap is having a wee in the marina" She looked and agreed. His hands were by his crotch, and he was looking down. He looked up, and must have seen me, but just continued. Now at this stage, there was a bit of a blustery wind, so he must have sprayed his boat. After a minute or so, up comes the zip, and back into the boat.
I was quite prepared to accept this was a one off, and there was a queue for the heads, but you can imagine my surprise, two days later, another French yacht, on the same berth, went one better.
This time the man, again obviously desperate, went to the stern, braced himself against the guard rail, down with the zip, and peed over the side. However, there was another difference. Although possibly out of deference to me, who again was watching the world go by, had turned his back to me, but was on full view of the harbour. I suppose he thought there were far enough away as not to see much.
Imagine my surprise next morning when all the crew were going to the showers, one of them does it on the pontoon.
Have I lead a sheltered life and this is common practise? Or is this a rare occurrence.
I have to say, the crew members of both these boats were in their early to late fifties, or even older. One often sees this practise in the countryside, but not on full view in a marina. Don't French yachts have a sea toilet?- maybe the cheaper ones don't
I would be interested to see if anybody else has experienced this - seeing it, that is.
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