bendyone
Well-Known Member
Sorry books on the boat, whats the earliest / latest you can get into Gravelines 1.2m draft Spring tides. Is it thought the lock or cill? ( google earth)
Any other advice?
Any other advice?
Gravelines
- Thread starter bendyone
- Start date
MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
Navin says channel available from 1/2 tide. Dries to -1.5. Avoid in strong onshore wind (F5 and above). Bridge and lock to Bassin Vauban open approx 1.5 hr before abd after HW at springs and .75hr either side at neaps. Cunliffe says the lock is permanently open but book is 5 years old.
Call ch9 before entry
http://www.ville-gravelines.fr/plaisance/port-plaisance-nav.php?panel=1
Hope this helps.
Call ch9 before entry
http://www.ville-gravelines.fr/plaisance/port-plaisance-nav.php?panel=1
Hope this helps.
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LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
From noonsite :
This small, historic port has a drying approach, but the marina here is in a non-tidal basin. The lock is open 3 hrs each side of high water. Beware of the training wall by the harbour entrance.
Approach - can be identified by the six 60m tanke-like structures of a nuclear power station and the spire of Petit-Fort-Phillippe. Entrance dries with variable sandbanks. Do not attempt to pass between the N card bn and E pierhead due to submerged training wall. On entry, keep nearer to the E pier for the first 100m. Without local knowledge access is only possible from HW -0200 to HW, is difficult in fresh onshore winds and should not be attempted in winds over F5. The entrance to the Marina in Bassin Vauban has a single pair of lock gates which are closed at approximately HW+/- 0300 when the depth over the lock sill is about 2m. To enter the canal system at the far end of the basin, 48 hours notice is required and can only be achieved if free flow is possible.
Berthing - Visitors pontoon is the first one immediately starboard after passing the lock gates. The inner end dries to very soft mud, the outer end has 2.5m Contact the harbour for advice. The drying pontoons off Petit-Fort-Phillipe are not for visitors although temporary berth at HW may be possible. No dedicated waiting pontoon outside the lock. The Harbour Office is at the top of the letter "n" in Vauban.
This small, historic port has a drying approach, but the marina here is in a non-tidal basin. The lock is open 3 hrs each side of high water. Beware of the training wall by the harbour entrance.
Approach - can be identified by the six 60m tanke-like structures of a nuclear power station and the spire of Petit-Fort-Phillippe. Entrance dries with variable sandbanks. Do not attempt to pass between the N card bn and E pierhead due to submerged training wall. On entry, keep nearer to the E pier for the first 100m. Without local knowledge access is only possible from HW -0200 to HW, is difficult in fresh onshore winds and should not be attempted in winds over F5. The entrance to the Marina in Bassin Vauban has a single pair of lock gates which are closed at approximately HW+/- 0300 when the depth over the lock sill is about 2m. To enter the canal system at the far end of the basin, 48 hours notice is required and can only be achieved if free flow is possible.
Berthing - Visitors pontoon is the first one immediately starboard after passing the lock gates. The inner end dries to very soft mud, the outer end has 2.5m Contact the harbour for advice. The drying pontoons off Petit-Fort-Phillipe are not for visitors although temporary berth at HW may be possible. No dedicated waiting pontoon outside the lock. The Harbour Office is at the top of the letter "n" in Vauban.
CliveG
Well-Known Member
Marina gate is open 3hrs each side of HW.
cill dries 0.6 at L W Springs.
Great place to visit.
cill dries 0.6 at L W Springs.
Great place to visit.
bendyone
Well-Known Member
Can you stop on the pontoons outside the lock, we need to leave to get back into Calais by HW + 2.5 hours
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
They are local fishermans moorings, havent seen a visitors welcome sign there. Besides, they dry out too!!!
The lock gates leak like a sieve, and the basin empties despite them being closed
The lock gates leak like a sieve, and the basin empties despite them being closed
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
Think it would be tight as you will be against the current all the way down to Calais so any hold up getting past ferries would mean a long wait on the buoys at Calais.
bendyone
Well-Known Member
That's the problem, if I miss the last in at Calais I miss the ferry home as well or I have to pay the marina to bring the boat in next day. Around €100.
Tide wise because it is just a weekend jolly I should head to Boulogne instead but fancy having a go at Gravelines. Is it a lock and a cill at the entrance to the marina and which do you use. really should have brought the books back from the boat.
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
At Gravelines they open the gates and leave them open whilst there is enough water. No 'Lock' as such, you just go straight through.
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
High tide was 1 1/2 hours ago. The gates are still open. Will try to note when they close.
only 2.7m over the cill at the moment though.
Simon.
Marmalade.
Gravelines.
only 2.7m over the cill at the moment though.
Simon.
Marmalade.
Gravelines.
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bendyone
Well-Known Member
We need 1.2m so I guess getting on to HW. What I really need to know is how soon before HW I can get out. Next weekend on Sunday.
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
Gates still open (2010hrs BST) 2.55m over the cill still; High tide was almost 3 hrs ago...
Marmalade
Well-Known Member
Gates closed at 2210 FST - that's 4 hours (all but 7 mins) after HW. Gauge on gate says 2.55m but my gauge says zero and we're definitely not afloat.
never let it be said that the ECF doesn't provide answers
Marmalade; News at Ten; Gravelines
never let it be said that the ECF doesn't provide answers
Marmalade; News at Ten; Gravelines
Sheff
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately having to rely on memory as I don't have my log book to hand where I noted height of tide on entry and least depth seen.
Last entry into Gravelines was Sat. morning 28th May, 2hrs before HT. From memory (and according to Tideplotter) height of tide at the time was approx. 4.2m over chart datum and least depth seen under the keel was 2.0m. Moonshine draws 1.5m.
Transposing that to Sun. 14th Aug. you could leave 2hrs before HT at 1200 local time with 4.5m over chart datum. I make it 13.3nM to Calais (including the length of the river Aa) so 5 knots through the water would be 3hrs 36mins, 6 knots would be 2hrs 48mins (allowing for adverse tide).
Just make sure you are berthed at the end of the pontoon so you are actually afloat 2hrs before HW.
Hope this helps,
Paul.
Last entry into Gravelines was Sat. morning 28th May, 2hrs before HT. From memory (and according to Tideplotter) height of tide at the time was approx. 4.2m over chart datum and least depth seen under the keel was 2.0m. Moonshine draws 1.5m.
Transposing that to Sun. 14th Aug. you could leave 2hrs before HT at 1200 local time with 4.5m over chart datum. I make it 13.3nM to Calais (including the length of the river Aa) so 5 knots through the water would be 3hrs 36mins, 6 knots would be 2hrs 48mins (allowing for adverse tide).
Just make sure you are berthed at the end of the pontoon so you are actually afloat 2hrs before HW.
Hope this helps,
Paul.
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Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Gravelines must be one of the few places where cill is lower the the basin it supposedly retains water within
bendyone
Well-Known Member
Got an email from the HM, Gates open + / - 3 hours from HW. For my draft about 2 hours either side. Would be cutting it fine to get back to the last bridge at Calais. Tide will be against me most of the way. The other problem is if I hit Calais at the wrong time could take 30minutes waiting for ferries to come out.
bendyone
Well-Known Member
Well we did it but not Gravelines,
Left Calais at 11.08, first bridge lifting
Out and turned right, wind behind and a fair tide - 2 - 3 Knots we sailed up to Dunkirk. A good tide.
Entrance
Marina
Along side for fuel
Arrived at 14.30 having travelled at up to 8Kn SOG.
Stopped at the Yatch club marina €25 a night and had a good meal in their restaurant. Got the fuel at 7.00 am €1.48/l
100 l even more 
still should last a while and probably wont be cheaper next time.
Left a 8.30 into a f4-5 west wind ie dead on the heading back to Calais. Had some time with us for the first few hours than against us for the last 5 miles. back in Calais waiting for the bridge at 14.15. Through the bridge at 15.48 and all tied up and ready to come home on the 18.50 ferry.
The weather was mixed over the weekend except for the wind west all the time.
All in all a good weekend. Still want to try Gravelines but need to get the tides right so I can get back into Calais in time.
Left Calais at 11.08, first bridge lifting
Out and turned right, wind behind and a fair tide - 2 - 3 Knots we sailed up to Dunkirk. A good tide.
Entrance
Marina
Along side for fuel
Arrived at 14.30 having travelled at up to 8Kn SOG.
Stopped at the Yatch club marina €25 a night and had a good meal in their restaurant. Got the fuel at 7.00 am €1.48/l
100 l even more still should last a while and probably wont be cheaper next time.Left a 8.30 into a f4-5 west wind ie dead on the heading back to Calais. Had some time with us for the first few hours than against us for the last 5 miles. back in Calais waiting for the bridge at 14.15. Through the bridge at 15.48 and all tied up and ready to come home on the 18.50 ferry.
The weather was mixed over the weekend except for the wind west all the time.
All in all a good weekend. Still want to try Gravelines but need to get the tides right so I can get back into Calais in time.
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Marmalade
Well-Known Member
V pretty and worth the trip...
