How close to Paris can you get

[Dave_Rolfe]

There is a chance that my wife and I may be spending 6 months on board our boat next year. Nothing grand but it's something we want to do. At 29 ft it will not be luxurious at times but hopefully it will be fun.

One trip that has always appealed to me (never had the time before) is to go up the R. Seine to Paris but with a mast I am not sure how far we would get. Can anyone advise.

Also, would we need ATIS on our VHF radio or can we simply not use it and stay within the law. Will there be a necessity to use the radio on the river or not. What are peoples experience of using or not using ATIS in France.

Any advise will be appreciated as always.

 

[highandry]

I used to run right up the Seine to the very centre of Paris in a small merchant ship, to a berth alongside the Gare Du Austerlich (spelling?) anyway, a railway station, where we used to load wine in big casks from the trains coming up from the wine growing districts. So I'm sure once your mast was down you could get right up to the city.

These photos were not taken by me, they're by Capt. Ken Appleby who was shipmaster for many years in my ship (pictured) and others of the same shipping company

 

[Chris_Robb]

There is a chance that my wife and I may be spending 6 months on board our boat next year. Nothing grand but it's something we want to do. At 29 ft it will not be luxurious at times but hopefully it will be fun.

One trip that has always appealed to me (never had the time before) is to go up the R. Seine to Paris but with a mast I am not sure how far we would get. Can anyone advise.

Also, would we need ATIS on our VHF radio or can we simply not use it and stay within the law. Will there be a necessity to use the radio on the river or not. What are peoples experience of using or not using ATIS in France.

Any advise will be appreciated as always.

Hi - you can get as far as Ruan with the mast up.

ATIS is a funny european inland waterways standard. You must have the ATIS extension to your VFH licence. To get this - go on line to Ofcom, and fill in the ATIS application. It was back to me within 5 minutes with the endoresment.

Do you need a working ATIS set? Apparently no - just the qualification. I will find out next year one way or the other!

 

[Grehan]

Mast up

Yes, you could get as far as Rouen - as far as the new pleasure harbour just downstream from the amazing new lift bridge (which I understand is not being used).
Information about navigating the River Seine and about Rouen here. and about cruising to and staying in Paris here.

Ah yes, ATIS. Don't worry - you won't need it.

 

[Roberto]

Yes, you could get as far as Rouen - as far as the new pleasure harbour just downstream from the amazing new lift bridge (which I understand is not being used).

one might even sail in company :smile:


a lot more pictures here, it's a meeting of navy training ships up there
http://www.armada.org/Photos/Souvenirs-2008

 

[Grehan]

Has it actually been lifted since the Tall Ships Regatta of 2008?

BTW For them's that's interested, the entrance to the pleasure harbour is just off the bottom left-hand corner of Roberto's lower pic.

 

[Roberto]

Has it actually been lifted since the Tall Ships Regatta of 2008?

I have no idea sorry.
I did not even know the lifting bridge existed, just noticed from the pictures today that it is actually a bridge and not a sort of "arch" :shy:

 

[dk]

Do stop off at Honfluer on the way - well worth a visit.

 

[Thistle411]

Best to drop the stick at the coast and go into the Arsenal at the Bastille. Great place in the middle of Paris. Have the mast stored while you're in the river and pick it up on the way out, or have it shipped to Port St Louis and you've got a great trip to the Med.

 

[guernseyman]

Do your research well in advance.

Essentially you need to position yourself at the mouth of the Seine at dawn with the tide low.

That is so that you can do the run to Rouen in one go (stopping allowed only in emergency)
with the assistance of the tide.

If you take your mast down for that run, either leave it behind (e.g. in Le Havre or Honfleur) or ensure it is really secure. Ocean-going boats will create substantial wash for you to negotiate.

 

[Grehan]

Lower Seine

(stopping allowed only in emergency)

Not exactly true - see my notes, website link above.
It's quite possible (and allowed) to stop for a while - we've done it. But there only a very few places where that's feasible/at all comfortable.
However, whilst I know people who have moored/anchored overnight I wouldn't fancy it myself.
The comment about supporting and securing the mast (if you de-mast) and about the wash from passing vessels is entirely correct.

 

[Maurice55]

We've done it it and would recommend not to stop half way or if you have to, drop the hook in a shallowish part. Mooring alongside anything is very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous unless you can get behind something substantial like the mooring barge at Caudebeck(not possible when we stoped there). We had to stop because we did it in winter and daylight was much to short to do it in one go and you are not supposed to navigate at night. We were later told that it is tolerated and that when you get near Rouen, it is well lit up anyway and very busy at times. The main problem on this section of the river is the fast cruise ships sailing at night and mostly the pilot boats servicing all the commercial shipping from sea to rouen. As advised already VNF will give you all the informations, and,by the way, sailing through Paris is fab if a bit scary in a small boat.

 

[Thistle411]

If you opt to drop the mast, you won't have to go in at the mouth of the Seine and fight the ocean going ships, nor worry about places to stop. Go into the canal system (possible at a number of places) and have a great trip through France, or even Belgium and Holland. We just came out of the canals this fall after navigating from Pt. St. Louis to winter in Paris, Arsenal, then up to norhtern Holland in our "sail" boat (sans Mast).

 

[peterN]

If you want to take the mast down before entering the Sein I can recommend Mr. Stephan Reiset in Le Havre. His web page is: http://www.cnhm.fr/ e-mail: info@cnhm.fr, phone: +33 235253051. He speaks perfect english and is most helpful. He can store your mast and put it up again on your return. We took our yacht with a 1.7m draught from Port Louis du Rhone to Le Havre last summer and stayed in Paris Arsenal for a week on the way. If you want a list of our stopping places, please send me a PM.

 

[Chris_Robb]

If you want to take the mast down before entering the Sein I can recommend Mr. Stephan Reiset in Le Havre. His web page is: http://www.cnhm.fr/ e-mail: info@cnhm.fr, phone: +33 235253051. He speaks perfect english and is most helpful. He can store your mast and put it up again on your return. We took our yacht with a 1.7m draught from Port Louis du Rhone to Le Havre last summer and stayed in Paris Arsenal for a week on the way. If you want a list of our stopping places, please send me a PM.

Do you recon that Le Havre is a better place to down the mast than Harfleur?

We are doing this trip in April - so just getting all the ducks in line so to speak.

 

[Grehan]

Le Havre and Honfleur are very different; each has its pros and cons.

Honfleur is old and quaint - if you moor in the old bassin you'll be part of the tourist show but it is a charming place nonetheless. The mast guys at TEC are friendly and just a bit informal. Honfleur has the advantage of being further up the river, which helps catching the flood tide onwards to Rouen.

Le Havre is big and quite memorable - traversing the docks to get to Stephan's yard is interesting. We grew to like Le Havre a lot (not so good when it's grey and rainy, though!). Stephan is very professional - you'll be in safe hands - but also fairly pricey. Make sure you speak to him in advance so he can book the crane to suit you (TEC has got its own crane). With Le Havre, mast down, you either go out again mastless to enter the Seine, which can be a rocky and rolly experience, or use the Tancarville canal, which cuts out the big lower reaches of the Seine (that are very prone to mists and fogs) completely.

More info : http://www.tagweb.co.uk/grehan/lehavre-honfleur.html

 

[peterN]

I agree, Stephan is quite expensive. However, we moored alongside his quay for a few days free of charge which is a bonus in that part of the world. I also share your views about the Sein estuary; while moored in Le Havre marina we met a number of boats waiting for good weather to enter the Sein. Those waters are no place to be in a blow without a mast! Also, there are shallows and sandbanks between Le Havre marina and the entrance to tho Sein, to avoid them you have to go a few miles into unsheltered open water. Luckly, we did it on a good day with no problems. Gloom and doom has been spread about the Trancarville canal, but we had good reports from those who used it. But Jim and Ruth (Grenan) are the experts and they may have other opinions.

 

[Grehan]

That's "Grehan"
See my reply, above, and the website.
We've used Honfleur, Le Havre and the Tancarville. I've always been frit about being at sea without my stick up. When we were last in Le Havre there was a really nice classic-looking yacht on the concrete outside the marina chandlery, had been rolled and squished out on the estuary sandbank somewhere.

 

[Chris_Robb]

That's "Grehan"
See my reply, above, and the website.
We've used Honfleur, Le Havre and the Tancarville. I've always been frit about being at sea without my stick up. When we were last in Le Havre there was a really nice classic-looking yacht on the concrete outside the marina chandlery, had been rolled and squished out on the estuary sandbank somewhere.

Thats made up my mind then! We go for Honfleur!

The plan is Easter in Paris...... So looking for a 9 am low tide to go up on. Not looked at the tide tables yet, but usually Easter is on Springs, so April Fools day should have a good tide!

 

[Mudisox]

Up the Seine.

We did it last season. Le Havre was souless but useful to top up with fuel. Mast down costs were very high there and so we went up to Rouen the next day in one go. Forget the lifting bridge it will only gain a further 0.5 mile upriver.
A good plaisance on the left, before the bridge and they "plan to have a mast lowering crane for 2010" but CHECK first as the alternative commercial one was quoted at 186 euros! We did it ourselves in the end by aligning the mast at low water with the gangway to shore. Much help from young Hbr master and others.
Lots of places to stop once above the lock and far more interesting than below, and we then stayed alongside at St Germain [good close supermarket with fuel] for a week for free, and metro'd in each day. We ended up cruising the canals for 10 weeks out to Rheims/ verdun etc and Charleville Mezier[ well worth the detour]. See VNF site for more info.
Honfleur was very, very nice and also easier to enter than first thought, and also friendly. i We will return and maybe use it to de mast etc.
Good luck.