How close to Paris can you get

[JSYmartini]

Hi Guys, apologies for the thread resurrection my search for "Seine" and "Easter" led me here!

I'm trying to organise a cruise in company to Paris for 2011 for a bunch of RIB owners from the south coast and Channel Islands. Browsing through my Fluviacarte I've spotted the tiniest mention of locks being closed at Easter which is when I was aiming for, no specific details and I can't find anyone else mentioning this either.

Clearly this could put a spanner well and truly in the works

Any Seine experts out there able to shed more light on this?

I don't want to find myself on the road to rack and Rouen

 

[Grehan]

Seine Chomages (works)

The VNF map of closures can be found here -
http://www.vnf.fr/vnf/img/cms/Tourisme_et_domainehidden/chomages_carte_201012231500.pdf and a table here -
http://www.vnf.fr/vnf/img/cms/Tourisme_et_domainehidden/chomages_tableau_201012231503.pdf
Looking at the planned maintenance closures for the Seine, they seem to relate to one 'sas' out of the normal pair (or threesome) of side-by-side chambers, so you should be ok. I think there would have to be exceptional circumstances for the entire lock to be closed, the commercial traffic is that significant. The word used is 'restreinte' (restricted) not 'interrompu' (interrupted).
------------------
Écluse Suresnes - sas de 176x12/17 m........................................
15 mars 2011 28 mai 2011 Navigation restreinte
Écluse de Suresnes - sas de 177x12 m........................................ 6 juin 2011 10 juin 2011 Navigation restreinte
Écluse de Suresnes - sas de 185x18 m........................................ 12 septembre 2011 21 septembre 2011
Navigation restreinte – navigation par les 2 autres écluses - découplage des
convois

Écluse de Bougival - sas de 55x8 m.............................................
4 avril 2011 8 avril 2011 Navigation restreinte
Écluse de Bougival - sas de 220x12/17 m.................................... 3 octobre 2011 1er novembre 2011 Navigation restreinte

Écluse de Chatou – sas de 185x18 m........................................... 2 mai 2011 13 mai 2011
Navigation restreinte - passage possible certaines nuits qui sera précisé par
avis à la batellerie, à défaut trafi c écoulé par Bougival avec un mouillage
garanti à 3,20m (bras de Marly)

Écluse de Méricourt – sas de 185x12 m.......................................
14 mars 2011 25 mars 2011 Navigation restreinte - découplage des convois
Écluse d’Andrésy – sas de 185x24 m........................................... 16 mai 2011 27 mai 2011
Navigation restreinte – passage par le sas de 160x12m sauf caboteurs > à
11,40m de large, découplage des convois

Écluse d’Amfreville – sas de 141X12 m........................................
27 mars 2011 20 mai 2011 Navigation restreinte
Écluse d’Amfreville sas de 220x17 m........................................... 30 mai 2011 26 août 2011
Navigation restreinte – passage par le sas de 141x12m sauf caboteurs > à
140m, découplage des convois

Écluse de Notre Dame de la Garenne - sas de 141x12/17 m........ 16 mai 2011 27 mai 2011 Navigation restreinte

 

[JSYmartini]

Many thanks for the advice Grehan, I did think it was a bit odd for a major waterway to be completely shut to through a 4 day holiday weekend!

But I'll quote to you what the Fluviacarte says at the bottom of page 28 of the new edition under the heading "Lock opening times":

"Locks are closed on the following public holidays: January 1, Easter, May 1, July 14, November 11, December 25."



Coming from the Channel Islands, inland waterways are completely new to me, I'm really excited about this trip but I can see it's going to take a fair amount of planning and organisation, particularly re. fuel.

I'm going to carry on searching previous threads as I see it's been covered a few times but will probably start a new one for this trip and welcome your advice, you seem to be the Guru of the Seine on here! Thanks again

 

[Tom Price]

The Seine to Paris

At the risk of embarrassing Grehan, his website is essential reading . He's also a nice bloke!

On board you'll need Fluviacarte (new name for Navicarte), 'No 1 La Seine Aval', new edition obtainable from Imrays.

I used Admiralty Chart 2879 'Seine to Rouen', also from Imrays.

Derek Bowskill's 'River Seine Cruising Guide' and David Jefferson's 'Paris by Boat' both date from the late Nineties, but IMHO the best user-friendly info can be found in Neville Featherstone's Cruising Companion to North France & Belgium; he really simplifies how to use the tidal conveyor belt necessary for this trip, with colour pics and info about Le Havre, Honfleur, Rouen, plus locks and moorings until Paris. circa.£20 from Amazon.

The VNF website already has details of the chomages (stoppages) planned for 2011 AND licence fees payable at their Rouen Office without which you won't be allowed thro the first lock at Amfreville. Another useful (French) publication is next year's Guide du Plaisancier, obtainable from the nearest newsagent you can find over there!

To emphasize points already mentioned:
1 The approaches to the Seine are no more dangerous than any stretch of shallow water with strong tides exacerbated by wash from commercial freighters. It is well marked with huge buoys about a mile apart along the main channel, so if vis is poor don't go!
2 The Tancarville Canal is easy-peasy IF granted permission but like the river is prone to fog, while the lock at the far end only opens near HW, NOT the right time to catch the flood upstream.
3 Navigation is forbidden after dark, so with 12 hours of daylight in April (14 hours in June) timing is critical; experience indicates that at 5-6 knots a yacht can get to Rouen without stopping BUT you have to moor on the way back down to survive the new flood.
5 MoBos can do better of course, BUT there are speed restrictions: 15 knots to Rouen, 7 knots through the city, then 10 knots to Paris where it reduces to 5 knots.
6 Necessary paperwork has been discussed elsewhere but IMHO an I.C.C with CEVNI endorsement is a MUST.

Have reached Rouen twice, once on a cat and more recently in a MoBo, but Paris still eludes me - next year??

 

[Grehan]

"Locks are closed on the following public holidays: January 1, Easter, May 1, July 14, November 11, December 25."

Hmm. I was (dimly) aware of the key dates, but I wonder what 'Easter' means . . which is of course what your original question asked . . ok, I'll see what I can dredge up that's a bit more definitive.
[edit]
The only French Public Holiday at that time is Easter Monday 25th April. [Lundi de Pâques] - I'm fairly sure that that will be the only complete stoppage - and a Good Excuse to be parked up somewhere nice for the day!

BTW Fluviacartes and Breil guides, etc. are available via Grehan's website, VNF vignettes are easily available online from the VNF website** - it will probably be checked at Amfreville, although ours wasn't. One doesn't exactly need permission to use the Tancarville, but one does need to have contacted le Havre port control to ensure that the various lift bridges will be raised in turn and it's probably very wise not to do that trip at exactly the same time as commercial barges and small ships are. If you're short of time to take your time and in a fairly speedy RIB (faster than an ordinary MoBo or yacht?) then going straight up the river might be best.
** not needed if 5m or less, less than 10HP motor

 

[Seajet]

Just in case you haven't, have you read 'Narrow Dog To Carcassone' by Terry Darlington ?

This is NOT a pilot book, but very enjoyable and may give some flavour, even the odd tip, they certainly visited Paris at close quarters...

 

[Tom Price]

Narrow dog to Carcasonne

As you've twisted my arm have decided to splash out and buy a copy . . . one penny from Amazon!!!
TP

 

[Seajet]

I assume you're referring to 'Narrow Dog'; it's a VERY good, well written & humorous book; I can honestly say I tried to ration my reading as I didn't want it to end, which is quite somethingas I read a lot.

Hope you enjoy it, and I'd be surprised if there isn't some useful info' there too.