If you are thinking of Lac Lémon?

[Seahope]

Waiting list for an annual berth 4+ years

Added our name to the waiting lists at a number of major marinas anyway, but 4+ years!

 

[jfm]

Waiting list for an annual berth 4+ years

Added our name to the waiting lists at a number of major marinas anyway, but 4+ years!

Steve, just a thought, they're sensitive souls and they might move you a couple of years up the list if you didn't insult them by calling them a sour fruit

 

[MapisM]

Thinking of what? U must be joking.
Lakes are only good for speedboats with big smokey petrol engines and straight exhausts, and on that one they might shoot you before you've had the time to warm it up!
So, all you're left with are its boring surroundings...
...ok, aside from the Sommet des Diablerets which ain't bad, I must admit.

 

[AndieMac]

Waiting list for an annual berth 4+ years

Added our name to the waiting lists at a number of major marinas anyway, but 4+ years!

According to some other forums, via google on the subject, the wait list is realistically more 5 - 10 years and not subject to bribery and corruption from wealthy foreign queue jumpers.
It also sounds like the berthing fees are astronomical.

 

[AndieMac]

Lakes are only good for speedboats with big smokey petrol engines and straight exhausts, and on that one they might shoot you before you've had the time to warm it up!

Is this from personal experience M?

 

[MapisM]

LOL, naah, it's a Swiss thing. No problem around here.
You know, "my" lake is the home of this gentleman, among others...

 

[AndieMac]

LOL, naah, it's a Swiss thing. No problem around here.
You know, "my" lake is the home of this gentleman, among others...

When I saw your response to Firefly's post image of the Ilmor V10, I got a feeling your separation with fast boats will be only short lived

Interesting read on Mr. Buzzi.

 

[Hardmy]

Lemon vs Léman

Hey Seahope,

you are probably speaking about Lac Léman

Waiting list for an annual berth 4+ years

Where are you looking for a berth and what size. Here in Montreux (Port de Clarens) it is quite common to wait 5-7 years.

BUT, depending your area and whether it is a municipal port or not, it can go much faster. Call for example Meillerie (Bureau Communal 0033 / 450 760 430) which is public but accepts people not living in the village or La Pichette (Jean-Blaise Vacheron 0041 79 / 378 52 16) which is private but more expensive. I heard that the waiting list may be shorter. But yes, there is absolutely no way to accelerate or bypass the process. 80% of the ports are controlled by municipalities, and annual berthing, if you live in the same municipality is cheap.

Because of the surrounding mountains, we have katabatic winds which can be sometime a bit brutal:

But more common is this:

In fact, sailing during summer is best at dawn and sunset. Best is to have two boats (sail + motor)

You are lucky to live in the region, since 2 years I have to commute to my home. But only every two week-ends...

 

[MapisM]

But more common is this:

Lovely dinghy indeed.
Don't show it to tcm, I don't dare thinking of what he could stick on its transom...

 

[Seahope]

Hey Seahope,

you are probably speaking about Lac Léman

I blame the spell checker. Lake Geneva is easier to type on a UK keyboard but that is the incorrect name of course.

Yes, we spend quite a few weeks every year in the region and as you say there are many sunny days here, including this week

Since everyone here about seem to drive diesels anyway, I wouldn't expect any complaints over having diesels in my boat. I am sure that when the engines have been rebuilt with (virtually) everything replaced they will run like new and were generally pretty smoke free anyway.

I like the idea of moving the boat here. Whilst you have shown some chop in one photo I have rarely seen more than 6" waves here so WOT would often be possible and there are far fewer boats in the water to dodge than in the Solent. The area of the lake is I feel roughly on par with the size of the Solent too and there are lots of towns to visit, so all in all, yes I would like to spend a season or so on the lake and perhaps from there to the Med.

 

[Hardmy]

Geneva lake: OK for 1-2 seasons

Lovely dinghy indeed.
Don't show it to tcm, I don't dare thinking of what he could stick on its transom...

Hehe tcm, what shaft length is required then?

It is not a bad idea to refit your engines because every boat is controlled every 3 years (they even measure the engine noise of your boat from the shore) by the "Service de la Navigation" of the canton where you want to register your boat. Ah, and keep in mind that they won't give you a yearly berth if you haven't registered your boat with the VD, GE or VS identification number.

Yes it is true that you encounter such chop rarely and 80% in winter. All in all, I'd say that only 15-20 days a year are too uncomfortable for us hobby boaters. It depens also if you are based in the haut/grand/petit lac. One season is definitively enough for discovering the geneva lake.

I'll post once a petit reportage with pics etc. if some are interested.

 

[MapisM]

I'll post once a petit reportage with pics etc. if some are interested.

Please do.
Don't take my previous comment on the "boring surroundings" too seriously...