Just imagine (2)........

[tjc]

........as before but starting from Falmouth. My idea is to leave Falmouth, east coast of Ireland and West coast of Scotland, back via West coast of Ireland. Then Southern Brittany, Biscay, Portugal, Med and back through the French canals.

Ambitious?

Is 5 foot 6 OK for the canals?

 

[Twister_Ken]

At 5'6" you might be spending more time than planned in France.

 

[chrisc]

at 1.7 M the only way up the canals is propobally up the Rhone .
you need a powerfull engine to get up the rhone ,propobally best
to do this bit in Aug ,sept.come out eventually at rotterdam/amsterdam

 

[vyv_cox]

My previous boat did this twice. It was a 27 footer, drawing 5 ft 6 inches, based in NW England and/or N. Wales. The owner before me and the one after me sailed around Spain, spent time in the Med and returned via Canal du Midi to Bordeaux. The keel dug a furrow for much of the way but the boat got through. This was a few years ago so cannot advise whether water depth is now less. Probably depends on time of year.

 

[Guest]

Best person to speak to re the French Canals is Marian Martin who has written a very authorative book on the subject! You can contact her at marianmartin@boatsyachtsmarinas.com