Lake Geneva

[rwilson]

Hi all,

I am doing some preliminary information gathering ahead of deciding whether or not to move my boat from the Solent to Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). I have a small motor boat which is a Capelli 32 WA (9.7m LOA x3m 2011 model) and although the Solent is ok I do prefer the better weather, in my experience, of being further south compared to the windy shores of the UK. Although I live in London with my family, come school holidays my wife and children decamp to the Alps where we have a place about 20km’s from Evian Les Bains – all told they spend about 14 weeks pa in France. I spend less time in France but taking a few more long weekends in May and June plus my 2-3 weeks in summer I think my boating season length would be more or less the same, and given the boat is more of a day boat I don’t think I’ll miss letting the cruising optionality expire.


So I have a couple of things I would like to run by the forum;

1. Permis de Conduire (pour bateaux) - I don’t currently have a French licence but I do have, PB L2 <10M, Day Skipper sail, ICC, CEVNI – would those UK qualifications allow me to legally drive my boat in France?

2. Currently the boat is registered on the SSR, it’s VAT status is fully paid and wholly owned by me. It will need to be registered in France to get it Immatriculation/registration number which is required if it is to be used on the lake– does anyone foresee any disadvantages in re-registering a boat from the UK to France – also I guess it can’t be on two registers at the same time?

3. In terms of shipping – I imagine the cheapest way is to get my boat to a northern French port say Cherbourg and have it trucked down. Does anyone have any recommended carriers and guestimates of the potential transport cost from there?

4. Mooring – waiting lists can be long and I am in the process of trying to determine their respective lengths – it is possible that this could kill the move in the short term – but until the information comes back I will continue to plough on with my investigations at this early stage

5. What if the lake is boring? – well I guess that’s my risk but of the few summers I’ve had in that part of the world the weather has been excellent and there something quite refreshing about swimming and water skiing in fresh water which is already 17 degrees


So being a novice any useful snippets of information about experiences on French lakes etc and the guidance on the above would be gratefully appreciated

Regards Richard

 

[Hardmy]

Hi Richard,
I was born on the Swiss side of the lake and grew up in Montreux. I did a lot of dinghy sailing, owned also a bow cruiser just for fun. So, I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can:
1. You are not a French resident, so ICC should suffice. Should you permanently move your domicile to France, you might have to convert to a French licence. But things get more complicated as soon as you have to register your boat in France. Then they might want to see a French license anyway?
2. You will probably have to deregister in the UK and register in France. The DDT du Rhône 165 rue Garibaldi CS 33 862 - 69321 LYON Tél. 04 72 56 59 29 ddt-ptn@rhone.gouv.fr is responsible for this on the french side of Lac Léman. Actually, if you want a permanent mooring on the lake, you’ll have no choice than to take a French registration.
3. Others will for sure be able to answer.
4. There are waiting lists for each municipal ports, residents being put on top of the list. And they are indeed very long. This is really a problem here. To get a berth asap, you could try to contact the private marina Port Ripaille. I think it’s the only one which is not municipal on the French side. I know also about somebody which was not a resident of Meillerie and got a berth already after 2 years waiting.
5. For a couple of summers you’ll have enough to do . There are many festivals during the summer all around the lake (Fêtes de Genève, Montreux Jazz, …). Many nice seaside restaurants. Pleasant little harbours like Yvoire, Morges or La Tour-de-Peilz. Bigger towns like Evian and Lausanne. Etc.

Near le Bouveret :

Rhone river near le Bouveret :

The famous paddle steamers :

From time to time, also a bit wavy:

Sorry, haven’t more pics on photobucket right now.

 

[rwilson]

Hi Hardmy, thanks for the photos - nice reminders of he summer. Yep waiting lists are a big concern but if I'm in the Solent for a little longer that's no major hardship. I'm in the process of registering an inflatable on the lake at the moment and I have sent my application form off to Lyon. They haven't asked for any kind of licence yet just the usual invoices, CE conformity paperwork etc but I'll see how that process unfolds. Once that get registered then I've got the chance to get on the water and have a nose about. I think I just need to try and apply at every marina on the French side and see how I get on!

 

[Firefly625]

Hi Hardmy, thanks for the photos - nice reminders of he summer. Yep waiting lists are a big concern but if I'm in the Solent for a little longer that's no major hardship. I'm in the process of registering an inflatable on the lake at the moment and I have sent my application form off to Lyon. They haven't asked for any kind of licence yet just the usual invoices, CE conformity paperwork etc but I'll see how that process unfolds. Once that get registered then I've got the chance to get on the water and have a nose about. I think I just need to try and apply at every marina on the French side and see how I get on!

We had a chalet in Thollon for about 25 years... spent winters and summers there. Overlooked the lake and reading your description I should imagine if you are 20km from Evian and in the Alps rather than lake side you may be pretty close to Thollon?

We did always think about getting a small boat on the lake, but never took the plunge! Looking after a second home which was 670 miles away always seemed enough of a commitment!

 

[rwilson]

Thollon is lovely with terrific views, we are up the Abondance valley, Vacheresse area with views to the lake, Nyon and eventually the Jura. My wife has pointed out that having the boat out there as well is yet another thing to to maintain, perhaps she's right......

 

[Firefly625]

Thollon is lovely with terrific views, we are up the Abondance valley, Vacheresse area with views to the lake, Nyon and eventually the Jura. My wife has pointed out that having the boat out there as well is yet another thing to to maintain, perhaps she's right......

I know Abondance well, always loved Abondance cheese and used to go and buy direct from makers... it is all a lovely part of the world and we miss our chalet & skiing 6 weeks a year...., although did manage a few days in Davos & Klosters this year which was just the best skiing and the best conditions and weather I can remember having!

Just an idea, but why not rent? although these people are right up in Geneva, there may be some closer, Evian or Thonon may have something?

http://www.lakegenevaboatline.com/

 

[rwilson]

I guess I could rent although the link posted is for lake Geneva in Wisconsin, that said it could be an idea worth investigating. Part of me is me is wanting out move out there permanently but thats' for another discussion.

6 weeks is a good amount of skiing, I got in almost 30 days this season, my girls almost 40!