cbsift
New Member
I'm thinking of maybe trailering through France to Lake Serre-Poncon. Anyone been there? Got any advice? Know about moorings?
Lake Serre-Poncon
- Thread starter cbsift
- Start date
cbsift
New Member
I'm trying to guestimate costs. Anyone got a rough idea what moorings cost on French lakes? And what about licence requirements?
WindFinder
N/A
I've been there, it's really nice, warmish to swim in in summer the scenery is incredible. At least one handy campsite on the shores. (A bit big and touristy though.)
There's some interesting stones nearby.
Didn't see any sizeable boats though and doesn't seem an obvious place for a sailing trip unless it's a fast dinghy or motorboat...
Weather will be hot. No big towns around for night out activity.
A good place to ask people who know it well:
www.alpineroads.com
It's a bit obscure, how did you come across it?
There's some interesting stones nearby.
Didn't see any sizeable boats though and doesn't seem an obvious place for a sailing trip unless it's a fast dinghy or motorboat...
Weather will be hot. No big towns around for night out activity.
A good place to ask people who know it well:
www.alpineroads.com
It's a bit obscure, how did you come across it?
cbsift
New Member
Thanks for the message. Might seem an odd choice: The wife and I also fly gliders and we know someone taking a glider to Gap during the Summer, which is a centre for gliding. If my other half knows she can fly I might persuade her to let me take a boat too! (Macgregor 19)
Any ideas about likely marina costs or licence requirements in France?
Any ideas about likely marina costs or licence requirements in France?
WindFinder
N/A
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the message. Might seem an odd choice: The wife and I also fly gliders and we know someone taking a glider to Gap during the Summer, which is a centre for gliding. If my other half knows she can fly I might persuade her to let me take a boat too! (Macgregor 19)
Any ideas about likely marina costs or licence requirements in France?
[/ QUOTE ]
No idea about Marina costs - there won't be a marina at all on the lake.
I wonder if in theory you need an ICC to sail on the lake since it might be considered an inland water way but having been there I can't imagine there's anyone checking.
To put this in perspective we're talking about a very large boating pond here rather than a very small sea.
It's really nice though, I'd have thought you'd have a good laugh in your boat in perfect scenery, but the banks are mountain so there aren't really lot's of places to visit or cruise to.
Here's 2 shots of the lake:
Lake
Lake from other side
From the South
There is at least one road down to the lake where the big tacky campsite is - you could ask them if you can launch - I'm sure there will be a good slipway.
Thanks for the message. Might seem an odd choice: The wife and I also fly gliders and we know someone taking a glider to Gap during the Summer, which is a centre for gliding. If my other half knows she can fly I might persuade her to let me take a boat too! (Macgregor 19)
Any ideas about likely marina costs or licence requirements in France?
[/ QUOTE ]
No idea about Marina costs - there won't be a marina at all on the lake.
I wonder if in theory you need an ICC to sail on the lake since it might be considered an inland water way but having been there I can't imagine there's anyone checking.
To put this in perspective we're talking about a very large boating pond here rather than a very small sea.
It's really nice though, I'd have thought you'd have a good laugh in your boat in perfect scenery, but the banks are mountain so there aren't really lot's of places to visit or cruise to.
Here's 2 shots of the lake:
Lake
Lake from other side
From the South
There is at least one road down to the lake where the big tacky campsite is - you could ask them if you can launch - I'm sure there will be a good slipway.
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Not sure if you've flown in the Alps before so apologies if I'm preaching to the converted. I used to spend two or three weeks in Sisteron (just down the road) every year. We would go in Spring for the Mistral but late enough to get reasonable thermals if the Mistral didn't blow (if it was really bad we'd just go skiing somewhere for the day).
The flying is quite incredible, genuinely awe-inspiring. Get used to average climbs in the order of 1000 fpm (and sink rates of 2000+ fpm), cruising at 10,000+ feet (and at -10C) and sitting stationery absolutely motion-less at 50kts IAS on oxygen. For the scenery while X-country see any film with Chris Bonnington in it. It really is something very special. Even the milk runs between Gap, St Auban and Sisteron are pretty exhilarating. This is the ridge at Sisteron, you can see the airfield if pan round.
Bottom line is you may find you're better off concentrating on the flying if you have such rare opportunity, even if it means hiring a club glider. A x-country with one of the good local pilots is also a very humbling experience. I would imagine the sailing, by comparison, isn't that much different to the UK.
Another thought, you're not that far from the coast there. Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours unless you hit holiday traffic (i.e. don't go near Cannes/Nice/etc.). Don't know if that's an option at all.
One other observation, we used to go over some pretty high passes which used to sap the power from even the turbo-diesels, and we'd struggle even with just a glider behind. I'd imagine a Macgregor on it's trailer is a fairly heavy rig so I'd check it carefully if you don't have a surplus of power in the UK.
Having said all that you're lucky b***** just having to make the decision!!
The flying is quite incredible, genuinely awe-inspiring. Get used to average climbs in the order of 1000 fpm (and sink rates of 2000+ fpm), cruising at 10,000+ feet (and at -10C) and sitting stationery absolutely motion-less at 50kts IAS on oxygen. For the scenery while X-country see any film with Chris Bonnington in it. It really is something very special. Even the milk runs between Gap, St Auban and Sisteron are pretty exhilarating. This is the ridge at Sisteron, you can see the airfield if pan round.
Bottom line is you may find you're better off concentrating on the flying if you have such rare opportunity, even if it means hiring a club glider. A x-country with one of the good local pilots is also a very humbling experience. I would imagine the sailing, by comparison, isn't that much different to the UK.
Another thought, you're not that far from the coast there. Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours unless you hit holiday traffic (i.e. don't go near Cannes/Nice/etc.). Don't know if that's an option at all.
One other observation, we used to go over some pretty high passes which used to sap the power from even the turbo-diesels, and we'd struggle even with just a glider behind. I'd imagine a Macgregor on it's trailer is a fairly heavy rig so I'd check it carefully if you don't have a surplus of power in the UK.
Having said all that you're lucky b***** just having to make the decision!!
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Flown hang gliders in the French and Spanish Alps in the 80's. Sink and soar can be exceptional as you say, but the scenery and the experience are well worth the effort.
As far as hang gliding goes, the wisdom of the 80's was that so many world champion hang gliders came out of UK due to having to fly in difficult conditions if you wanted to stay in the air, and not bottom land (not possible on most P3 sites) while European fliers had the luxury of thousands of feet of leisurely flight! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
As far as hang gliding goes, the wisdom of the 80's was that so many world champion hang gliders came out of UK due to having to fly in difficult conditions if you wanted to stay in the air, and not bottom land (not possible on most P3 sites) while European fliers had the luxury of thousands of feet of leisurely flight! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
cbsift
New Member
Thanks guys! This could be a fantastic trip if I can pull it off. But there are a daunting number of things to co-ordinate! The lake looks comparable with Windermere, little bit bigger, which would be great for the kids. The local tourist board's website talks it up as a base for watersports and adventure activities, with stopping-off places around the lake. (But I guess they would, wouldn't they.) I've come across a reference to moorings on the web, but no details.
I'm itching to do some soaring in the Alps. Haven't flown abroad before. There's a certain amount of negotiation involved in getting some P2 time in the glider. At best I doubt I could get more than a couple of flights, so the option of a gliding holiday isn't on the cards.
The other option is flying in the Brecons and cruising Gower. A lot easier to organise, but somehow not so inspiring!
BTW Brendan, we got into gliding because my wife is also a paraglider pilot. She knackered her undercarriage one year and took up gliding to compensate. She's still an active PG pilot, and we know a few hangies... but they seem to be becoming an endangered species these days! Sounds like you flew at a pretty serious level... and lived to tell the tale! I'm not sure many pilots would go near an 80's hang glider these days!
I'm itching to do some soaring in the Alps. Haven't flown abroad before. There's a certain amount of negotiation involved in getting some P2 time in the glider. At best I doubt I could get more than a couple of flights, so the option of a gliding holiday isn't on the cards.
The other option is flying in the Brecons and cruising Gower. A lot easier to organise, but somehow not so inspiring!
BTW Brendan, we got into gliding because my wife is also a paraglider pilot. She knackered her undercarriage one year and took up gliding to compensate. She's still an active PG pilot, and we know a few hangies... but they seem to be becoming an endangered species these days! Sounds like you flew at a pretty serious level... and lived to tell the tale! I'm not sure many pilots would go near an 80's hang glider these days!
cbsift
New Member
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