Mediterranean through the French canals

[Wino]

Be careful in the rivers - particularly Saone and Rhone, the levels can alter considerably in just a few hours.

A friend moored overnight, the following morning the water had dropped and he ended up having to be pulled off by Les Pompiers. I don't think I want to know the cost!
I came through at 1.70 and only touched a couple of times - in Canal de Centre - no real problems.

 

[jb267]

Rouen de masting

Maybe some of your info is a bit out of date. We re-masted at Rouen in Aug 2010. The excellent new marina in the docks just downstream of the big bridge will direct you to the nearby yard office. They have a travel hoist with a yellow crane arm attached to a corner for mast services. Very cheap and efficient, only 60 euros from memory.

Their service is no different from anyone elses, ie. you have do do all the rigging prep and tuning. This is the same as at Le Havre and Port St Louis. We did not use Honfleur, but heard that they were expensive and kept people waiting.

Having seen what we have seen now with weather and tides in the lower reaches of the Seine (plus wash), I would say that Rouen is the best place to de mast or remast. Just do everything you can to familiarise yourself with the process beforehand - but this applies anywhere.

 

[Grehan]

Rouen

That's very interesting - and very welcome - news.
Who operates the crane and do they know what they're doing?

There's a big difference between (say) a relatively small light mast on (say) a 26ft yacht and tall heavy rig from a 38ft boat, complete with roller reefing, radar scanner, etc. Plus the level of experience of the boat's skipper and crew.
We've now 'done it' quite a few times: the first time we were entirely in the hands of the de-masting guys (at Honfleur) and lucky that they did know their stuff, when we didn't. On later occasions and other places we realised we then knew more than them and needed to guide them to avoid calamities. Which can happen, as we know from talking to other boats - this can be a tricky and awkward operation, with the potential for accidental inversion, damage to the boat and damage to the mast.

Thanks again for flagging up the latest situation at Rouen - do you have any photos?

 

[Andy and Lyn]

JB 267 - as Grehan says, most interesting developments in Rouen!

Can you pass on any contact info/pictures etc etc. you have please. Having the abiltity to sail all the way into Rouen changes the picture entirely!!

Best news of the day.

 

[jb267]

Sorry I don't know the contact details! Like most of these things it works best to just turn up and make the arrangements. The VERY helpful staff in the marina can probably provide the contact if you need it (their website is something I can't remember related to a local group of councils that have got together to improve facilities for tourism).

Also, no pics - I was too busy doing up bottlescrews to take pics...however, you go alongside a tall wooden jetty (travel hoist is above you to one side with its little crane arm hanging over). Fender boards are a necessity as well as springs to stop any fore / aft movement. Keep an eye open for anything passing in the river that could cause wash and pause / brace yourself if it comes. We had some, but it wasn't much of an issue.

Their experience is...average, but no problem at all. Its a new service and they are doing more all the time. (They did some every day that we stayed at the marina). Navy service is much more experienced, but Le Havre probably about the same (we had a crane driver there only and had to do absolutely everything else ourselves). Rouen may be a tad more challenging if short-handed for a first time de-mast, but then you could be put on the spot wherever you go!

We are 34ft and there were no issues with our mast. They did a 40ft boat while we were there too so I think that the SWL is Ok for most. The service is in a tidal spot, so limited by tide for when you can book your slot.

My advice would be that if you are travelling North, go there as a matter of course. If you don't like what you see, you can move on. If going south, go there if you are confident, otherwise try and get assurance from whoever you book that they will actually help you.

We spent several days at the marina (separate management from the mast place) and it was great. However, during that time there were 2 metre swells and breaking waves at Honfleur, with harbour masters there and at Rouen advising pleasure craft not to enter or leave.....if you pass here with your mast down, check the weather and plan tides VERY carefully.

Only other point I would suggest from our experience is that you make every effort to take your mast with you (unless its a long deck-stepped one). You'll soon get used to it on deck, if you pad it at the end and go slow in locks you won't clonk it seriously and you'll soon adapt your technique to be aware of it anyway.

Alternatively, we heard endless stories of high cost of mast transport and damage in transit. Particulary note that whatever your plans are, everybody's seem to change en route - then they sometimes sting you (badly) for storage.

We have been to the Med and back through the canals now. Its a fantastic trip with too many superlatives to mention. Highly recommended and not at all difficult, even though you might end up mooing to the cows during some of the more remote stretches...!

 

[jb267]

Rouen marina contact details

Found it. Contact details for the marina at Rouen are here:

http://www.la-crea.fr/ports-de-plaisance-de-la-crea.html

 

[jb267]

Rouen contact

Link didn't paste properly. It should be:

www.la-crea.fr/ports-de-plaisance-de-la-crea.html

 

[jb267]

ports-de-plaisance-de-la-crea

 

[Andy and Lyn]

most grateful for all the info. went south through Bordeaux/Canal Lateral de Garonne/canal de midi - have had a great year in the Med - heading north from Port St Louis (depending on Rhone conditions) in April/May. Rouen about July - ish!! then - up with the masts. (ketch)

 

[PelicanofFowey]

As someone who's been through the Midi relatively recently can you throw any light on depths. We draw 1.5m and were hoping to transit in April/May 2011 West to East if at all possible. Also did you carry or ship your masts? Thanks in advance

 

[Grehan]

Rouen

Thanks again, JB267 . .
Do they use one of the two jetties (see below) in the marina darse, or does one 'go around' to the adjacent darse (that has the big floating dry dock)?

BTW You mention 'having to do everything' at le Havre, but I presume this was in conjunction with 'just' hiring a crane at the marina, rather than using the services of Stephan Reiset and his yard, within the harbour . . ?

 

[jb267]

None of those pics!..but the wooden jetty you go alongside looks similar to the one in the pics. Instead it is located on the most downstream "tongue" of that part of the docks almost as you are back in the river (hence watch out for wash).

i.e. its on the point you turn around as you enter the new marina area (its offices are at the same place).

re. Le Havre..yes, just hired the crane.

ps. when we came up the Rhone last Summer, they were handing out leaflets explaining the centralisation of control (getting rid of lock keepers) and centralising operation in a remote control centre watched by cctv. I don't know how far they have got with this, just something to be aware of if travelling up.

We didn't have any issues with current except at Arles and near Andacette (I think) both about 4 knots but only over short stretches. So hopefully if it doesn't rain in the Spring, you'll be fine in April / May!!

 

[Grehan]

Port de plaisance / marina at Rouen

Forgive my cross-examining you! but do you mean "A" or "B" below . .

Rhone - so far as I am aware, although they are centralising 'observation and control' they're not doing away with lock-keepers. If anyone knows the detail better, I'd be interested to know.

le Havre - yes, I have not heard good things about the 'plain crane', I don't think the crane operators know a great deal about de/re-masting other than the obvious. Stephan's expertise is rather different.
I know some (most) people don't think much of le Havre, but we stayed there (at Stephan's quay) for nearly two weeks and really liked it.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Maybe some of your info is a bit out of date. We re-masted at Rouen in Aug 2010. The excellent new marina in the docks just downstream of the big bridge will direct you to the nearby yard office. They have a travel hoist with a yellow crane arm attached to a corner for mast services. Very cheap and efficient, only 60 euros from memory.

Their service is no different from anyone elses, ie. you have do do all the rigging prep and tuning. This is the same as at Le Havre and Port St Louis. We did not use Honfleur, but heard that they were expensive and kept people waiting.

Having seen what we have seen now with weather and tides in the lower reaches of the Seine (plus wash), I would say that Rouen is the best place to de mast or remast. Just do everything you can to familiarise yourself with the process beforehand - but this applies anywhere.

We were in Rouen on April 1st 2010, going upstream. We had already dismasted at Honfleur (very good but not cheap). We motored into the area of the new marina to check out the mast crane but there did not seem to be any activity there at all and it all looked derelict.

If there was(is) a good masting place, Rouen would be the best place to do it, where as Le Havre is probably the worst from the open sea passage perspective if you are carrying your mast.

 

[jb267]

POINT A marks the spot!

All new when we were there in Aug 10. At point A: New boatyard / port office building, new travel hoist with new crane arm attached.

 

[Andy and Lyn]

can't remeber who asked but Canal d Midi - if you are 1.5m draught you will be pushing it! WE did it with 1.4M and really struggled in a couple of places - mostly around Carcassonne but other places too. A couple of other boats also claimed to be 1.4m and had to re-trace steps! Also, dont forget - freshwater - less buoyancy so will draw a little more!!

 

[Grehan]

French rivers and canals - River Seine / Rouen

POINT A marks the spot! All new when we were there in Aug 10. At point A: New boatyard / port office building, new travel hoist with new crane arm attached.

Thank you kindly. I have added the info. to the waterways website page about the River Seine and the marina/port de plaisance at Rouen.
I hesitate to ask yet another question . . . . but are they lifting out and storing on the quayside / in the yard there too? If so, I don't suppose you'd know what size/weight of craft the travel hoist (not a lift?) could handle . . ?

 

[jb267]

Yes they are lifting out and storing at Rouen. The hoist looked like a reasonable size one operated with the remote control box. Don't know the SWL, but the same size as the Preveza Marine one. ( I don't know the weight for that either!!!- but its enough).

I discussed winter storage with the friendly port de Plaisance people and this is an area of contention. It seem that the boatyard may be in competiion with the marina for storage on the hard - although when we were there, only the yard / port had the hoist! I suggested that they should do some sort of deal, but who knows? There were a few boats out when we were there.

Looking at their prices, it did cross my mind that this would make a very sneaky base for our boat. A long trip up and down the river, yes, but we tend to do 4 or 5 month summer trips...

 

[Grehan]

Rouen marina and boatyard

My word, this is really interesting. Many thanks.
The Preveza marina hoist/lift looks like this . .

Their website notes capacity at 65 tons.
I have emailed the marina for some info. but haven't heard back yet.

 

[Tom Price]

You've always been able to 'sail' to Rouen. We first did it by catamaran in 1983 using Howells' "Cruising Guide to the Lower Seine", berthing in the Bassin St Gervais as advised, to the annoyance of the river police!
We also explored the Tancerville Canal to Harfleur, still with mast up.

[QUOTE jb267( "A long trip up and down the river" . .

But easily douable in a (summer) day PROVIDED you get the tides right. It's all on Grehan's website.