Mediterranean through the French canals

We took a Hallberg Rassy 352 with a draught of 1.7m through the canals from Port St Louis du Rhone to Le Havre in May and June 2009. Although we ploughed occasionally we has no great problems, except that we were limited as to where we could stop each night. The canals may be 1.8m in the middle, they are considerably less at the banks! I have just started writing some notes on our trip. The web site is still 'under construction' but there is is a detailed list of the places where we stopped giving the PK numbers, depth, facilities and charges. Please have a look the URL is: www.sailvalhalla.wordpress.com
 
through the midi & others

Thank you for the information on your trip through the canals... I think we're probably going to have to skip the Midi and go the long way round. However when the time comes to head North again we'll be sure to come through the eastern canals of France...this site proving to be a great resource! Thank you.
 
Re: To the Med

That's interesting but I understand that there is a considerable flow running against traveling from south to North 6knots ?
 
Re: To the Med

Salty.savage said:
That's interesting but I understand that there is a considerable flow running against traveling from south to North 6knots ?
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Salty-note that this thread is 2010 date. However you are right in that there can be a considerable flow going southwards, but that depends on melt water and how much rain has fallen. Normal summer flow is around 2 - 3 knots I think.
 
Re: To the Med

Yes from Chalon sur saone to port st louis stream never reached a knot. This is following us getting stuck for 3 months with the flood damage on the briare canal.
 
Re: To the Med

Hello, I am looking for some advice.

I am planning to head from Le Harve to the Med this summer with my family (wife, 2yr old and 2 month old)

We have bought and are refitting a Birchwood 33.

It has shafts and exposed props, and this is what I am looking for advice on.

I see lots of people have done the passage with similar vessels and read advice about sticking to deeper canals, nose bow into bank when mooring etc.

Does anyone have any further advice?
 
Re: To the Med

I did this journey in a Birchwood 33 back in 2009, I had no real problems with depth at any point during the journey. I traveled down the Nivernais. The only time I had to be careful was when mooring bankside in remote locations. I found putting the bankside engine into neutral and pulling the backend in with a rope the best method as tree roots are often exposed under water. When setting off always push to stern off before engaging gear too. You will have the journey of a lifetime but do bear in mind you will be in very remote locations and make sure you stock up on supplies, fuel and water whenever possible, a trolley of some kind is handy because you'll be carrying daily essentials a long way sometimes. Also carry a good supply of spares as you will see very few chandleries until you get to the Med coast. Keep a close eye on your water intake filters as weed can be quite heavy in places but nothing to be too alarmed about. Your fridge will be working overtime and not as efficient as it is in UK waters because it gets very hot in central France, a backup fridge such as a Waeco compressor (not Peltier sp?) coolbox will be a very useful item to have onboard. You dont say how long you're allocating to the journey but whichever route you take there will be many fantastic places to stay for a few days and it would be a shame to rush to trip. Once you arrive at the Med what then? If you wish to leave her somewhere to return to the UK for the winter, don't leave it too late in the year to make enquiries. My boat had an additional outside helm which was great but you will need some shade for yourself and the young ones. For large parts of the journey I cruised on one engine, only using two for negotiating locks and moorings. If you think of anything else feel free to contact me but otherwise enjoy the trip.
 
Re: To the Med

Thank you TQA, I will make contact.

Hi John, that is good to hear, and your post is really helpful.

We are in no rush, planning to take a few months and just see how we go.

We had ruled out the Nivernais because of draught and also with a very young family I am keen to follow a route with regular facilities (showers, laundrette etc). I think we are going to go for the Westerley route as this I have read is the most popular with boats on transit to the med and it is 1.8m, but we are going to decide when we get to Paris.

Thanks for the tip re booking a mooring. To be honest all I can see at the moment is leaving Falmouth in 3 weeks, I still have to finish a significant refit, get the house all ready to let out, keep on top of my work and look after the family so things are manic to say the least at the moment. The biggest challenge will be getting the family on board in France and setting off, the rest of the trip at the moment is a big ? but we will probably end up driving back from wherever the boat is in Oct so I wil need a cheap mooring for the winter.

We also have an outside helm and I am planning to buy one of those cheap biminis on ebay and we are also taking a pub umbrella.

We are doing a blog, I will post the link here when it is live.

Thanks again and any more tips appreciated
 
Re: To the Med

Sounds like you will have a busy few weeks, I'll follow your blog with interest. Keep in touch and PM me when you get further south and I'll give you some suggestions for places to winter.
 
Re: Champagne et Bougogne

Hello,

We are taking our Birchwood 33 from Falmouth to the Med, we left 2 weeks ago and are now in Paris.

We have a 2 year old and two month old onboard and now need to decide which route to take.

Traveling with young kids is not easy so we want the route with good facilities, showers, laundry etc

Draw 1.2m

Feedback and sugestions appreciated, we leave in two days.

Toby
 
Re: Champagne et Bougogne

cornishmonkey said:
Hello,

We are taking our Birchwood 33 from Falmouth to the Med, we left 2 weeks ago and are now in Paris.

We have a 2 year old and two month old onboard and now need to decide which route to take.

Traveling with young kids is not easy so we want the route with good facilities, showers, laundry etc

Draw 1.2m

Feedback and suggestions appreciated, we leave in two days.

Toby
Click to expand...
Have a quick look at my web site: http://www.gentlesailing.com/french_canal_routes.htm and it has some - well quite a lot of useful information. It has become the standard work for the trip from the UK to the Med via the canals

fair winds

Michael
 
Re: French Canals

Charles I said:
We took our boat through the French Canals last summer but as we have a lifting keel depth was not a problem (not trying to sound smug). The Western Route - Canal Lateral a la Loire - Canal de Briare and Canal du Centre are reported to have the best depths and do have less locks. We met a Moody44 who had been obliged to retrace his steps when depths were too shallow on Eastern Route.

Perhaps we are Philistines but we found the whole process rather hard work and quite boring - endless days under engine in remote (and usually closed) French countryside. I would definitely "go around the outside" given the chance.

You will encounter all manner of locks on your way but if you take the Canal du centre route beware of its "automisee" locks. These are fully automatic and only designed for one boat at a time. In the high season the VNF staff push two or more boats at a time through to save water. Be aware that the lock doors close automatically 40 seconds after the first boat has exited the lock. We had our boat badly damaged when the lock doors closed on us whilst the roving lady lock keeper sheltered from a thunderstorm rather than over ride the system!

Our boat is currently at Port Napoleon at Port St Louis du Rhone and I can recommend this a secure and efficient yard.

Charles
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We are now sitting in Gibralter having just travelled from the UK around
the outside.
Fantastic sense of accomplishment and would happily recomend it.
We are in a 34 footer !
 
Re: French Canals

à chacun son gout . . . a couple of points by way of reply. - and not to deny the attractions of 'going around'

Firstly, if in doubt the 'eastern' (Marne-Saone) route is actually usually reliably supplied with water and depth when the 'western' (Loire) one is under stress. It has only marginally more locks plus one tunnel. More or less consistently our own recommendation, all things being equal - there are scenic/locality differences between the two, of course. I can't comment on the Moody 44 but if her draft was 1.7-1.8m then that is at the limit and problems are to be expected. A 1.5m draft fin keel should be ok.

We have also had problems with those Canal du Centre locks; they are tricky, but they are designed and built for full-size commercial barges, ie they are 39m x 5.2m and ought to accommodate two pleasure craft (we've been in one of three). But there's no denying those particular locks their less than desirable operational characteristics.

We are ex-yotties, we love sailing (also in a swing keel boat and we also spent 18 months living aboard in Gibraltar) and we do miss it. But for us, after 10,000+km of exploration, inland France has a variety of experience (rivers, canals, cities, towns, villages, countryside) that is uniquely enjoyable and very satisfying.
 
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Re: French canals - Wikipedia

Grehan said:
If anyone's interested, our professional waterways expert and author, David Edwards-May has just done a lot of editing and updating of information/QUOTE]

Have a quick look at my web site: http://www.gentlesailing.com/french_canal_routes.htm and it has some - well quite a lot of useful information. It has become the standard work for the trip from the UK to the Med via the canals with sales in the thousands .....

fair winds

Michael
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-the-French-canals/page10#ELAPkRAG7mC1DT3H.99
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