Où sont les Français?

Sailed down to Devon last month. Wall to wall Dutch and Belgian boats all the way but only one or two French boats. In fact it seemed there were more Dutch and Belgian boats than British!
 
Hasn’t that always been the case? We’ve always seen the odd frog-boat along the South Coast but generally not many, though the Isles of Scilly seem popular with them for some reason.
 
johnalison said:
Hasn’t that always been the case? We’ve always seen the odd frog-boat along the South Coast but generally not many, though the Isles of Scilly seem popular with them for some reason.
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Good stop off point for Ireland. You won't agree with this but the French have an infinitely better cruising area than the Belgians and even the Dutch plus better weather, it's the reason the Dutch and Belgians migrate south and the French by and large stay where they are.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Good stop off point for Ireland. You won't agree with this but the French have an infinitely better cruising area than the Belgians and even the Dutch plus better weather, it's the reason the Dutch and Belgians migrate south and the French by and large stay where they are.
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I do agree entirely, though the Dutch also go to the Baltic in large numbers. The Normandy and Brittany coasts make good cruises but a cruise there or the Channel Isles is more arduous in a small boat than Belgium and the Netherlands, where a family can relax and sightsee for a week or two before the skipper sails back with a mate and the wife and children go home on the ferry.
 
I have just returned from the Baltic. I saw more French boats in the Baltic than I did British boats this year. In fact I saw no other British boats in the Baltic. It wasn't until I was returning along the Nord Ostsee Kanal that what I thought was a very large grey motor boat coming up behind turned out to be a RN Patrol Boat with a White Ensign. I quickly lowered my flag and had the courtesy returned. My next sighitng of a British boat was two at Den Helder.

I saw at least 5 French ensigns in the Baltic, all big sailing boats.
 
westhinder said:
Rejuvenated in what way? When I was there in June all I saw was empty shops and decay, much as I remembered it. Of course I may have missed the best bits, so I’d like to know for my next visit.
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I first went to Ramsgate in the late 80s and thought it was dreadful, with a similar feel to Dover. My disappointment was made worse because it shouldn't be a dump; it has the most interesting history, was clearly once wealthy, and should be a fascinating place to visit.

Anyway, fast forward to last year when I first returned.... It was great to see money has been pumped in to the place, especially the Royal Harbour. All the ex-Admiralty stores/alcoves are occupied with exciting little places, the chandlery is good, there's a large choice of places to eat, the RTYC is welcoming and has an important collection of paintings on display, the marina itself is well run and friendly. The whole place feels as if it's on the 'up' a bit, quite different to thirty years ago.

We should remember it had a bit of a time during the last war (was the first town 'blitzed') and we had no money to rebuild properly when peace returned. The country was almost bankrupt (and deliberately kept that way by the US), our maritime trades were dying, the town lost its identity as did many others.

There's so much to explore there; the former ground where Wellington's troops encamped prior to embarking to fight at Waterloo; the part the town played in Operation Dynamo; the air raid shelter tunnels; the remains of warping equipment in the Royal Harbour along with the old powder store. There's also ST Cervia but you'll have to be quick as she's due to be scrapped this year unless a plan can be formed - an act of vandalism by her owner.

Anyway, I think Ramsgate is great and on its way to being a happy and thriving town again.
 
Major_Clanger said:
I first went to Ramsgate in the late 80s and thought it was dreadful, with a similar feel to Dover. My disappointment was made worse because it shouldn't be a dump; it has the most interesting history, was clearly once wealthy, and should be a fascinating place to visit.

Anyway, fast forward to last year when I first returned.... It was great to see money has been pumped in to the place, especially the Royal Harbour. All the ex-Admiralty stores/alcoves are occupied with exciting little places, the chandlery is good, there's a large choice of places to eat, the RTYC is welcoming and has an important collection of paintings on display, the marina itself is well run and friendly. The whole place feels as if it's on the 'up' a bit, quite different to thirty years ago.

We should remember it had a bit of a time during the last war (was the first town 'blitzed') and we had no money to rebuild properly when peace returned. The country was almost bankrupt (and deliberately kept that way by the US), our maritime trades were dying, the town lost its identity as did many others.

There's so much to explore there; the former ground where Wellington's troops encamped prior to embarking to fight at Waterloo; the part the town played in Operation Dynamo; the air raid shelter tunnels; the remains of warping equipment in the Royal Harbour along with the old powder store. There's also ST Cervia but you'll have to be quick as she's due to be scrapped this year unless a plan can be formed - an act of vandalism by her owner.

Anyway, I think Ramsgate is great and on its way to being a happy and thriving town again.
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I’m glad you see more signs of recovery than I dId and I hope you’re right. My impression is that the town never recovered from the loss of the ferry traffic. What I remember from my first visits in the 70’s and 80’s is a lively but rather rough atmosphere and now I find it just depressing.
When I was there on two separate visits in June all the alcoves were closed, the high street struck me as a combination of charity shops, pound shops and empty spaces. We found only one bakery which didn’t look very attractive and as for eating places, we ended up in a fish and chips shop which I wouldn’t recommend.
The yacht club was welcoming as ever and the shower facilities in the marina looked new and were very good. Marina staff are friendly and helpful. I hope I misjudged the town. I will certainly pass that way again as it is the closest British harbour to Nieuwpoort
 
Roberto said:
A partial explanation: since early this year there are long delays to get a passport in France (several months), a number of people have been surprised by these delays and could not get a passport in time for the summer sailing season.
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I rwnewwmine early to ensure I hadd
Ared version. Sadly now it is liable to be a Yr or 2before it will get to be used. I have but used it will b??✌️
 
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