Overland transportation in France

[MrMan]

We've just bought a 40' sailing boat in the South of France and need to get her back but can't do it ourselves due to work commitments.
Any recommendations for overland transportation from South France to a channel port?
What is the best port to off load in France for the Solent?
Any additional info on prepping boat for transportation greatly received.

(sorry this is almost a duplicate of previous post that wasn't showing up, newbie error)

thanks.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Where in the South of France?

 

[MrMan]

Port Napoleon near Marsielle

 

[DownWest]

I see a lot of new boats going south, so the lorries must come back? Quite a few are UK reg, so a bit of research would prob bring up an empty load return. Le Havre would be a good port, but don't know about the services re. lifting.

 

[duncan99210]

Try putting the job up on https://www.shiply.com/ and see what quotes you get.

Have you considered getting a delivery skipper to do the job by sea? It might be possible for you to join the boat for parts of the trip as well. I suspect that the costs will be more or less similar.

 

[MrMan]

Thanks for the reply. Yes we have got quotes for that too and it is about the same but then there is the fuel cost additionally and I believe the trip South to North would be motor on most of the way. But hasn't been discounted completely.

 

[Elessar]

Thanks for the reply. Yes we have got quotes for that too and it is about the same but then there is the fuel cost additionally and I believe the trip South to North would be motor on most of the way. But hasn't been discounted completely.

I used coast 2 coast from st Carles to Southampton, also necessary due to a work contract. They were great and surprisingly cheap considering they need 2 men, a big lorry and a van.

I’d forget channel port and sail over it adds little cost to get it home on the ferry and then you can rig and fettle in your own time without stress.

Take off any external rope or canvas.

Anything that can move will do damage. Use lots of rag bubble wrap and parcel tape throughout the boat on everything from lockers to shower heads.

Date flexibility secures the best price especially travelling north. The trip takes a week as they can’t use motorways which have the bridges at 4m. Mine got stuck in Le Havre due to a French strike and they couldn’t drive to the offered alternative Calais because of the height. So mine took nearly a fortnight.

 

[MrMan]

Thank you that is really useful info

 

[[3889]]

Another option is trucking to Sable d'Olonne area from near where many new boats travel south, then a sea delivery with more favourable wind direction and much shorter route.

 

[Norman_E]

New Beneteau boats are often lorry delivered to the south from their factories, which are all in the Vendee Department. It might be worth contacting Beneteau to find out what contractors they use and see if your boat could be a return load to somewhere like La Rochelle or Sables d'Olonne.