Overwintering in France

[pheran]

We hope to take the boat to France next year and spend the summer cruising the inland waterways. If we want to leave the boat there for the winter, do we have to book a berth well in advance or are they that plentiful that we could just rely on turning up somewhere and getting in?

 

[Sea Devil]

Provided you mean winter - possibly September but certainly October to April you will have no problem. Most French marina's will be delighted to have your boat with them for that winter period... Make no mistake, they will not welcome you in the 'high season' for more than a few nights and will move you on if you try to become a fixture..
The prices are very reasonable and there are also quite good facilities for hauling for the winter in many marinas.. the summer prices are normally the same as winter prices when laid up ashore.. Travel lifts & cranes are not that cheap but I am no longer sure what they cost in the UK...

 

[FAITIRA]

Michael, I have sent you an email.

 

[pheran]

Thanks for that. I should have made myself clearer - I did indeed mean winter, probably packing the boat up towards the end of October then going out again the following March/April. Does availability vary in different parts of France eg is the South more popular? And is storage ashore generally available for, say, a 13metre mobo?

 

[LadyJessie]

MichaelE is correct. If you only want to have a winter stay, there are plenty of spaces even in the most posh places on the French Riviera. But you have to move out by about April. Storage ashore varies. No problem in Hyeres or Cogolin. Other places subject to negotiation.

 

[alandee]

Hi. The further east you go the more difficult it is. The marinas at Port
Cogolin/Grimaud in the Bay of St Tropez are your best bet.
I am in a marina near Antibes which is now full for the winter with a waiting list of over 40 boats. I suggest you book up as early in the year as possible. From talking with the locals we understand that they are amazed at the number of extra yachts there have been over the past three to four years. Good Luck.

 

[scarlett]

Why not dry store at Napoleon or Navy Service, Port St Louis.
A 30 footer would cost from 1000 Euros upwards for 12 months inc. two lifts? Six months I guess would be about 750 up.

 

[Sea Devil]

Many parts of the South of France are more expensive than the West and North coast - From the Spanish Frontier Port Barques to Marseille it is not too bad but from there to Monte Carlo it does hike up in price...

But for the winter you will find a place except perhaps in the very smart, expensive fashionable marinas If staying afloat then they will want you our of it by mid April at the very latest. Not too many places to haul for the winter.

For Mobo's there is an excellent dry storage place on the Gironde Estuary and a yacht yard as well - very inexpensive.

It is a plan that can work very well particularly if you haul the boat as then your return date is not critical.

Michael

 

[LadyInBed]

Were you thinking of wintering whilst still on the inland waterways or in a sea shore marina?

 

[LadyJessie]

It is true that the south of France is expensive by French standards. It is about the same price as the English south coast /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

But then you get a lot of style, comfort and easy flight connections, so I guess its a matter of you get what you pay for.

If you want better priced south of France moorings; I have friends who have stayed in Canet-Plage just north of the Spanish border. There is a marina there that is run my Catana, the builder of the "Swan type" cats. I have no personal experience but my friends said it was great and cheaper even than northern/western France.

 

[pheran]

[ QUOTE ]
Were you thinking of wintering whilst still on the inland waterways or in a sea shore marina

[/ QUOTE ] We plan to over-winter, and indeed, confine all our cruising to the inland waterways, from top to bottom. One of the problems is we won't know where we will end up until we get there. Thats one of the attractions of extended cruising for us - no plans, no timetable! So probably wouldn't decide where we were going to leave the boat until the last couple of weeks on board. Realistic, do you think?

ps didn't plan to venture out into the Med itself. Holds absolutely no attraction for us unless we were going to venture a whole lot further. That may come later!

 

[Abigail]

We turned up at Port Napoleon, at Port St Louis de Rhone, without a previous booking and could have hauled out there or in Navy Service, (same town, parallel canal) without any problems. In the end we chose Port Napoleon, but both had plenty of spaces and were very welcoming.

Also probably room afloat at Sete, but I think you would have to book there.

 

[poter]

Agree...
port nap has a good record & now the top management has changed, are far more welcoming. Good bunch of guys.
Be careful about Sete, it is fairly open & there have been a few problems, we had an anchor nicked.

poter

 

[pheran]

Many thanks for all the responses. Its starting to make our plans look more and more practical.

 

[bill12]

I have just returned fron the south of France having just literally sqeezed into Aregai over the border in Italy. despite having been in contact with a few marinas since June every Marina virttually from marseille to Italy was full. We left Corsica with half a promise of a berth in Villefranche which was not available. judging by the number of boats obviously left on anchor and wandering about looking for a good anchoring spot during bad weather id say that part of the Med is full. We have paid 3600eu for 6 months in Aregai which is a friendly spot but Nice it aint,and a bit convulated to get to an Easyjet/ Ryanair flight. We were relieved to get somewher in the end as we looked like having to wander the seas forever.