Plenty of Room in Calais

T

tillergirl

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Was there today (au voiture I'm afraid), not one boat on the Visitor's pontoon, nor was any outside finger berth occupied on that infill bit. The Restauranteur talked gloomily about 'it' being dead since March and that the French economy was 'crepe'.
 
What with the lock repairs and the blockade, no one seems sure about getting in or out. Also, I dont rate it much, even though it was my first continental landfall.
 
It wasn't busy over the May BH weekend. Only about 75 visiting boats.

The long visitors pontoon on the North side only has 0.5m at LW. Having said that a friend lay on the pontoon in his 35 foot steel ketch drawing 1.2 and didn't tip over so it is pretty soft mud.

I have a piece if paper with the harbour layout with depths for the various berths but dont know how I can get it online!

The pontoon on the South side has 2m.

Best Resturants (in my opinion!) - Cote d'Argent by the seafront and The Channel
 
I agree that Calais isn't the best but I didn't realise it had got as shallow as that. There's a red lady's shoe down there somewhere. Had a pleasant lunch in the Detroit. Scan in the layout and upload it as though it was a photo.
 
I had always thought of Calais as being a 'rights of passage' place for first timers going foreign. Now that I have lost my virginity /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif going to Ostend perhaps I can give it a miss.
 
Don't dismiss it out of hand Roger. It's pretty easy to get to, easy mooring, good showers, unimpressive yacht club but the town is close by with shops and restaurants. You pick up a buoy in the avent port when you arrive and wait for the bridge to open before tying up in the marina.
 
Not been for a couple of years but are possibly planning a trip in the summer as first 'foreign' trip with the grandchildren. They suggested Holland but I think Calais will be easier with a stopover in Ramsgate. We always liked Calais, there is much more to do in the town than you may think.
 
Roger

Always assumed i would also cut my teeth across the channel as you did having done the crossing to Oostende and come back via Dunkirk to Ramsgate the dover straights is like the M25 on a bad day in comparison to the Oostende passage.

However think i will try and fit in Calais and perhaps a few other ports before the end of the year.

We have visited and stayed over in Calais by car and were quite surprised how pleasent a spot it can be once your away from the port and industrial areas
 
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