Schoolboy French

snowleopard

snowleopard

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The season of the booze cruise is upon us again and time to think about visiting French ports. The trickiest bit for me is trying to talk to the harbour authorities by VHF so - does anyone know what the correct French pro-words are? e.g. Over, Out, say again, etc.?
 
Not exactly the answer you're looking for, but I did notice a foreign phrase book specifically aimed at yachtsmen from Adlard Coles Nautical:

Yachtsman's Ten Language Dictionary
by Michael Manton, Barbara Webb
ISBN: 0713652950
 
Yes, I've got one of those and it gives loads of obscure words and nothing that you really need. Imagin a yachtsman's dictionary that tells you the word for 'hanging knee' but not 'marina berth'. IMHO completely useless.

I see in this month's YM that a guy is selling a comprehensive French/English sailor's dictionary but at over £30 it's a bit pricey.
 
The trouble is that you can't just translate pro-words. You need the correct word, not just to translate the sense of it. Going the other way, if 'à vous' is the French pro word and you just translate it, you could have something like this..

"Solent coastguard, here Snow Leopard, to you"

Yotties all over S England falling about.
 
french

um, the official english words for lots of radiostuff -are french. There's nothingvery english about
"mayday" or "over" frexample - these are from french "m'aidez" for a helprequest,and "a vous" meaning "your turn" in french.

anyways

Ici le bateau Snowleopard, bateau a voile/bateau a moteur , demandant un place pour ce soir, si possible, s'il vous plait - a vous?

= this is the boat snowleopard, sailing/mobo, asking for a place for tonight,if possible, please - over?

if you get this rightthefrench will come backa bit fast - usually they ask something that includes the phrase tirant d'eau (pronounced "tear on doh") = draught which needs to be in metres of course. "tirant d'eau, un metre/deux metres"

babord = port
tribord = starboard

But in cherbourg etc even in monster boat, pitch up, dump boat, go to office sometime. Never seems a big deal. If unsure, turn up betweeen1pm and 2 pm local and there is nobody but nobody around to worry you.

ALSO: unless dire medical emergency, making a vhf call or phone call to a french person during lunch time is very very rude, really. Don't call between 12:30 and 14:30. The same oftenapplies if flying a small plane to a remote french aerodromes - just land.
 
Re: relativity

Ah but how remote is remote? What about Charles de Gaulle? OK just to land; spark up a Gitane and sort out the paperwork afterwards,d'ya reckon?
 
HWMBO insists I post cos he sez my French is better than his (see real Froggie under pessimists post !!!) - barring the M word I have no idea. However, using lateral thinking, I have emailed our recent sailing chums moved to France to see if they can assist !

Personally I think voice-only mechanisms e.g. telephone, radio are a nightmare - add another language and forget it !

Yours (depressed by weather, VHF and grumpy HWMBO)
Penny
 
Aaah,

I think that any genuine attempt to use a few words of la belle langue will help you to win friends - but don't try to keep going beyond your limits, or they'll take the mick!

(//rant) TCM, that's a great way of ending up head on to another aircraft on the approach, as I did on a charter into Le Touquet recently. Another UK-based aircraft, not making any calls, mis-read the wind and ended up on final in one direction as I finished my instrument approach in the other (the weather was poor). Given my profession, I administered a mild de-brief on the ground. Regardless of time of day, standard words and phrases on the appropriate frequency are a basic element of good airmanship (//end rant)

Hang on - you were kidding, weren't you, you too-professional bu**er. Blast! You even had me fooled!!!
 
Re: french

Has no one other than me ever had to call pan pan pan in France?Im suprised

When sailing a MOBO i ran out of fule the coast guard spoke English? I asked them if only British MOBOs run out of fule on sundays they replied English is the language they use.

Very good service the French have!

Another time i was reterning from Cannes towardes the VAR i almost caught a fishing net,i tried to pick it up but it was snagged on the bottem.The net spead perhaps 200 meters floating on the surface.

I called the coast guard she spoke French i tried to explain as it was after lunch she dident understand? There came another person to ask in ENGLISH where the obstruction was and if i would mark it with a bouy or fender

Perfect service i have to say the French are consequent and effective

What i cant understand is why more boats dont go to the Baltic cheep wonderful enviroment calm and space,the meds full expensive and crowded!!
 
Re: french

I just read the post! On the Atlantic coast you can call in English slowly.Repeat in French then continue in English they will respond in slow european language something between english and english.

if you call the capitanerie once they understand (copy) your request they will reply in English just speak slowly and clearly

The French administration is very helpful and most can manage English on the radio if not just put your question in French or Frangly they will make the necassary clear!To enter the port and where to go when in if they want you to take a secific place

I never had a problem and i have called in English the capitanerie offten for a place well befor entering "that " specific port if full i could then go on.Amazingly the atlantic ports are proffesional helpful and always (so far) have a place i drink to the atlantic ports efficent helpful.In the med they ALL speak English

What was the question?French food and wines VERY good!!
 
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