Seine - Le Havre to Rouen Questions

[LittleSister]

1) Does anyone know for certain (no guessing now!) whether sea certificates (e.g. ICC coastal) acceptable for this part of the Seine? (Navicarte implies but doesn't state inland cert required, and local Frenchman tells me he is fairly sure inland cert is not required below Rouen if you have a sea cert.)

2) Can anyone who has actually done it advise me how grim/difficult (as advised by Navicarte) mooring and/or anchoring in this stretch actually is, and has anyone any recommendations for places to do so, or places to avoid. (We probably won't have the daylight/tide/boatspeed to do it in one.)

 

[ebbtide]

ICC with CEVNI endorement is not required until the first lock at Amfreville,some 40km beyond Rouen.


Anchoring isn't simply unwise, it's dangerous due to foul bottom and strong tides. If coming back then stopping on the way down needs some care - see Grehan's recent post.

When are you going? You need 5 knots to do it in a summer's day (movement not permitted after dark. Featherstone's 'North France Cruising Companion' is by far the best guide for this - I can photocopy the Seine bit.

 

[Cspirit]

I have done Le Havre-Rouen in one tide in a 33 ft yacht with a 5 knot boatspeed, in April. It means getting the tides right, that is, when daybreak, or just before, coincides with about an hour or two before the tide starts to flow up the Seine. You should then be able to make Rouen no problem before dark, assumng that you are not planning to do this trip between end October and April. As far as I know there are no safe and secure places to stop on the Seine. Coming down Rouen to Le Havre this year (in March) we had to stop because we didn't have enough daylight to do the trip. We spent a very uncomfortable night at Caudebec and sustained damage when we left. We had to use the Tanquarville Canal because of a combination of bad weather and contary tides, and waiting at the entrance to the canal was very uncomfortable - some damage again. Once in the canal, we were fine - I was told that the canal is very difficult for yachts due to the large freighters using the canal, but we had no problems.

In summary, my advice would be to do the trip in one hit, even if this means waiting some time for the right conditions. Oh, yes, and be aware that the Seine is a vey big river, and stong wind (F6 plus) over tide can produce dangerous waves.

 

[alant]

Rouen, is a large port, particularly container vessels.

Did this trip 12 months ago.

Heavy fog & traffic moving fairly fast.
Also many ferries across.
Tide/current very strong.
There is a landing stage at a small town (can't remember name) about half way up on the eastern shore, with excellent eateries.

Otherwise, enjoy, I did!

 

[NealB]

I have stopped several times at Caudebac, a delightful town, with a very substantial visitor's pontoon (free).

We love it - others (mainly those who have never stopped there) think we're barmy.

Just make sure you use plenty of really big fenders, as the ships make an impressive wash, and it's best not to leave opened wine bottles on the saloon table.

Despite this, we've enjoyed several comfortable night stays, and I'd defintely do it again.

 

[alant]

There is a landing stage at a small town (can't remember name) about half way up on the eastern shore, with excellent eateries.
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"I have stopped several times at Caudebac, a delightful town, with a very substantial visitor's pontoon (free)."

Thats the place I couldn't remember.

Excellent food etc.

 

[Grehan]

You might take a look at the recent thread on Liveaboard. Started off about the new Rouen marina, but my last post was an update on our very recent journey down from Rouen to Le Havre, via the Tancarville, with comments about the places.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1970372/an/0/page/1#1970372

The later in the year, the more difficult it gets to do it one hit (hours of daylight). When we went up, last time in 2003, we went from Honfleur through to Rouen on 1st October. The tide times were quite favourable that day. http://www.tagweb.co.uk/grehan/_journey1-seine.html

If you meet contrary tide/current high up you might find that not too much of a problem. Lower down, it is. I'm interested that some other people have moored ok at Caudebec. We tied up there for a few hours the other week - I was a bit nervous. The village is excellent, the pitching when something big goes by, less so. Maybe I was just a bit too nervy!

If you're thinking about Le Havre-Tancarville combination, PM me and I'll give you what further info. I can dredge up. We're still in Le Havre, nearly ready to go across. Been a bit of a delay /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Pictures of our recent voyage, Garonne/Lyon/Paris/Le Havre at www.tagweb.co.uk/2008

 

[SunnyGirl]

We did this trip rougly 14 months ago, Rouen is a very large port that has many ferries sailing across and is an entrance to a village that has beautiful houses and lovely restaurants.