Somme River

[johnnyd]

Considering visiting the Somme river first week in September, 0.8 draft Gibsea.
Any experiences or advice would be welcome.

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[tcm]

Not recommended. According to a large number of reports, you can expect to be strafed by a Gatling gun and catch trenchfoot. Good football matches around Christmas tho.

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[heerenleed]

Go for it.
We went there 3 weeks ago in our Nicholson 48, 1,70 m draft. Unfortunately, we had to leave after only 2 days, or else we would have been neaped. but with your 0,80 m draft it's a doddle.

When we were there, the W cardinal in the approach was missing, so confirmed by local members of the St. Valéry yacht club. Put in the supposed position in your GPS as a waypoint and follow the advice of the Shell Pilot. In reasonable vis it's quite straightforward, but do mind the cross set in the buoyed channel, as the tide runs in fast. When approaching St. Valéry town, there is a training wall to stbd. The buoyed channel curves to port. Do not follow the training wall, though many locals going out tend to do so. Better stick to the buoyed channel.

We arrived on a spring, and it took us an hour to get from the ATSO W-Cardinal (the missing one) to the marina. We started 2 hrs before local HW. If you phone the HM office they will confirm the exact local HW time (pleine mer) and send someone to meet you to show you to a mooring. Very pleasant yacht club, fantastic town, very attractive but not really a tourist trap. With your draft also Le Crotoy on the other side of the estuary should be possible (but I think it dries)

Have fun!


<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands