The seine

[paddywackcocker]

Hope I'm asking in the right place.
I want to get started at low tide to go up the river but would like to know when it becomes inland water way laws.
Marine navigation regs apply up to a point on the chart ending short of Rouen.
Low water Le Harvre 04:30, sunrise 06:30. Your aloud to start journey 30mins before sunrise.
So obviously I'd like to get going but don't want to run into any trouble.
Cheers
Grehan, forgive me I couldent find it

 

[Sea Devil]

I am certain that up as far as Rouen you can navigate in the dark... Legally. Not altogether sure I would want to, for long, as it is a winding and unlit buoyed bit of water... It is probably the hardest part of any French Canals passage.

Michael

 

[Grehan]

I agree with Michael. A darkness passage up the tidal Seine to Rouen would not be a pleasant experience, although quite possibly legal since this is not an 'inland' VNF waterway (that starts above Rouen, I assume at the Amfreville lock, but possibly just above the docks at Rouen).

I think your planning depends on your horsepower. The trip to Rouen is 124km from Le Havre, 109km from Honfleur or 94km from Tancarville. Leaving either of those places at local LW+1 (assuming there is by then enough depth to exit the locks at Honfleur or Tancarville, which may not be the case) there is then a 11-13hr upstream current to HW Rouen. In an 11m yacht, 35HP engine, mast-down, on this timing it took us 10 hours from Honfleur and we had a small catastrophe (mast support collapse) along the way.

If you left Le Havre at 06:00 (LW +2) you'd still have a window of (say, I haven't done the calculations) 10-11hrs to get to Rouen. Ought to be do-able. Leaving Le Havre (my surmise) is essentially maritime as you leave the harbour then a wide turn to come up the estuary as far as Honfleur or a bit beyond, so could be done leaving earlier in the gathering light, but be careful beyond Honfleur. Thick mists are a regular hazard.
The tide turns surprisingly quickly (direct experience!) but you have in-extremis bolt-holes at PK310 Caudebec, PK278 Duclair and PK260 la Bouille They won't be very peaceful in view of the wash from passing freighters- put out lots of fenders, be certain of your lines and be aware of river/tide current change times.

I'm interested in any comments on the above - we've done the trip 4 times I think, but other folks may be more regular travellers.
Information and onward links to tide planning websites at http://www.french-waterways.com/waterways/seine-basse.html

 

[OldBawley]

Careful in Rouen at night!

We left the harbour of Rouen at night to catch a favourable tide.

No radar, we almost had a collision with a coaster travelling full power ASTERN !

 

[fergie_mac66]

I am certain that up as far as Rouen you can navigate in the dark... Legally. Not altogether sure I would want to, for long, as it is a winding and unlit buoyed bit of water... It is probably the hardest part of any French Canals passage.

Michael

would that be for the inseine

 

[Grehan]

boom boom

 

[paddywackcocker]

Hi guys
just picked up replays, thanks.
I actually left Saturday morning from Le Havre marina at 04:25 (low water) went out and across cutting inside boys (checking depths), entered buoyed Channel into the seine, Hightime is 11.5 with a 32hp engine, clean bottom in flat water is 7.2 max at 2350rpm. We started getting 8-8.5 and then building up to a a steady 9.5 (12.6 max recorded on gps) got in at sort of slack but were still getting about 7.6-7.8knts.
Journey took 9 hours 10 minutes into entrance of chevais marina, Rouen (spelling�&#56904.
Only had 3 big ships over take us early on and one past us making its way down, apart from that we had it all to are selves. Even the little, push me pull me car Terry's seemed to waight for us to pass (weird)
All in all it was a really easy run, had one fuel blockage (bit of crud stuck in pick up neck of fuel tank, half expected since fuel bug problem so v quick fix, tools ready) don't know why we got away so lightly with traffic.
Weather was overcast, cold and a wet mist for the majority of the journey but brightened up in the last hour so arrived in sunshine.
So thanks again and I'll probebly be back with more wquestions.

Paddy