Trip to St Valery-sur-somme

[CaptainKen]

I'm thinking of planning a trip to St Valery-sur-somme in May with views to staying in the Marina for a few days. My boat draws about a metre. and looking at the chart it dries out considerably.Has anyone ever made this trip, is there a lock or gate before the marina, any info on this would be helpful.

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[dannybouy]

Hi ken

We have been there twice.(ON GRAYSDREY).Mite see you at the week end.

Dan.

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[britemp]

Here's a description found on a website:

'Forty miles from Boulogne in northern France lies St. Valery-sur-Somme, a treacherous but pretty harbour entered via an eight mile shifting channel on the top two hours of the tide. '

Good luck!

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[ipw]

3 years ago i launched my rib on the slip just up from the sailing club.there are no gates to the pontoons and i never saw any boats dried out. i went into the canal which had some bigger boats in and i think they open the gates at high tide.the town is very pretty and there is some impressive ww2 german fortifications at pointe de hordel.Crotoy is pretty has some trawlers that dry out on the harbour walls . the approach to valery is only recamended at high water as the majority of the bay drys




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[CaptainKen]

Thanks for your replies everyone.
Will be down on Sunday Dan, perhaps we could have a chat

regards

Ken

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[miket]

We went there in 1998 in our then Turbo 36, but for various reasons were only able to stay one night.
We intend returning this summer for a few days.

As I am sure Daniel will tell you (Hi Daniel, Shiverarn) there are no real problems, as with most harbours, so long as you do some homework beforehand.
Shell Channel Pilot and other Pilot books recommend that boats drawing over 1.5 Metres should only enter when height of tide (diff between high and low water) at Dover is >4.4 metres. So aim for Springs +/- a few days. It takes about 2 hours to creep over the sands into the marina and you should ensure that you follow the numbered buoys religiously. They recommend arriving at the main offshore buoy (forget name) about 1 hour before HW. The harbour master will meet you at the marina and will ask how much you draw to the nearest 1/10th of a metre.

Enjoy the trip. I shall, and we now draw 1.3 metres!

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