Vive la France

[DeeGee]

Just looked in on my way past... saw a thread about worst rip-off, so thought I would post a bit of positivity on this gloomy hole!

Lift for one hour, Brest, in August (high season) 36ft: €42, or about £29.
Haulout and storage ashore Nov 1 - Mar 31, €244 or about £169.

Had an interesting conv with a swiss boat who could not believe the charges on the S Coast... and those charges he complained of were for ANCHORING!! Here in Brittany there are no charges for anchoring, as there are none in most places for car-parking!!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

 

[Birdseye]

Since everyone is well aware of the price difference between UK south coast marinas, and those in everywhere else from Brest to Pago Pago, I never understand the reason for posts like this. Is it a form of gloating? Nor do I ever understand British people sympathising with foreigners complaining about the UK. You would never hear a Frenchman doing that.

France is a much bigger country than the UK with a smaller population. Given that the UK's pop is slanted toward the bottom right hand corner, is it surprising that demand makes marina prices higher in nearby areas? In other words, its more expensive to berth in the UK because more people want to berth there. Try doing a comparison with where French people want to berth, down on the Med coast, and it will put UK south coast rates into perspective.

Cant imagine many wanting or finding a marina in coastal Switzerland., even if they could afford the cost of living there.

If, on the other hand, you wish to keep your boat in other UK locations, prices are a lot closer to those in northern France. I never pay for anchoring. I often dont pay for overnight stays. The weather is worse. The beer is better.

You pays your money and makes your choice.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[mikewilkes]

<The beer is better.>

If you insist on drinking the beer then you can actually buy it overseas, and the weather is certainly better!!!
Its not a matter of gloating, more a matter of pointing out the choices available to the poor souls who insist on staying in the UK.

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[pragmatist]

Well you may not find it interesting but those of us who aren't currently in a position to enjoy French prices are very keen to hear. Having just been quoted (as I mentioned on the S Coast thread) nearly £1000 for 6 months in the water over the winter in a dreadful marina if I had the flexibility I'd be off to France right now.

So please keep up the info flow about pastures greener !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[Sybarite]

I even have an Irish pub within 200m of the boat - na na nenah nah

John

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[Clive_Rigden]

I tend to agree with Birseye in this instance. We in the Solent and South Coast areas do pay a premium for our sport but as he said, we live and moor in a very crowded (yet still beautiful) area of the world and so - we pay our money and take our choice. The thought of having the boat in France or Spain would make the point of having her pointless to me. I am about to pay over £2k for a pile mooring on the Beaulieu River but I'll be able to pop down and go out for the odd couple of hours or so in a week-day evening, which makes owning a boat so worthwhile. I don't have to plan weeks in advance to get to her, nor be subject to the undoubted rise in air-fares due to fuel prices and unfair taxing policies (in the airline's favour, I might add!). And, what's more, the beer IS better - I haven't found a pint of Ringwood in northern France, let alone a better one! I will agree, however, that the service one finds in our S. coast marinas can often below par - but then, so can the manners and behaviuor of the patrons.

Je couche ma valise . . .

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[sailorman]

u can keep it
give me Adnams or Wherry anytime over guinless

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[Violetta]

D\'accord

Our boat is not a "holiday destination". She, like the local people, places, waterfront activities etc., is an important part of the warp and weft of my daily life. The whole texture of my sailing world would be impoverished if I had to travel scores or hundreds of miles every time I wanted so much as to go aboard. And really, much as I love France and the coasts of Brittany and the Bay of Biscay (I know them very well) they would give me no more pleasure than my own beloved place of inexhaustable beauty and fascination. Indeed my eccentricity goes as far as a distinct liking for cyclonic weather. A couple of days of unbroken sunshine and cloudless blue sky is enough for me. Whereas today, on my afternoon brisk walk (which included a visit to the boat) the wide, windy, dramatic skies and ever changing light gave me untold pleasure.

As far as "insisting" on staying in the UK is concerned - well, I think "preferring" is the better word.



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[mikewilkes]

Re: D\'accord

My boat is also not a holiday destination - she is my home.
As regards your preferences of "living" its kind of difficult to comment with the lack of info given.
Some of us obviously prefer not to waste excess money to pay for goods and services we can enjoy in far better weather.

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[Violetta]

Each to their own

I don't want to live on the boat. (I have lived on boats in the past. Now I like living in a house!)

I like living where I do. No, hang on a minute - let's get this right - I LOVE it.

I don't pay excessive charges for my sailing goods and services (far from it) and am not "ripped off".

I rather like the weather where I live. If I had to move, I would move north, not south.

Why would you want to "comment" on my choices? To demonstrate to me that I am wrong and that your choices are better?

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[mikewilkes]

Re: Each to their own

< I don't pay excessive charges for my sailing goods and services (far from it) and am not "ripped off". >

I did not stipulate sailing goods and services - I am talking about just about all services in Lionel Blair's nanny state !!!

Food, Booze, Fags ( if I smoked ), Fuel , Health Care ( and quality of ) etc etc.

As someone else has pointed out earlier it is comments on costings that they are interested in. No one would suggest that you should live any where other than where you wish to - it is your choice.

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[Violetta]

Hell hath no fury

Like an expat. confronted with the possibility of a good, satisfying, comfortable life of choice in the old country. I've often remarked this phenomenon!





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[mikewilkes]

Re: Hell hath no fury

Dont knock it unless you have REALLY tried the expat life!!!!!

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[Violetta]

Don\'t knock it?????

I rather think its you that's doing the knocking...........



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[kidnapped]

Re: D\'accord

Perhaps you could indicate where this 'idyll' is. It sounds very good, might be the Hams or west coast Scotland.
My enquiries as to pricing in less popular places where the marinas have vacancies eg the Clyde indicate that berthing charges are indeed cheaper than S. Coast .... but as cheap as the French? I think not! And this in a country that has fewer people than the French per sq mtr!
We are aflicted by the 'tree huggers brigade' who seem to believe that the world was set in aspic about 1900 and nothing should ever change .... so no planning permission ever for anything!
I have a balanced view on these things, live and let live, zealotry is just not my thing.

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[Violetta]

More than thirty years ago

I was looking for a two berth boat to charter. The only one I could find at that time was an 18ft6 Blackwater sloop from Maldon in Essex. I sailed her with a friend for a long weekend and I, a confirmed "West Channel/Western Approaches sailor fell instantly in love. I still do sail west from time to time, but over the past 30 years we have built our own boat on the River Colne and we have lived in this area for 20 years. My love affair with the area continues to flourish and grow........

Our mooring (accessible at all states of the tide except dead LWS, although the boat is still well afloat then) costs £80 per year. We have a marina berth as well at present, for convenience, but could give it up easily if we chose. It may not be quite as cheap as the French ones, but its on the doorstep and we can be on the boat in five minutes. Add the travel costs and it wouldn't make much difference. And I would miss this area terribly......There are some cheaper marinas around and some a lot more expensive (Actually, there are relatively few marinas in the area as a whole) The pricey ones tend to be on the Orwell - a pretty but crowded river that I think of as the Hamble of the East. But the general approach of everyone here is very relaxed, easy going and rarely grasping. It suits me fine. Sailing here is for everyone - not just the wealthy.

Its not for everyone. As I mentioned in another thread, I think different temperaments take to different places. As far as the E. Coast is concerned, I've always thought it is a place, par excellence, for introverts! (Like me) Its a very distinctive (and, to me, enthralling) experience in many ways. However, if you really would like to know more or talk about the sailing in this area you are welcome to PM me(although it may take a while to get it as I only look here occasionally when I'm stuck with a long computer job)

Vive la France! Vive La Cote de l'Est!

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[uforea]

Re: More than thirty years ago

Did you Charter from Fairways at Maldon? The first charter I ever had was a Blackwater sloop from this company and I remember it well to this day.
Ted.

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[Violetta]

Yup

Matilda Mary. Bet that was the one you chartered too? Lovely little boat. I'd have bought her if I could, but when she came up for sale the bank manager used me cruelly. I saw her on the Orwell not very long ago.

Happy days.........

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[AndrewB]

Oh dear!

For the fourth time in my life, more or less everything I possess is on its way to the boot sale and the council tip as we abandon shore-side living for the boat. I know I'll like it again once we are settled, but like you I've loved living on the East Coast and will miss it. A difficult moment in time.

Just sometimes I wish I was once of those wealthy b*****ds that could afford to run both home and yacht with ample time to enjoy the best of both.

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[DeeGee]

Re: D\'accord

Vi... I posted the start of this thread on one of my sporadic visits to an internet cafe, and have only just read through. Like you I loved pottering around the EC, and only began to scratch the surface. Now, we hav sold up and moved to North Brittany, and less and less regrets along the way. Wonderful (but different to yours) scenery, challenging waters to sail, and generally a VERY halpful and warm welcome in all the places we've been. With the worst cost having been 30eu at Trebeurden, and plenty of places to anchor without charge (ok, I was never charged on the EAST coast, but the South is very different.
An interesting feature of the marinas is the significant number of UK boats, with owners using cheap fares to almost commute.
But it is not only the cost which warms me, but the attitude. With no exception, I have found the staff in marinas incredibly helpful and ready to move their backsides in order to give the help.
One big downside is that the showers are generally hot but timed, with a jeton costing typically 2eu.


<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all