Wave of human sh*t at Boulogne Marina

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yerffoeg

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We had an excellent sail from Dover to Boulogne on Friday.

Being less than 30 feet in length (a minority tribe nowadays) we were put on the end pontoon. The first thing we noticed was that the gulls and cormorants rule on this pontoon, and they have supplied a thick layer of guano which has probably been undisturbed for years. Furious scrubbing with Screwfix 'no nonsense' degreaser only partially dislodged it.

But worse was to come. The next day the sluice gates at that end of the marina opened and a tsunami of untreated and foaming sewage was deposited over most of the boats on the two end visitor pontoons. The same happened today.

The marina staff were apologetic and encouraged us to complain, but my impression is that the wave of 'sh*t' is a regular occurrence and no one has the least intention of doing anything about it.

Lesson? Beware of mooring at the end of Boulogne marina (C and D).
 
We first went there in 1978. The glorious smell of La Belle France was just the same and hasn't changed since. Something to be relished.

On that first trip, we were recommended by the then pilots to patronised the cheapo cafés behind the fish stalls. Our host was a large rather belligent bloke who sold us some deservedly cheap nosh. At one point he threw a lit jumping-jack into the tables of the next-door cafe. They don't make them like that nowadays.
 
Habebty said:
Agreed, it just smells like river foam to me, caused by the sluicing aeration. I like Boulogne.
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Agreed, we have been there a few times. Far better since the Town have controlled the fishermen unloading in the early hours. Shopping is easy with all you need locally, though a bike is handy for Sm shopping
 
Nonetheless the water is utterly filthy and stinks and the outer pontoons are covered in guano.
They had a pressure washer in the office when I was thre so they are obviously aware of the problem.
 
Old Bumbulum said:
Nonetheless the water is utterly filthy and stinks and the outer pontoons are covered in guano.
They had a pressure washer in the office when I was thre so they are obviously aware of the problem.
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Yes it's still disgusting! Been like that for decades.
If you are still there, it's worth going to the cathedral, stand right under the spire (indoors) and look up it..the inside is painted very cleverly to remove perspective so it looks like a round pipe, or a tubular shaft, going all the way to heaven. Unique I think.
 
RivalRedwing said:
I've not been there for a long time, can visitors access the locked marina to the west of the tidal one? or are the lock time restrictive?
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Time and air draft restricted. There is no water seaward of the lock at LW and only small motorboats fit under the bridge.

Edit - aah you mean the locked basin doh!
I think it can be used as overspill but not sure about any time restrictions.
 
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This was an exceptional event triggered by non stop rain the previous 24 hours.

I was aggrieved after toiling away for over an hour cleaning off the brown stuff. The pressure hose offered to our Dutch neighbor by the marina staff was ineffective.

We actually like Boulogne aussi.
 
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