Why is Cherbourg Marina closed?

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MartinGPerry

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I know that Cherbourg Marina is closed to visitors 25th April to 17th May because of a major sailing event.
Does anyone know what the event is and is there a web link to the organisers site? Seems it might be worth a trip over on the ferry to view the activities

Martin



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That's going to be a very unwelcome and unpleasant surprise for those pitching up at Cherbourg for the Bank Holiday - its normally wall to wall Brit boats at those times of year. I suppose a diversion to St Vaast, Braye or Dielette will be their options depending on the tide.

Peter

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This will be whatt you need ...

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.challenge-mondialassistance.com/uk/accueil_uk.htm>http://www.challenge-mondialassistance.com/uk/accueil_uk.htm</A>

A fully crewed ORMA race from Cherbourg to Rimini

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... and wind direction!

We were in Alderney last weekend (we flew upfrom Jersey) to see my mother.

There was a good sized ketch hanging off one of the bigger buoys (to the north of the jetty). They looked to be having a merry time as they shipped green seas over the bow, with the spray reaching the mizzen spreaders. It also looked as though the rudder tip could have done with a touch more antifouling ....

Bad call - wrong harbour at the wrong time.

Diversions to the other harbours isnt of course always possible - St Vaast looks a bit shallow (we draw 2.40), and Dielette is a bit tight and shallow. Add an onshore breeze and the approach becomes overly interesting.

I always feel it is a bit dubious to 'close' a marina/harbour for a special event - it can really catch people out. Round here it happens quite frequently (St Malo - Route du Rhum, Grainville & Jersey - Tour des Ports), and makes for bad feeling


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I've been stuck in Alderney in an Easterly 8 and it isn't a bit funny. We dragged our mooring so they put us on the big ship one in the middle of the harbour, we rolled gunnel to gunnel, crawling round on our knees.

Eventually they let us go behind the harbour wall which gives partial shelter, no rolling but the vertical movement must have been 6 feet plus, literally death defying departures shorewards. We rigged a line at head height and holding onto this one waited till the moment was just coming up to TDC and stepped onto the round truck fenders they have and grabbed the iron ladder. Death to miss!

On that boat I had one 150 foot and one 200 foot spring which I thought very OTT, those two days in Alderney they were both used at maximum length with bits added on.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
BTW 2.4m does go into St. Vaast N.M.

.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
Where was it publicised?

I am amazed that they want to close such a major facility for three weeks just as the season is starting. Looking at their website there is no mention that the whole caboodle is ferme to visitors for so long. I haven't seen any mention of it so just wondered where it was announced.

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Re: BTW 2.4m does go into St. Vaast N.M.

Thats good to know.

The St Vaast Web site, Notre Livre de Bord and the CA handbook all say that there is only 2.3m

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Was that the big round one orange one with a humungous shackle? It actually belongs to a friend of my parents - although his boat is seldom in Alderney.

We hung off that buoy for the 99 eclipse - it was a real bonus to have a good mooring as the harbour was packed - the sight of all the anchor lights twinkling as the full eclipse happened was quite ethereal.

I mistakenly asked my mother to check whether the mooring would hold us in a gale, as I was a bit conscious that the new boat was a tad heavier than our old one at. A day or two later the concerned owner phoned me up to ask what size boat I had in mind, as no one had ever queried it's capacity before. He then put me firmly in my place - saying that his boat had never moved it, and he didnt think I need worry. Transpires his boat was a touch bigger at 110 foot ....

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St Vast is OK for depth depending on the tide. Only time in my life where I've spent a week with gale force winds and dense fog with the fog horn going all week. Locked in from Sunday to Saturday...I do know the rest!!

Phil

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Absolutely right.

First time we went into Braye was about ten years ago and as luck would have it we were caught in strong north easterlies. Chickened out and went ashore and stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights. Really couldn't understand how so many crews were able to stay on board with all of that violent pitching, rolling, snubbing etc etc.

Found myself chatting to a motor boater - he had a Nimbus - whose mooring line had parted in Braye in strong winds. Turned out the broker he had bought it from had supplied halyard as mooring lines!! Probably liked the pretty colours. Can never understand why people insist on using old sheets and halyards as mooring lines - its as if any old thing will do just to tie her up.

Peter

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You can anchor

Just outside the marina entrance but they even want you to book that for this period.

If you 'phone the marina they will give you another telephone number to call to take the booking.

Please don't nick my spot!

Magic

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://hometown.aol.co.uk/geoffwestgarth/myhomepage/travelwriting.html>Click for website!</A>
 
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