Brittany Coast and Normandy

[careka]

Did have a plan to take a tripp into Dover when i get up there,
On the way up , stay on the French side.
When i get to Dover i will keep on up to Amsterdam or take the "Standing Mast Route"
it depends on the time used and weather.

It looks like we will now take over the boat in may, leave it somewhere in France and come back when our school holiday starts, 18june. then take 3 weeks of slow sailing up the cost, and maybe end up in Amsterdam. its around 600nm up to Amsterdam.
Then nexst move towords Norway will be in August.

thats the plan today, but it can change.

[Hydra]

careka,
Pete7 is right: there is so much to see on the coast of France that you will not be able to stop everywhere. In 3 weeks of slow sailing, you could go from Le Croisic to Saint Malo. However, in many ports, you might have trouble in finding a berth: a 38' cat is a big boat here!

I suggest that you buy a "Bloc Marine" in addition to the Reeds nautical almanac that you probably already own, because it gives more details on tides tables and harbors. You will also need pilot books if you want to explore inshore channels. I have no opinion on British ones because I use French "Pilotes Côtiers".

Also get a Norwegian-French phrase book.

Alain

[Pete7]

If the plan was pick up and go for May then you could end up at St Malo. The new marina would be expensive and tricky with a cat as there may not be room. However, the old town has a large dock through a lock. I suspect it would be easier to moor in the old dock.

How to get home from St Malo is interesting. Can't remember if St Malo has a train to Paris, Alain would know, or ferry to Jersey/Guernsey and fly home. There is also a smaller airport near Rennes? Alain can you confirm please.

The one other option is up the River Rance to one of the private boat yards with swinging moorings, but they are ultra safe as its through a lock to get into the river Rance.

Pete

[Hydra]

My nautical almanac says that in St Malo, the "old dock" (Bassin Vauban) is more expensive (~51€/day, ~1300€/month for a 12m cat) than the marina (port des Sablons: ~45€/day). It would probably be much cheaper on a swinging mooring upstream of the dam.

There is a railway station in St Malo but you would have to change trains in Rennes. Total travel time about 3 1/2 hours to Paris or 4h47 to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport, where you can continue to Norway on Air France or fly SAS.

There is an airport close to Rennes, with Air France flights to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport.

See Voyages-sncf.com : Voyage en train, en avion, rservation d'htels et sjours and Promotions billets d'avion tarifs les moins chers vols Air France

Alain

[careka]

Must say,
what is the month price in Sables ?
and in Cherbourg ?

[Hydra]

The prices for Cherbourg are here (probably for a mono, multiply by 1.5 for a cat):
http://www.portchantereyne.fr/filead...andeau2011.pdf
There are 3 different rates corresponding to different docks. You should phone them for explanations.

The website of Les Sables d'Olonne marina (Port Olona le port de plaisance des Sables d?Olonne confort sécurité services) says that they are presently changing the pontoons and visitors should phone before arriving.

The prices for Les Sables are here:
http://www.portolona.fr/Portdeplaisa...202011.xls.pdf
It would be 1020€/month in June for a 12m cat.

Alain

[careka]

Thanks a lot Alain
Great help.

[bil56]

to leave a boat for some time on the river Vilaine beyond the dam of Arzal:
Arzal, la Roche-Bernard, Foleux,...
on buoys or marinas

http://www.arzal-camoel.com/index.ph...lace&rubrique1

http://www.sagemor.com/rochebernard/pages/port-home.php

[boatman61]

There's a Brittany based sailor (French) called bil56 just joined... if he finds this thread he'll be a goldmine as well for info on the area...

[careka]

Nice, will look at it tomorrow, ist bed time here now.

[careka]

Looks like some fine places, but its all in France and i dont understand much off it.
From what i can find out , they have a maxs beam off 6 meters ?

or am i reading this price set up wrong ?

my boat is 11,55 long and 6,53 wide.

[bil56]

hi careka!

why do you say: "they have a max beam of 6 meters..." ?

no limit here generally, more and more marinas have wide places for multihulls now...

if you've problems with website or explanations in french, contact ...

[careka]

Just did read the price list, and from what i understand(dont read or speak French) then maxs Bream 6 meter, but nice if it is wrong.

[Hydra]

careka,
If you want to cruise the French coast, you will have to learn some French vocabulary!

The price list for la Roche Bernard stops at 6m beam but it is obviously for monohulls. The price for multis is generally 1.5 times the one for monos of the same length. You will have to phone or write to be sure.

Alain

[careka]

Do they speak english ?
just have to try to find out.

Thanks.