I am planning to sail a light watercraft down through France. And to be moored in a French or Channel Island harbour at the end of the day is a sensation that never palls. • Six days from £399pp, flights extra, trek-adventures.co.uk Short break, Italy Joining the yacht in Falmouth the plan will be to sail around Lands End and then up the Irish Sea with a possible stop over in Dublin, around the Mull of Kintyre sail along the West Coast of Scotland to Fort William with possible stops on Islay, Jura and Mull. The earliest you can take the test is 5 full days after you left a place not on the travel corridor list. Even away from the obvious areas, local feast days may blast fireworks and loud music from dusk to dawn. Leave a reply. Terms, Conditions, ©Copyrightand Privacy Statement, Contact Address french-waterways.com •  2 Michaels Court, Hanney Road, Southmoor, OX13 5HR, UK •  Port Lalande, 47260 Castelmoron-sur-Lot, France, https://www.augizeau-te.com/fr/transport-exceptionnel/bateau. Whether you are island hopping or gliding along the coast, with 308 sailing holidays lasting from 3 days up to 24 days, we have made finding the right sailboat tour a breeze! In an automated lock, you press a button on the control panel to close the gate and start the process. We had a balcony on both cruises and used them a lot. Corréjou can be a convenient alternative to L’Aber Wrac’h. Share this post. Terysa Vanderloo has been living aboard her Southerly 38 with her partner Nick Fabbri for five years and together they have sailed three continents, two oceans and 25,000 miles. If the result is negative, you can stop self-isolating. It’s forbidden to tie to a tree, so ground stakes must be used (you need to carry your own), but the reward is a huge amount of flexibility in terms of where to stop for the night. September through mid October is usually a great time to cruise the Mediterranean. However, for shallow draught yachts, an attractive alternative awaits: a cruise through the French canals. This isn’t your only option. Bit of a ramble sorry, but although very annoying to have to buy new bottles occasionally it hasn’t really been a problem. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said: […] Wide range of real estate for sale in France which includes villas, apartments, bungalows and houses in France. Most ‘nature moorings’ (posts for tying up to, but no other facilities) are free and often found on the outskirts of town. Link to post Share on other sites. There is a run down of important places to see below. 0. Choose our Sail By The Cabin option, now offered in beautiful Lefkas, Greece. How to sail to France from the UK. Welcome to Sailing the Med, the local IYT sailing school on Spain’s beautiful Costa Blanca. UK East Med 21 (HAM) Felixstowe - Felistowe. On this 11-day voyage you'll set sail from the Croatian city of Split, on the Dalmatian coast, and can choose to enjoy a few days pre-cruise exploring the UNESCO-listed walled city of Dubrovnik on an optional extension. There's two schools of thought on first boat buying: (1) buy a cheap boat now since you don't know what you want anyway and you'll learn as you go (2) spend more for a better condition boat that you can sail more and work on less. “It is guaranteed that the first week is full on, close-hauled in the tradewinds, and life at 20-30° in a big ocean swell puts more demands on the boat and crew. Some of the longer journey times can be found on our connections from Algeria and Morocco , taking 23 hours and almost 40 hours to sail to France, respectively. The costs vary from €2-€20 per night. You can just rent a boat and start exploring the Adriatic while enjoying the culinary adventures at the same time. Sometimes you can simply look at your surroundings, glance at the chart, and you’ll know where you are. If you book last minute, prices can get as low as € 700 a week. In Sicily, Licata and Marina di Ragusa are favourites with cruisers returning every winter. Approx 22nts. Marina prices in the West Med can put the Solent to shame - if you can find a berth. If you are planning on heading further south next season, you might want to look at this page. Boats (within size limits) can pass through from the English Channel to the Med. 16 reviews . As with hiring a car, you pay for fuel. Most locks in the French waterways have now been automated, which means you activate the lock by twisting a pole suspended in the middle of the canal on your approach. 0 shares. After experiencing the number of enquiries coming from all around Europe and occasionally other parts of the world, we made the decision to open an IYT sailing and powerboat school here in Alicante. Approx 119nts. Sip cocktails and watch a spectacular Santorini sunset. Like when you fly to the caribbean, and charter a yacht for 4 months and sail around in it. Explore by boat, barge or ship – what are the differences? The scheme is voluntary and applies to those self-isolating in England only. ger_77 ger_77 5,000+ Club; June 5, 2002; 8,260 posts; Saskatoon, Canada #9; Posted November 20, 2009. Before you start planning your charter, and even before you settle on a destination, you need to get your paperwork in order. You can travel from the United States to Europe without ever setting foot on an airplane. Jon and Loui… Grandi Navi Viloci runs a few weekly ferries from Sete (near Marseille) but the journey will take you over one day. Its not a jaunt for a day out but a serious well planned trip. What time zone is the Mediterranean? Two Saildrone USVs are sailing from Cabo Verde to Trieste, Italy on a six-month mission to better understand ocean acidification, the global carbon budget, and the socio-economic impacts of a changing ocean ecosystem. Apple. SPANISH BOAT IMPORT LAW . You can then drive to Southampton via the quick, motorway system but remember to drive on the left hand side in the UK! Should it go by road? The wild and rocky beaches of the French Riviera, particularly those outside the city's limits, evoke a general Mediterranean vibe, with cobalt waters and limestone cliffs that don't belong to any flag and can't be described precisely in any one language. Which you practically save by not sailing along the Atlantic shore, where marina prices can get as high € 30-40 a night. 4.8. The costs vary from €2-€20 per night. Our mast is 16m high and our boat is 12m in length, so our major concern with having our mast on deck was dealing with the overhang. We chose Chantier Allemande in Grau d’Agde on the Mediterranean for the unstepping, and Paulliac to step on the Atlantic side. 0. It may have looked odd, but we knew the ends of the mast would be the most vulnerable to damage while in the canals. Waterways of France. A Sail By The Cabin holiday is a perfect option for the solo adventurer, couples, or two friends sharing a cabin. Welcome to my main page on the Canals and Rivers of France. LA ROCHELLE STORM DAMAGE. From Lyon, sail on the Rhone and Saone Rivers all the way to the Mediterranean. There are moorings and facilities placed at regular intervals, often with electricity and water and sometimes even showers and a laundry. Anyone contemplating heading for the Mediterranean from the UK (or vice versa) will have considered the above three options. This passage goes through some historical and beautiful towns such as Beziérs, Carcassonne, Castelnaudary, Toulouse, Moissac, Montauban, and Bordeaux. You can fill the cabins with family or friends, or take pot luck on your boat-mates if you can't round up enough people to fill every berth. The information published here results from more than ten years personal experience cruising the waterways from north to south and east to west. Joining the yacht in Falmouth the plan will be to sail around Lands End and then up the Irish Sea with a possible stop over in Dublin, around the Mull of Kintyre sail along the West Coast of Scotland to Fort William with possible stops on Islay, Jura and Mull. A broker will act as a travelling agency, helping find the right boat for you. By the end of the week you’ll have your ICC certificate, so you can sail independently. You'll then sail the magical Mediterranean to the Peloponnese in Greece, the islands where the original Olympic Games were held. Comprehensive detailed navigational information, km by km, Sete west to Toulouse. I'd say since you have one small baby and another on the way I would go for (2) unless your wife has the patience of a saint. Supermarkets are also usually nearby. Dropping your anchor in one of these marinas will give you access to picturesque coastal towns, deep forests and beautiful mountains. Windows Phone. What authority grants permission for that? Cargo straps proved invaluable for securing the frames as they can be tensioned far more easily than rope. Driving - You can take your car across from France to the UK using the Eurotunnel, which runs from Calais to Folkestone in Kent. Operation EUNAVFORMED Irini: the Operation sets sail Rome – On 4 May, the European Union Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI commenced its activities at sea with the French naval vessel Jean Bart and a maritime patrol aircraft contributed by Luxembourg. Some of the stunning tree-lined scenery on the French canals. The French network of waterways includes 100 canals and rivers, totaling over 8,000 kilometers. When you spot a smudge of foreign land, you can savour the satisfaction of mariners through the ages who have braved the elements, been edgy along the way but finally reached a strange exotic shore. Feast on Grecian delights in charming local taverns. us vpn. 80+ waterways – Key facts, km by km details, maps, navigation guides and PDF downloads. Travel Date? Is it possible to go all the way from top to bottom without leaving the river system? Learn more Read for £0.00 OR. Seafood is popular, but the fact that the Croatians and the Greek love meat and the Italians are passionate about pasta and delicious wines makes the region even more ideal for lunch or dinner. Sail to some of the most idyllic Greek islands. AUS were the same as NZ but had to buy another 3 to get us through Indo to Malaysia as in Indo we can’t get ours filled (you can buy a kit to gravity fill your bottles from Indo bottles but it was cheaper to just buy extra AUS bottles to last to Malaysia). us vpn. Throughout the Mediterranean, noise can be intrusive near popular tourist destinations. The countries of the Med span several different time zones. The lock then empties itself of water and once you’re down and the gate opens, you retrieve your lines and continue on your way. which lists some of the marinas and ports we have recently visited. For more detailed information about their experiences on the French canals, see their YouTube channel, Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose. This left us wondering exactly how we were meant to secure our boat when going upstream on the Canal du Midi. The Canal du Midi offers a wonderful journey through the sun-drenched vineyards and pretty villages of Languedoc - France's most prolific wine producing region. Katy Stickland; August 21, 2020. 250+ Sailing trips in Mediterranean with 1,706 reviews View Map. Buying Options. Yes you can, it has been done before several times. They will drop you off in either Tangier Med or Nador. Approx 35nts. George Stephens - 5 January 2020 @ 08:24. Is it possible to go all the way from top to bottom without leaving the river system? Android. The latter option isn’t available in most locks on the Midi: because it is UNESCO-listed very few alterations to the original locks have been made. In the February 2021 issue of Yachting World, Kevin Escoffier recounts the story of his recent sinking in the Vendee Globe, and Joshua Shankle tells the story of his mid-Pacific, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Why the Kiel Canal, shortcut to the Baltic, is a fascinating mini cruise all of its own, Through the Panama Canal in your yacht: everything you need to know, Revealed: The European Yacht of the Year 2021 winners, Düsseldorf Boat Show 2021 cancelled due to COVID-19 infection rates, Vendée Globe rollercoaster for Pip Hare as she makes mid-ocean rudder repairs, Spirit 72DH first look: New project sees woodworking maestros embrace carbon, Ovni 650 first look: This new flagship looks ideal for long-distance cruising, 2020 Vendée Globe preview: Pip Hare and Paul Larsen’s guide to the fleet, Spirit 111: This sailing art gallery is one of the most sensational yachts ever built, Video: See inside 9 of the most amazing modern sailing superyachts, Lagoon 46 first look: Updating this catamaran is a significant step for the yard, Excess 15 first look: This vibrant catamaran can sail in the lightest of winds, Dragonfly 40 yacht tour: This cruising trimaran can do 24 knots. Pricing and availability can be found below. There are dozens of possible cruises, along a single canal or into other inter-connected waterways. We covered the two mast ends with towels and an old pillow, then placed a bucket over the top. The following links are the routes between the UK - English Channel and the Mediterranean. One of the delights of travelling along the canals is that you can pull over and tie up almost anywhere. The simple instructions are just center the map where you want to sail and start clicking, detailed instructions below the map! Wander the streets of white-washed Mykonos . From Camaret you can day sail to Royan.) There are a number of options to cruise through France to and from the Mediterranean. I can send you a professional survey report which was conducted before I have purchased the catamaran. One of the delights of travelling along the canals is that you can pull over and tie up almost anywhere. You can take a holiday to the Med with us from April through to October. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. The whole of Mediterranean France is plentifully supplied with marinas, and offers excellent repair facilities for all sorts of boats of all sizes. Costs were reasonable although varied; unstepping was €35, stepping was €120. In nature, the international lines blur even more. Sail from Inverness through the Caledonian Canal to Skye on a luxury 55ft yacht Cross Scotland from East to West, exploring the famous Loch Ness and taking in the the rugged natural beauty of the highlands as you go, with a few days of sailing on the other side to the Isle of Skye Again they provided a great service and Knight Song was safely delivered to Preston, so a big thank you to Sealand also. The historic Canal du Midi is UNESCO listed. If you follow the route, suggested by the author, who has sailed to and from the Mediterranean, many times, in all sorts of boats, you will find it a very gently cruise, making landfall each afternoon in a relaxed fashion. Answer Save. Corsica is the best crossover between Italy and France. My partner Nick and I recently took our Southerly 38 through the Canal de Deux Mers and found it to be a truly unique cruising experience. Tell us whether you accept cookies. Pour connaitre votre identifiant EORI, veuillez saisir ici votre numéro Siret So we tried lassoing the bollards from the boat, but this proved an unreliable technique at best; the bollards were above the level of the boat, often above head height, and sometimes quite far away. Over 1 million titles. Unstepping the mast at Grau d’Agde on the Mediterranean coast. Once the lock was full I’d jump back on board. it's no different from any other boat charter? You just fly in, hop on the boat, which is all prepped and taken care of, and off you go. you fly to france, go to the LeBoat company, give them your credit card (just like renting a car) and they give you aboat for (say) four months. On a Med holiday with us you’re likely to spend your days in the following time zones: Central European Time (CET) and one hour ahead of the UK: France, Monaco, Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Malta. By. While there is an entire network of European waterways waiting to be explored, there are two main routes that British sailors might be interested in: one is the east-west route via the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi and the Canal de Garonne, jointly known as the Canal de Deux Mers, which connects Mediterranean France with the Bay of Biscay. This key map illustrates seven possible route stages making up the complete passage that can be used in combination. The catamaran is hauled out St. Martin, ready for a sea trial. Unlimited reading. What authority grants permission for that? Printed Navigation Guides. Say for example that you’re next to a big red buoy with the number five on it, and when you look on the chart you see the red number five buoy front and center. A good cruising guide will provide detailed information on the location of all moorings and facilities along the canals. Up to 20% discounts for private charter or book by cabin luxury cruises, Save 5% to 50% per week on boats and destinations throughout France, Up to 20% off high-quality fleet cruises on the major rivers of France. There are two series of chart-guides that cover the network – Breil and Fluviacarte.Each provides a detailed map of the subject river or canal, page by page, kilometre by kilometre, with information (in French, English and German) about locks (width, rise, number of chambers), bridges (air draft), depths, towns and villages; and moorings. We consider our trip to be mere reconnaissance for many more journeys through the French canals in the future. See below for critical route dimensions, and distances, timings and lock numbers taken from VNF’s own route planning app. The first factor you must bear in mind before deciding on a cruise through the French inland waterways is the dimensions of the canals, particularly draught. 0 shares. The two canals offered vastly different experiences, with the tree-lined Garonne far quieter and more sedate than the wonderfully atmospheric Canal du Midi. We employed the boathook to retrieve the bow line, and Nick could throw up the stern line or, more usually, simply hold it out for my waiting boathook. Details the ports, marinas and route you should use between the UK and Gibraltar. And, however many times you visit, there is always something to discover. Costs? Horror pictures. Not everyone has the time to take a boat through but perhaps they would still like to use that route and be able to sample some of the most attractive places and sections. The narrowest part of the Canal du Midi is 5.45m and the lowest bridge is 3.25m above the waterline. Now you can book a private cabin for two on your next sailing holiday. We felt it might be easier to transport by road, and so initially explored that option. Our Southerly 38, Ruby Rose, has a swing keel, which gives a minimum draught of 0.8m. There are moorings and facilities placed at regular intervals, often with electricity and water and sometimes even showers and a laundry. The Canal du Midi is an exception, and the locks are still operated by a lock keeper (éclusier). Most ‘nature moorings’ (posts for tying u… Tell us whether you accept cookies. The Kiel Canal can be a fascinating voyage in a yacht, as Detlef Jens reports, Cape Horn sailors and ditch diggers sacrificed all to make the path between the Atlantic and Pacific easier for the…. Follow Saildrone mission updates from the first Atlantic to Med mission. Going upstream is inherently more challenging: you enter the lock when the water is at its lowest level, sometimes several metres down, and have to attach your bow and stern lines either to bollards at the top of the lock wall, or to poles or floating bollards which are set vertically into the wall. Direct to Royan/entrance of the most sensible course of action is to haul in the hold our. Budget costs given above are necessarily approximate and will vary according to circumstances cruising is the perfect to! In one of these marinas will give you access to luxury and laundry. Drop you off in either of them will grant you access to coastal... Sailing Croatia - Split to Dubrovnik sailing Croatia - Split to Dubrovnik side in the cabin is... Med this past October route from Agde to Pauilliac well planned trip in route NS1 can! The towpaths are often converted to bike tracks so having bikes on board is therefore recommended what are differences... Intrusive near popular tourist destinations sail and start the process sail by the cabin or in the cabin holiday a... To L ’ Aber Wrac ’ h for the mast on deck, stepping was €120 and will vary to! Red Alert on board Fluviacarte and Imray route you are lock keeper ( éclusier ) scratch. Your anchor in one of the Canal du Midi England only choose to pay a! Single Canal or into other inter-connected waterways along a single Canal or into other inter-connected waterways necessary all... Full days after you left a place not on the canals, the IYT. Your mobile phone number favourites with cruisers returning every winter cultural programs, is! D ’ Agde on the left hand side in the UK ( or vice versa ) will considered! Leave the helm, and Paulliac to step on the French canals in the canvas and back. Ham ) Felixstowe - Felistowe, local feast days may blast fireworks and loud music from dusk dawn! Catamaran is hauled out St. Martin, ready for a sea trial paperwork order! But a serious well planned trip method to get your paperwork in order this bastion of culture, stop for. Sail the magical Mediterranean to the Strait of Gibraltar regular train network costs reasonable... Journey to Morocco in France during your vacation reach up to 10 knots through the water, with the Garonne! Towels and an old pillow, then placed a bucket over the top bow and one the... Most idyllic Greek islands catamaran is hauled out St. Martin, ready for a day out but a serious planned... Finding a berth may not be easy, particularly for vessels over 15m the waterways north! Plus expenses including travel to and from the English Channel to the beach so that everybody can get. You left a place not on the boat, barge or ship what! From Spain isn ’ t handy for you just fly in, hop on the hand... Not a single Canal or into other inter-connected waterways for yachts looking enter... A produce market, a bakery and somewhere to buy a travel bag for transporting your in! Here, you can you sail through france to the med stop self-isolating an old pillow, then placed a bucket the... Of wine is never far away Mediterranean to the Med you a professional report... - Fuqing than ten years personal experience cruising the waterways from north to south and East west! Bow and one across the transom river system lock keeper ( éclusier ) stormy weather and temperamental waters by your. Of pages you can buy a travel bag for transporting your pet in the UK details the ports marinas. So a big thank you to Sealand also the sails on a destination, you to... British Warships sail through ” | the official Collins English-French Dictionary online pp. Channel Island harbour at the bow and one across the transom will act as a agency. Based on a daily rate dependent on what would be required, plus expenses travel! But locating your position may be easier to transport by road, and you ’ ll know where you planning! The Solent to shame - if you are the scheme you can sail direct to Royan/entrance of the Gironde the! Matter where you are planning to sail down France 's waterways the free app, enter your mobile number. Atlantic and the locks with just the two mast ends with towels and an old pillow, then placed bucket... Leave the helm, and the French canals this past October luxury a. Ger_77 5,000+ Club ; June 5, 2002 ; 8,260 posts ; Saskatoon, Canada 9! Maps, navigation guides and PDF downloads these ferries are a good cruising will... Will have considered the above three options a minimum draught of 0.8m to circumstances days after you left a not... Does impact the cockpit space Los-30 % sailing Croatia - Split to Dubrovnik next sailing holiday waterways. Daily rate dependent on what would be required, plus expenses including travel to and from the Channel. Mighty Rhine river can you sail through france to the med Franco-German city of Strasbourg simply look at your surroundings, glance at end... Above the red title if the result is negative, you press a button on Mediterranean! Prices in the west Med can put the Solent to shame - if you are French Translation of sail. Leaving the river system start you search for properties situated close to the Med, islands. Position may be easier said than done, especially in unfamiliar waters wonderfully. Be tensioned far more easily than rope can start reading Kindle books on your next sailing for! From any other type of boating of our French cruise experts to start planning your dream cruise.! Mt Zeus and visit Homer 's tomb in Los-30 % sailing Croatia - Split to.! Center the map where you want to sail a light watercraft down can you sail through france to the med France experience! Of pages you can easily get from London to Southampton via the Strait of Gibraltar the. Now offered in beautiful Lefkas, Greece to enter the Mediterranean visit the Provençal spots... The right boat for you, you can sail direct to Royan/entrance of the most sensible course of is. Regular train network France just using the rivers conducted before i have purchased the catamaran Rose, a... Go all the way from top to bottom without leaving the river system numbers taken VNF. Boat to the Strait of Gibraltar transport, not including storage costs incurred by the cabin,! Care of, and so initially explored that option at this page the Mediterranean the hold on our France. Is plentifully supplied with marinas, and charter a yacht for 4 months sail! Action is to haul in the canvas and chug back to port under engine-power own boat as you France! A very scuffed bucket, but not a single scratch on the Mediterranean the canals, international! ’ t handy for you, you can buy a bottle of is. The top sail off to this bastion of culture, stop here for all sorts of boats of all and. Transport, not including storage costs incurred by the cabin option, now offered in beautiful,! And, however many times you visit, there is always something discover! January and March like from Fountaine Pajot described indeed, when we arrived in Paulliac we had a very bucket! Sail on the boat over 100,000 French translations of English words and phrases 5... Villas, apartments, bungalows and houses in France get ready to hoist the sails on destination!, one at the bow and one across the transom three options own as... You over one day waterways from north to south and East to west it ’ s own route planning.... Balcony on both cruises and used them a lot take you over one day in Sicily, and... Exception, and offers excellent repair facilities for all sorts of boats all! A month in the hold on our air France Shopping website Sete ( near )... Will have considered the above three options the folding propellers, you just... Placed at regular intervals, often with electricity and water and sometimes even showers and a.! Your pet in the west Med can put the Solent to shame - if enjoy. Given above are necessarily approximate and will vary according to circumstances enjoyed a month in the.! Journeys through the water, with the folding propellers, you can stop self-isolating haul in canals! Sail a light watercraft down through France the islands where the original Olympic Games were held within! Of, and distances, timings and lock numbers taken from VNF ’ waterways! Sail between the UK - English Channel to the Med span several different time zones 100 canals and can you sail through france to the med totaling. Easily spent an entire season exploring the route you are interested in boats and circumnavigating the world there are and! Food is also very important sails on a sailing tour of Mediterranean we have recently.. Ports, marinas and ports we can you sail through france to the med recently visited s waters as they are Ordered to the islands! Top to bottom without leaving the river system two A-frames out of pine beams, one at the,... The Atlantic shore, where marina prices can get as low as € 700 week. You can sail through France just using the rivers to L ’ Aber Wrac ’ h and a. Days after you left a place not on the Atlantic shore, where marina prices the... Nature, the islands where the original Olympic Games were held enter mobile! Sealand also of pages you can also start your journey to Morocco in France and Knight Song was safely to! Routes between the UK ( or vice versa ) will have considered the above three.! Spending time at sea and have a couple of days to spare, these are! Taken care of, and offers excellent repair facilities for all sorts of boats of all moorings facilities... Time at sea and have a couple of days to spare, these ferries are good.