Low cost boating in France - a true maritime nation

Brian Dinsley · 25 August 2008, 11:19

We took our summer holidays in France this year. We spent the first week at the Bassin d'Arcachon close to Bordeaux. I made enquiries with locals, asking if I needed permission to use the port slipways, or whether it was necessary to pay to launch. People laughed and couldn't understand why you would have to pay to launch your boat. I checked with the Captainerie (??) at Andernos les Bains, and he laughed and told me it wasn't necessary too. Incidentally, there was no charge to park the car and trailer either!

I also found that I could easily find petrol in the marinas. In northern England, you generally only find diesel at the marina fuel pontoons.

Isn't the UK supposed to be a maritime nation? Why is it so hard to find good facilities here and when you do find them, they costs you an arm and two legs??!!

Pete7 · 25 August 2008, 12:34

Couldn't agree more, even to the point that if you call into a marina for a lunchtime stop they can't be bothered to charge you for a short stop just too much trouble. South Brittany gets our vote as a superb cruising ground with a rib.

Pete

Brian Dinsley · 25 August 2008, 14:59

Here's a pic of Hati Hati during our picnic stop at the mouth of the Bassin d'Arcachon. Also, a pic of the huge dune that seperates the bassin from the Atlantic. Beautiful, and perfect summer weather!!

We towed around 2000 miles in total and found some intersting opportunities to improve my trailer manoeuvring skills. I've got a few more grey hairs than I had before the trip!

geoff · 26 August 2008, 08:39

Hi Brian,

It would be great if you could post information about the slipways you used on Boatlaunch.

We are always getting queries about slipways in France but have little information.

Brian Dinsley · 27 August 2008, 21:36

Geoff

I've added launching information for Andernos les Bains, on the Bassin d'Arcachon. Hope the information is of use.

I've used Boatlaunch.co.uk in the past and have found it really useful for planning trips. I was pleased to discover that it was fairly easy to create a new slipway entry.

Good luck with the site....

Brian