SAILING

Home Sailing Experience Lightning Attacked Victual Red Sea Pirates Watch Keeping Crewing Atlantic Medical Canal Routes to Med Panama Canal Bambola French Canals PROUT OWNERS ASSOCIATION Eloise Diary Blue Water Destinations Canals Trip Canal du Midi Log Biscay log Book Helicopter Rescue 1st Time with VHF Boat Import CE plate ELOISE Prout Quest 33 E BOOKS BOATS SPANISH LAWS  FOR BOATS North Spain West Coast France La Rochelle Storm Damage Avon Life Rafts help our cousins? AIS Boat Jumble admiralty charts scandle.htm* Caribbean Islands Summer Cruise 2015 Paw Paw

spain.htm gentle_route_to_med.htm french_canal_routes.htm Boat Shop caribbean_islands.htm cruise_1995.htm paw_paw.htm building_in_spain.htm french_canals.htm ronda.htm prout_owners_association.htm boulogne_sur_mer.htm

  

   

all at Sailing Gently MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

FRENCH CANALS INFORMATION PAGES

 

French Canals

 

Canal du Midi

 

Rhone River parking places

 

The Brittany Canal

 

Scenic Route log

 

A Canals trip

 

UK to Med Canal log

 

UK to Med Routes

 

North to South by Sea

 

North to South Canal du Midi

 

North to South via Le Havre Paris or Calais or St Valerie

 

North to South via Atlantic Coast

 

South to North via Azores

 

South to North via Canal du Midi

 

South to North via Paris & Le Havre

 

The Lorry Option

 

 French canal maps/charts

 

2015 Mediterranean cruise

 

UK to Med routes

Lists the possible routes via the French Canals or Portuguese coast. All UK to Med routes  in both directions

 

 

 

SPANISH BOAT IMPORT LAW

 

 

SPAIN SAILING

FACILITIES I HAVE FOUND USEFUL IN SPAIN,  MAINLY THE COSTA DEL SOL, and GIBRALTAR

 

 

 

Red Sea

Waypoints and anchorages up the Red Sea together with routing details and information on ports. 

 

 

Watch Keeping

Assortment of different methods of  Watch Keeping depending on the crew and time/distance involved.

 

 

TO  THE SUN

The sea route to the sun from Britain.

 

 

My Biscay Log Book

 

 

Lightning

In the Chesapeake a Lightning strike which destroyed every electrical item in the boat - $47000 !

 

 

Lorry option

All the major French and British hauliers who specialise in trucking boats with their Web sites for fast quotes.

 

 

BOAT IMPORT & CE PLATES

 The prices of boats in the USA appear to be at least one third to a half cheaper than those in the UK. This is particularly true of motorboats but many sailing yachts are bigger, better and much, much cheaper than anything you can buy in the UK or other parts of Europe.

 

Gibraltar

Details of all the marina and boating facilities as well as how duty free works, local boatyards to haul, chandlery shops.

 

Why not take your boat to the Mediterranean next summer?

GENTLE SAILING ROUTE

 TO THE

MEDITERRANEAN

 There are several ways of getting your boat to the Mediterranean. On the back of a lorry, via the French canals, four or five day’s non stop across the Bay of Biscay then down the Portuguese coast or spend the summer or two, gently coasting southwards, enjoying the harbours, cities, towns and villages of France Spain and Portugal.

This is not a pilot book, rather a passage plan and guide to the nicer places between the South Coast of the UK to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.  It can all be done in easy stages, to suit a lightly crewed boat, with perhaps only a couple of people on board who are without ‘offshore’ experience.  Actually, it is a lovely way to explore a lot of delightful foreign places.

 

 Specially drawn charts of:

Cherbourg to L’Aber-Wrac’h.

Chenal du Four to La Rochelle

La Rochelle to Spain

La Rochelle to Coruña

Coruna to Gibraltar

+illustrations, pictures, paintings

 

1 – Planning the voyage

2 –South coast to Chenal du Four

3 - Chenal du Four to La Rochelle

4 - La Rochelle to Spain overview

5 - La Rochelle to Coruña

6 - Coruña to Gibraltar

Download now from

http://www.gentlesailing.com/

The sales of this book almost equal that of French Canal Routes.

The best guide - pilot book -  of this sometimes challenging available.

 

 

 

 

 

All these videos are on my new Utube channel called

Sailing Gently

 

Dolphins on the way to Scilly 

One shot from deck of Paw Paw

 

 

Memories of the Caribbean on board Bambola

 

 

South Pacific Island of Suvaov from Bambola

 

 

SAILING VIDEOS here

Sailing Gently

 

 

 

North Spain

If you are heading even further south to some northern Spanish ports this article could be of interest

Sea Routes 

to and from the Mediterranean and the English channel

Details of distance and timing and comparisons with canal option.

The alternatives to 'doing the canals'

 

La Rochelle

was my home Port for over ten years.

For information on facilities, marinas, access and facilities in the old town please visit the La Rochelle page.   Details of Yachty Cafe/bar, free Wine deliveries to your boat, Estate Agents etc

 

 

Gibraltar

 has gone from being a scruffy, dirty, underdeveloped dockyard/military town, into a smart, clean, well groomed tourist resort. Jet loads of holiday makers fly in by MONARCH, EASYJET & BA several times a day. Cruise ships disgorge thousands of passengers who wander Main Street with it’s smart shops and pubs and bars or visit the ‘apes’ up at the top of the Rock. It is the least expensive place on the Costa del Sol to keep your boat and the weather some of the best in all the Mediterranean!

 

With the departure of Shepherds Marina & Boatyard from the sailing scene, there are now only two marinas in Gibraltar.....more

 here

 

 

Eloise Diary

From Plymouth to St Valery sur Somme down the canals and rivers of France to the Mediterranean.

 here

 

 

The Canals and Rivers of France

 different sections on the canals and rivers of France and how to transit them from the UK to the Med. Here

 

 

AVON - ZODIAC LIFE RAFTS

If you are intending to purchase an Avon/Zodiac life raft perhaps you should consider the problems I had with their only French service agent

 http://www.quelart.com/

Not only are Quelart economical with the truth, they may well take your life raft in for service and return it in a worse condition than when you sent it to them!

here

 

For my sailing books and French canal guides please go to

  gentlesailing.com

 

LA ROCHELLE STORM DAMAGE

Horror pictures

1ST MARCH 2010 HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRUISING SOUTHERN SPAIN AND THE COSTA DEL SOL

 

From the Straits of Gibraltar and from the end of the French canals all the ports, marinas and places to visit.

If you are new to the Western Mediterranean this book is an indispensable guide and pilot book. 
 £5    
more here

 

 

 

 

French Canal Routes to the Mediterranean

Gentle Sailing Route to the Mediterranean

 

 

 

CRUISING SOUTHERN SPAIN AND THE COSTA DEL SOL

Gentle Mediterranean Routes to the Islands

 

 

 

The Pacific Crossing Guide

Caribbean Islands Cruising Guides

 

 

 

Strait Sailing to Gibraltar

Living Aboard Around the World

Easy Navigation

Tahiti to Tonga  25 miuntes

 

French Canal Routes to the Mediterranean

Over 3700 copies sold....

This book has become the standard work for transiting the French canals to the Mediterranean and back

£10

more here:

 http://www.gentlesailing.com/

 

Why not take your boat to the Mediterranean next summer?

GENTLE SAILING ROUTE

 TO THE

MEDITERRANEAN

 There are several ways of getting your boat to the Mediterranean. On the back of a lorry, via the French canals, four or five day’s non stop across the Bay of Biscay then down the Portuguese coast or spend the summer or two, gently coasting southwards, enjoying the harbours, cities, towns and villages of France Spain and Portugal.

This is not a pilot book, rather a passage plan and guide to the nicer places between the South Coast of the UK to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.  It can all be done in easy stages, to suit a lightly crewed boat, with perhaps only a couple of people on board who are without ‘offshore’ experience.  Actually, it is a lovely way to explore a lot of delightful foreign places.

 

 Specially drawn charts of:

Cherbourg to L’Aber-Wrac’h.

Chenal du Four to La Rochelle

La Rochelle to Spain

La Rochelle to Coruña

Coruna to Gibraltar

+illustrations, pictures, paintings

 

1 – Planning the voyage

2 –South coast to Chenal du Four

3 - Chenal du Four to La Rochelle

4 - La Rochelle to Spain overview

5 - La Rochelle to Coruña

6 - Coruña to Gibraltar

 £10

 

Your Boat in the Sun

Is a wonderful 45,000 word book with chapters about all the wonderful places you can keep your boat economically and sensibly. 

Places with more sun than the UK and how to get you and your boat there.. and keep it there!

The Atlantic Coast of France to the Algarve          The Northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea    

 The Southern half of the Mediterranean Sea       The Caribbean Sea from Trinidad to the Virgins

 French Canals to the Mediterranean Sun  

The routes and the options of shipping or having it delivered to your new cruising ground under the sun.    MORE HERE   £10

MEDITERRANEAN MARINAS

 

 

If you are looking for a place int the Mediterranean to keep your boat and be able to sunbath on Christmas Day then this book lists them all from Morocco to the Costa del Sol to Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Malta etc.


MORE HERE
 

£10

 

 

LIVING ABOARD AROUND THE WORLD

If you are thinking about going long distance cruising then this is the book for you!

CHAPTERS:

      1Which Boat and what equipment?

2      The canal route to the sun

3      The sea route to the sun

4 Cruising the Mediterranean

5     Crossing the Atlantic

6 Cruising the Caribbean

7      Panama and Pan Pan

8     The Canal and into the Pacific

9    South Pacific Islands

10  Tahiti to New Zealand

11   Helicopter Rescue

12  The Great Barrier Reef

13  Pirate Attack

14   Tragedy in the Red Seaall sailors 

15        15 Homeward Bound 

 

£5

 

South Pacific Marquesa and Toamotu Islands

25 minutes

 

 

PANAMA CANAL

Has full transit details, costs and copies of the official documentation.

 

Coconut Milk Run

(Trade winds route of the South Pacific from Panama)

 

Summer cruise to:
Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Tunisia
and back via Balearics to Gibraltar

 

FIRST TIME WITH VHF

MICHAEL BRIANT

steers into trouble .

Published in

Practical Boat Owner 

 

freeware C-Map

AIS

my experience of fitting it.

 

Victual

The details and grocery list to Victual a boat for an ocean passage of 2 to 3 weeks. How I make the list and the vital items

 

Atlantic

The personal log of my first Atlantic crossing. My concerns, fears, conversations with Herb and much more.

 

Medical

This is not a list of plasters and aspirin! It contains details of the 

Medical

drugs & equipment for ocean passages

 

Helicopter Rescue.

An unexpectedly exciting adventure off the West Australian coast at

 

 

 

LADY MUSGRAVES ISLAND

Shot from the deck of Bambola in Lady Musgrave just off the coast of Australia near Brisbane

SAILING VIDEOS here

 

ATTACKED BY PIRATES

&

ROBBED

 

 

PORTS ON THE WEST COAST OF FRANCE

A PERSONAL VIEW OF THE PORTS AND HARBOURS I HAVE  VISITED ON THIS COAST

Crewing

  the boat can sometimes be a problem. This is how I solved it.  This page may also be helpful to people wanting to crew

 

If you want to know more about

Sailing info la Rochelle

 

La Rochelle/Les Minimes facilities

 

 

WEST COAST FRANCE

 

If you are planning on heading further south next season, you might want to look at this page

which lists some of the marinas and ports we have recently visited.

 

 

 

LA ROCHELLE STORM DAMAGE

Horror pictures

1ST MARCH 2010 HERE

 

Panama Canal Transit in a small boat 12 minutes

PACIFIC CROSSING GUIDE

   From the Caribbean and Panama to Australia and New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific -  gentlecruising.com

 

If you are bored with the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, read this book, then you will want to dream of visiting the nearest place to paradise on this globe.

How to transit the Panama Canal see giant rays on the way to the Galapagos and the best islands in the Marquesas and Touamotu groups before reaching Tahiti the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji then laying up for the hurricane season in New Zealand or Australia.

 £5

 

 

 

My boat Bambola in the South Pacific at a Cook Island called Suvaov

 

 

Experience & Boats I have owned.

Used to sail on the River Thames at Maidenhead and restored several kayak wood and canvas canoes but the first dinghy I owned, was a Mirror I built in my garage at Isleworth and towed to the sea.

Galion 22 -

first cruising boat

Mignonne

Image result for jaguar 25 yacht

Jaguar 25.  Mmm 

 

Gamine

Wonderful Elizabethan 31

Lizelle

Golden Hind ketch 39

Maurice Griffith design Steel Boat - stretched

Southern Chancer

Moody 36

Bambola Quatre

 in which I circumnavigated

Prout Quest Cat 33

 Elouise

 

In French Canals

 

 

Westerly Ocean 43

 

Paw Paw of London

The perfect boat for a couple

 

Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 323

 

Golden Haze

of

London

Good single hander I hope - great name... sums life up!

she is in the Caribbean now ....

Australia to Timor 25 minutes

CRUISING SOUTHERN SPAIN AND THE COSTA DEL SOL

 

From the Straits of Gibraltar and from the end of the French canals all the ports, marinas and places to visit.

If you are new to the Western Mediterranean this book is an indispensable guide and pilot book. 
 £5     
more here

 

Indonisia to Sri Lanka 25 minutes

For my sailing books and French canal guides please go to

  gentlesailing.com

 

French Canal Routes to the Mediterranean

Gentle Sailing Route to the Mediterranean

CRUISING SOUTHERN SPAIN AND THE COSTA DEL SOL

Gentle Mediterranean Routes to the Islands

The Pacific Crossing Guide

Caribbean Islands Cruising Guides

Strait Sailing to Gibraltar

Living Aboard Around the World

Easy Navigation

The Caribbean

 

 

is probably the biggest and best cruising ground in the world. Wonderful climate, beautiful islands, nice people and for the most part very inexpensive. With predictable weather and such good sailing winds it  makes the Mediterranean look like a very poor relation. 

 

How to get there - how to get home- details of all the Island groups and anchorages. 

 

Pictures and chart details together with descriptions of the islands.

 

Pictures, charts, distances, links to marina's and faculties, weather and places to visit and what to see.......

 

 There are two versions the first is for boats coming from Europe and the second is an American Version for boats heading south through the Bahamas & Turks and Caicos.

To download this ebook visit

Gentlesailing . Caribbean Islands

PACIFIC CROSSING GUIDE

 

  from the Caribbean and Panama to Australia and New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific

 

 gentlecruising.com

 

If

If you are bored with the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, read this book, then you will want to dream of visiting the nearest place to paradise on this globe.

How to transit the Panama Canal see giant rays on the way to the Galapagos and the best islands in the Marquesas and Touamotu groups before reaching Tahiti the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji then laying up for the hurricane season in New Zealand or Australia.

Available from  

 gentlesailing.com

Why not take your boat to the Mediterranean next summer?

 

GENTLE SAILING ROUTE

 TO THE

MEDITERRANEAN

 There are several ways of getting your boat to the Mediterranean. On the back of a lorry, via the French canals, four or five day’s non stop across the Bay of Biscay then down the Portuguese coast or spend the summer or two, gently coasting southwards, enjoying the harbours, cities, towns and villages of France Spain and Portugal.

This is not a pilot book, rather a passage plan and guide to the nicer places between the South Coast of the UK to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.  It can all be done in easy stages, to suit a lightly crewed boat, with perhaps only a couple of people on board who are without ‘offshore’ experience.  Actually, it is a lovely way to explore a lot of delightful foreign places.

 

 Specially drawn charts of:

Cherbourg to L’Aber-Wrac’h.

Chenal du Four to La Rochelle

La Rochelle to Spain

La Rochelle to Coruña

Coruna to Gibraltar

+illustrations, pictures, paintings

 

1 – Planning the voyage

2 –South coast to Chenal du Four

3 - Chenal du Four to La Rochelle

4 - La Rochelle to Spain overview

5 - La Rochelle to Coruña

6 - Coruña to Gibraltar

 

 £10

Download the book now from

or

http://www.gentlesailing.com/

 

Over 1600 copies of this book have been sold

'The best guide - pilot book of this sometimes challenging. available '

or

DOWNLOAD THIS BOOK NOW  £10

LIVING ABOARD AROUND THE WORLD

Michael E Briant

For more information go to

Living Aboard Around the World

'The book is an excellent read with stacks of information about long distance cruising.'

'Excitement and adventure as well as sound common sense in this excellent sailing book.'

 £5

 

CRUISING SOUTHERN SPAIN AND THE COSTA DEL SOL

 

From the Straits of Gibraltar and from the end of the French canals all the ports, marinas and places to visit.

If you are new to the Western Mediterranean this book is an indispensable guide and pilot book. 
 £5     
more here

 

DOWNLOAD THIS BOOK NOW

Gentle Mediterranean Routes to the Islands

 (Balearic, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Malta, and Greek Islands)

  A guide on how to get to the main Mediterranean Islands from Gibraltar or the French Canals.

Chapter one: Mediterranean Overview

Chapter two‘ A’ From Gibraltar to the Balearics

Chapter three ''B’ Fast route through the Balearic’s (but still nice)

Chapter four: ‘C’ French Canals - Port St Louis & Séte to the Balearic Islands.

Chapter five: ‘D’ Port St Louis to Corsica & Sardinia

Chapter six ‘E’ Mahon to Sardinia and Scilly

Chapter seven: F’ Mahon to Scilly via Tunisia

Chapter eightG’ Sicily to Greek Islands

 £5

Download now from

 

 PROUT OWNERS ASSOCIATION & FORUM  .

The new 'joining system requires you to send an email to join - this is our improved security method to stop inappropriate posts

Please do make use of the FORUM contact other members and to share helpful  information or seek advice..

 

Talking Point

is a virtual support group

for carers and sufferers across the country, If this rings a bell for you please visit this site... It really does help and inform

www.alzheimers.org.uk/

 

Home Sailing Experience Lightning Attacked Victual Red Sea Pirates Watch Keeping Crewing Atlantic Medical Canal Routes to Med Panama Canal Bambola French Canals PROUT OWNERS ASSOCIATION Eloise Diary Blue Water Destinations Canals Trip Canal du Midi Log Biscay log Book Helicopter Rescue 1st Time with VHF Boat Import CE plate ELOISE Prout Quest 33 E BOOKS BOATS SPANISH LAWS  FOR BOATS North Spain West Coast France La Rochelle Storm Damage Avon Life Rafts help our cousins? AIS Boat Jumble admiralty charts scandle.htm* Caribbean Islands Summer Cruise 2015 Paw Paw

If you have a problem with your boat whilst in Cherbourg, the Channel Islands, St Malo etc  I recommend you contact

 MARINE AND GENERAL.

They are, in my opinion, the very best boat yard in this area with high level of expertise and most reasonable prices

Marine & General Engineers Ltd

PO Box 470, The Shipyard, St Sampson's Harbour, Guernsey, GY1 6AT.

Telephone: 01481 245808Fax: 01481 248765

I had a dreadful time in Cherbourg recently, with anything but the real problem being fixed at high labour charges - sailed to Guernsey where Marine and General did a superb job of diagnosis, fixing the problem very quickly at most reasonable rates.

 

 

If you are into UK canals and narrow boats then this is a good site to visit.

www.boatsandcanals.com
Boats and Canals No 1

http://www.cruiser.co.za/

http://www.boatfisher.com

New and Used Boat classified ads,  sail boats, supplies, information and resources for boaters.

 

IF YOU NOW LIVE IN SPAIN

I highly recommend  builders,  who recovered the terrace disaster and installed the  inside staircase with all the works done to the highest standards at very reasonable prices.

They cover the entire Andalucía area and Carlos speaks perfect English & German. Email:-  jcsalas@salasduran.com

 

LOOKING FOR AN ENGLISH SURVEYOR IN FRANCE?

Max  Surveying & Security Ltd

 Lt Cdr Keith Oulds B Eng(Hons), Dip Mar Sur (Y&SC)MCGI, MIIMS RN

La Keimax

Longre

Charente, 16240

France

Tel/fax: 0033(0) 545 311 869                                               Please mention this web site if you contact Keith.

Tel: 0032 (0) 65886897

Email: MaxSurveying@aol.com and www.maxsurveying.com

http://www.everyboat.com

is a really useful website!

By following the links you can find notes which may be useful if you are or are thinking of, buying a boat, used boat starting to sail, or going blue water cruising 

 

There is a British Surveyor in Brittany

Morbihan Yacht Survey

Damian Likely  - MSc, BSc, DipMarSurv.  GradIIMS

Morbihan Yacht Survey
5 Impasse du Pratt Lotten
Noyalo, 56450
France
+33(0)652 840 396
+44(0)7408 84 22 87
www.morbihanyachtsurvey.com

 

 

http://uk.boats.com/

If you are buying or selling a boat I really recommend

they are probably the leading UK boat sales site.

http://uk.boats.com/

 

Yacht Deliveries
i

 

 

enquiries@halcyonyachts.com               www.halcyonyachts.com

 

  Marina:- Directory of marinas throughout the United States and abroad with services for boaters and marinas owners.
Marina
Used boats:- Classified listings of boats for sale or for rent by owners.
Used boats

There is a new chandlers

at

www.thegoodboatshop.com.

 

These people do excellent sails

www.dolphinsails.com

 

 

I  found the most brilliant tide predictions and 'actual weather' web site for the entire world!http://www.tide-forecast.com/

 

For my sailing books and French canal guides please go to

  gentlesailing.com

Home Sailing Experience Lightning Attacked Victual Red Sea Pirates Watch Keeping Crewing Atlantic Medical Canal Routes to Med Panama Canal Bambola French Canals PROUT OWNERS ASSOCIATION Eloise Diary Blue Water Destinations Canals Trip Canal du Midi Log Biscay log Book Helicopter Rescue 1st Time with VHF Boat Import CE plate ELOISE Prout Quest 33 E BOOKS BOATS SPANISH LAWS  FOR BOATS North Spain West Coast France La Rochelle Storm Damage Avon Life Rafts help our cousins? AIS Boat Jumble admiralty charts scandle.htm* Caribbean Islands Summer Cruise 2015 Paw Pawx

I am pleased to say this web site is

who have been kind, helpful and understanding. I really recommend them

Click here to purchase web hosting with HOST 100

nk" href="http://www.halcyonyachts.com"> www.halcyonyachts.com

 

  Marina:- Directory of marinas throughout the United States and abroad with services for boaters and marinas owners.
Marina
Used boats:- Classified listings of boats for sale or for rent by owners.
Used boats

There is a new chandlers

at

www.thegoodboatshop.com.

 

These people do excellent sails

www.dolphinsails.com

Jon@dolphin-sails.com

 

I  found the most brilliant tide predictions and 'actual weather' web site for the entire world!http://www.tide-forecast.com/

For my sailing books and French canal guides please go to

  gentlesailing.com           

French Canal Routes to the Mediterranean

Gentle Sailing Route to the Mediterranean

CRUISING SOUTHERN SPAIN AND THE COSTA DEL SOL

Gentle Mediterranean Routes to the Islands

The Pacific Crossing Guide

Caribbean Islands Cruising Guides

Strait Sailing to Gibraltar

Living Aboard Around the World

Easy Navigation

SAILING VIDEOS here

This is the excellent company I use:

 

 

I am pleased to say this web site is

who have been kind, helpful and understanding. I really recommend them

Click here to purchase web hosting with HOST 100