Taking your own boat to France

[mandie]

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help. We are going to take our boat to France on a very large lake in the Brittany area. What I need to know is what are the rules and regs about taking it. My husband and I both have our SBDA for this country and the International one. Is there anything else we need to be able to use our own boat.

Any help gratefully received.

Mandie

[saltwater_cowboy]

Depends on the lake itself. Some french lakes require you to buy a cheap permit but thats about it really.

Just make sure your insurance covers you for european use and your trailer is ok as the french police may pull you over and check things like nose weight and your brakes.

[pinhead]

if i am right you are talking about the same lake i have been to the last 2 years lac de gueriedan. its pretty relaxed just watch the weather, can be a bit bad but also can be real nice just unpredictable.
you can launch for free

if you want a mooring you need to book one at the campsite at beau rivarge they only have 8 though others may be available but not sure need to book a pitch too as they are for there customers but not expensive

you need your icc in the boat at all time

you need a life jacket for every one in the boat

and there are lake rules posted in french around the lake about ski zone etc speed ristrictions

if the weather is good it is real nice but we had 1 bad week and 1 not so bad week last year and am going to try lac de der this time becase i want the warmth and flat water a bit more guarenteed i am not saying gueriedan is not like that i think we were unlucky

we didnt see the police at all last year but got stoped the year b4 they were only on th lake 1 day(out of 2 week) and stopped everyone just checked icc and counted life jackets and that was it

if you do go please dont do as 2 groups of english were doing and speeding in the restricted area and sking through the swim zone last year it spoils it for everyone and all that will happen is that no one will be able to ski there

dont get me wrong most lake users are good and its not busy many days you may even have the lake to yourself

if you want more specific info just ask

andy

[mandie]

Hi Andy

Yes that is the lake we were thinking of. Is the ICC the international licence that we got the same time as we done our SBDA.

We wouldn't dream of spoiling things for others because we are going through that situation on the Norfolk Broads at the moment, some wakeboarders have spoilt it for others by acting like total pr**ts. Sailors are trying to get boarders banned.

Sounds good at this lake, bit worried if the weather is going to be dodgy. We're thinking about going for the last 2 weeks in August, but then again, we've boarded in some pretty dodgy weather in this country.

Where did you stay? We're thinking about Camping Nautic at Caurel.

Thanks for your help.

Mandie

[pinhead]

hi mandi

the licence you have is what you need

we stayed in a house next to camping nautic owned by jez and julie rook i didnt book this so dont have a number it was realy good (last 2 weeks in august pretty bad weather) http://www.phoneinsick.co.uk/

the year before we got a caravan at camping nautic not quite as good and worked out more expensive (last week of july first week of august much better weather on that occasion)

one thing i forgot you will have to notify your insurance on what dates you want to travel it should be included in your premium already

[Mikecool]

It's getting so busy there now. Last year I spotted loads of people clowning around... make sure you're not one of them!