Waterway Routes Through France

Publisher: Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd
Publication Date: 2006

Designed to be a planning tool, this publication consists of a series of small maps showing the various routes from the English Channel to the Mediterranean through the French canals and rivers, coupled with a brief description of each route. Information, useful for overall planning, includes the distance of each segment of each route and the number of locks as well as the two potentially limiting factors of draught and air draught. Brief mention is also made of a few interesting places “Not to be missed”.

A publication of this size can only give limited details of ports de plaisance and chandleries. Although there is good coverage of contacts for lifting out and stepping masts, it was surprising not to find mention of the specific location of refuelling points, given that on many canals they are very few and far between. Do not believe all the marketing hype on the covers which claims to provide essential information on, inter alia, overwintering locations and regulations. Your reviewer searched in vain for guidance on these matters. Particularly notable by its absence was any reference to the formalities, including the need to hold a suitable certificate (including CEVNI endorsement), the documents to be carried and the requirement to purchase an appropriate péage or vignette.

s a planning aid, it is an extremely useful starting point. However, it is clearly designed for use at home – not only do you need to open it fully (about the same size as a full-sized chart), but also it does not fold conveniently into anything much smaller. For the trip itself, the wise sailor will require some of the detailed guides mentioned alongside each of the routes. - IS